I know a lot of parents wish their children came with a manual, but wouldn’t it be great if your dog came with a manual as well?
That way we would know why they bark incessantly all day long. Not every dog does this of course, but some dogs just seem to love the sound of their own bark. Have you noticed when one dog starts barking in the street, all the others join in as well?
So why do dogs bark incessantly and what can you do about it?
Boredom
One of the main causes of barking all day long is sheer boredom, particularly if your dog is alone for long periods of time. For most of us we just can’t help that, we have to go to work, to the shops or just places where dogs aren’t allowed.
So one of the best ways to stop your dog being bored is to take them for a walk before you leave them alone. If you have an early start or a young family this is not always easy to do, but if you can squeeze a walk in before you leave it might just fix the barking. Alternatively, you might be lucky enough to have a dog walking service in your area!
You can also try leaving them with a bone or a toy – the Kong is a toy that you stuff with treats and it takes them a long time to lick it all out.
Separation anxiety
This is usually noticeable early on in a dog’s life, so if your dog does suffer from separation anxiety start by putting your dog outside for a short period of time while you are still at home. Slowly extend these periods and give your dog something to keep them distracted while they are outside, for example the Kong, a bone or a favourite toy.
Don’t make your leaving and returning into big events to the dog and don’t fuss over them. If you find that your dog’s anxiety and barking is increasing or not improving, you might need to have a chat with your vet to find a solution that works for you.
Territorial
Some breeds of dogs are very territorial and chase pedestrians up and down the front fence line. They might also bark at the postie, at cars and trucks and also at the neighbour’s dogs through the fence. This can also be partly due to boredom as well as their breed, but toys, bones and a morning walk can all help curb this behaviour.
Last resort
Of course we all want our dogs to bark if someone is breaking into the house or some other emergency occurs. There may come a time however, when you have done all that you can and your neighbour’s are still complaining about your dog barking all day long.
You are now left with two choices now. To call in a dog behaviourist (or dog whisperer) or to use a dog barking collar. You can find a dog whisperer by doing a Google search or asking your vet for a referral and many people find this a great solution to their dog’s problem behaviour.
On the other hand there are dog barking collars. These give a warning beep with the first bark and then follows up with a sonic noise or a puff of citronella if they bark again within 20 seconds. Dog owners have had varying success with dog barking collars, but if you chose to use one – you must use it responsibly. We do not advocate the use of electric shock collars.
For more information on our dog walking services in the Northern Beaches area of Sydney, call Tracey on 0413 097 821 or complete our online enquiry form.