It’s important to remember that dogs bark.
It’s also important to understand that it's form of communication for them, it’s natural and it can be very beneficial to us as their guardians!
👍 Today Bear usefully barked to let me know he needed to go to the toilet and that he was hungry
👎 He not so usefully barked to let me know that Mr. Pet Behaviourist's water bottle had made a weird squeak
All of Bear's barks, whether useful or not, served their purpose by attracting our attention and conveying his messages. He was able to get our attention, communicate, and in the first 2, fulfill a need. I want him to bark if he hears certain noises, not so much a water bottle - but he doesn’t know that 🤣
Obviously, barking can get out of hand!
Excessive barking can be very irritating, cause hearing problems, make neighbours complain, cause sensory problems, etc., etc.
If your dog’s barking is causing you (or your neighbors) problems, then it’s really important to address this. If it’s causing you a problem, then it’s very likely your dog isn’t happy about it either. There’s something going on, causing them to bark enough to cause a problem for you. There’s always a reason a dog barks, and believe it or not, it isn’t to annoy you or your neighbours 🤣
Addressing the emotion that’s causing your dog to want to communicate via a bark is the best way to address the barking.
If your dog is barking out of fear, for example, at the sight of the dreaded vacuum cleaner, (I could’ve sworn there was a vacuum emoji - a broom will have to do!) 🧹 then desensitising your dog to the vacuum will reduce the fear, therefore removing the need to bark.
In conclusion, barking is a fundamental form of canine communication. However, if your dog's barking becomes excessive and you require assistance in addressing this behavior, do not hesitate to reach out for help. Your dog's well-being and your peace of mind are equally important considerations in managing their barking tendencies. Get in touch ☺️
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