I love dogs but I cannot stand the incessant barking. I am annoyed to hear barking dogs around the neighborhood and I cannot stop thinking why their owners are not doing anything to lower the volume. When my dog, Fluffy, decided to join the chorus I knew I had to do something.
I tried to get as much information as I can with regards to this phenomenon and I discovered interesting details. I learned that dogs love to bark naturally. I know that they make a distinct sound but I never realized that they love doing it.
There is a big difference between making a certain sound and loving it. I compare it to babies crying. It is one thing to know that babies cry when they feel pain or when they are hungry; it is a different matter to know that babies cry because they love it. Obviously babies are not having fun when they cry, thus it is an eye opener to know that dogs love to bark. For them it is not just sending signals directing attention to their needs, it is their only form of communication.
Once I realized that dogs love to bark, I made a decision to train Fluffy. I also realized that it is part of domesticating my pet. If my dog wants to live with me and enjoy the protection and care that comes with it, then, my dog will have to learn to co-exist with my family and me. Fluffy needs to learn self-restraint and not bark all the time.
In the process of doing research and learning all I could from books and websites (I actually learned a lot from this article as well as cesar although I don't agree with everything he says!) I made a mental note that my dog communicates through barking. It is therefore impossible to prevent Fluffy from barking 24 hours a day and seven days a week. No matter how I treasure hours of peace and quiet, it is impossible to silence a dog as if it is a live stuff toy.
Dogs bark because of specific needs, such as:
- need to gain attention
- hunger or thirst
- excited or threatened to see another animal
- alert owners of impending danger
- hurt or trapped
- they want something from you
- bored
Things to Remember
I decided to seek the help of a professional so I will know how to issue simple commands and communicate with my dog. I discovered that a reputable training school will help you understand other aspects of dog behavior making it easier to eliminate certain habits that encourages dogs to bark like there is no tomorrow. For instance, I have to constantly remind myself not to use “treats” or reward to encourage them to stop barking.
If Fluffy is barking when I arrive home, I have to remind myself not to let Fluffy inside the house the moment I walk in. It will show Fluffy that barking all day has its rewards.
I tried to get as much information as I can with regards to this phenomenon and I discovered interesting details. I learned that dogs love to bark naturally. I know that they make a distinct sound but I never realized that they love doing it.
There is a big difference between making a certain sound and loving it. I compare it to babies crying. It is one thing to know that babies cry when they feel pain or when they are hungry; it is a different matter to know that babies cry because they love it. Obviously babies are not having fun when they cry, thus it is an eye opener to know that dogs love to bark. For them it is not just sending signals directing attention to their needs, it is their only form of communication.
Once I realized that dogs love to bark, I made a decision to train Fluffy. I also realized that it is part of domesticating my pet. If my dog wants to live with me and enjoy the protection and care that comes with it, then, my dog will have to learn to co-exist with my family and me. Fluffy needs to learn self-restraint and not bark all the time.
In the process of doing research and learning all I could from books and websites (I actually learned a lot from this article as well as cesar although I don't agree with everything he says!) I made a mental note that my dog communicates through barking. It is therefore impossible to prevent Fluffy from barking 24 hours a day and seven days a week. No matter how I treasure hours of peace and quiet, it is impossible to silence a dog as if it is a live stuff toy.
Dogs bark because of specific needs, such as:
- need to gain attention
- hunger or thirst
- excited or threatened to see another animal
- alert owners of impending danger
- hurt or trapped
- they want something from you
- bored
Things to Remember
I decided to seek the help of a professional so I will know how to issue simple commands and communicate with my dog. I discovered that a reputable training school will help you understand other aspects of dog behavior making it easier to eliminate certain habits that encourages dogs to bark like there is no tomorrow. For instance, I have to constantly remind myself not to use “treats” or reward to encourage them to stop barking.
If Fluffy is barking when I arrive home, I have to remind myself not to let Fluffy inside the house the moment I walk in. It will show Fluffy that barking all day has its rewards.