Doggone Etiquette —

To Bark Or Not To Bark

By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:

“To bark or not to bark” is indeed the question, especially to you dogs. When in doubt keep your eyes glued to what you think might be the problem. A few grumbles wouldn’t hurt. Save your barking for something worthwhile like a joyous couple of happy barks of welcome when your family comes home, or when someone throws a toy for you to chase. Those barks are really appreciated. A couple of small barks at the door when you’re asking to come in are okay, too. (That’s a whole lot better, by the way, than scratching at the door or chewing up the mat.) What really gets you in trouble with people — your own VIPeople as well as all the neighbors — is non-stop barking about nothing. It’s called “idiot barking” for a reason!

A Word to the Dog’s Owner:

We talk and dogs bark. That’s a given, but someone who can’t stop talking can be just as annoying as a non-stop barking dog. It’s interesting to note that feral dogs, coyotes, and wolves do not bark without a specific reason to do so. Generally, it is to alert others to their presence, or to intimidate intended prey. Even the well-known occasional howling is a signal designating territory to all within earshot.

We have to assume full credit for the fact that domesticated dogs (our pets) bark needlessly, and often endlessly! We also should be able to take credit for teaching our dogs not to bark without cause. Dogs raised in kennels tend to bark in chorus at any disturbance, whether sight or sound, which harks back to that territorial howling. But they also learn to cease when given a signal from the person who must be obeyed. Dogs brought into shelters are a mixed bag — some from a variety of former homes, some right off the street — so they have multiple reactions. Some were (and some were not) already taught not to bark without cause. The street urchins know that senseless barking would only draw unwanted attention to their scavenger activities.

When a car pulls into your driveway, or someone rings your doorbell and Rufus barks, he’s letting you know there’s an intruder on his (your) territory. That’s fine, but let him know he must stop barking when you say so. That’s where your “signal” comes in. Decide on one word (ONE word) you will use to let him know that you’ve taken over. As he stops, a very calm “good dog” tells him you appreciate his effort.

A friend of mine had a Golden Retriever, a breed which loves to hold just about anything in its mouth. To stop off-the-wall barking when someone came to the door, she kept a large stuffed bone-shaped toy on a bench near the door. She stopped the barking with “Hold-it” (one word) as she put the toy in the dog’s mouth. The dog assumed it was a reward, the barking stopped, and he got a quiet “good dog.” Eventually, he responded to the “hold-it” command and picked up the toy by himself!

The day you bring a new dog (adult or puppy) home is the exact time to start teaching ‘no bark.’ Puppy yips may be cute, but they will all too soon become unwanted barking, so keep your amused reaction to yourself! As the pup matures, you will learn to recognize the different types of barks — ‘let’s play’ or ‘look at me’ or ‘someone’s at the door’ — all normal pet canine language.

A dog left alone outdoors often tends to bark at almost anything merely to keep himself company, a problem which leads to the incessant barking that can set off every other dog in the neighborhood, driving everyone crazy! Stop it by bringing the dog indoors. The cause is often separation anxiety, so prevent it by not leaving Rufus outdoors for long periods of time. When he is to be left alone indoors, leave a radio on — and do not make a big deal out of your departure! Instead, create a routine which the dog will learn to know and accept. Get completely ready to walk out the door, tell Rufus to “Sit,” give him a bone or biscuit as you say, “See you later!” and leave! No chit-chat, just go!

Until next time – BE GOOD!

- Bardi

Bardi McLennan bred, trained and showed Welsh Terriers for 30 years, during which time she wrote a monthly column on canine behavior in Dog Fancy Magazine. In addition to contributing to numerous dog publications, she has written 15 books on dogs, the latest being Rescue Me!, which received the ASPCA Humane Issues Award in 2008.