BARKING PROBLEMS IN DOGS

Barking is a means of communication. It is sometimes used to repel or to attract another living thing. Depending on the tone and body language of the dog, it may signal the feeling of being threatened, an alarm call to the pack, aggression or an invitation to play.

DIAGNOSIS OF EXCESSIVE BARKING

ETIOLOGY AND RISK FACTORS

• Causes
• Attention-seeking behavior - Dogs seeking constant attention often receive it by continuous barking. The owner reinforces the barking by responding. Even negative reinforcement in the form of a reprimand may "reward" the dog for barking. A dog that barks to get attention will have been trained to do so by random intermittent reinforcement of the dog's barking. Barking for attention, if ignored, will intensify initially as the dog works even harder to be heard. Eventually though, the behavior will extinguish if not rewarded
• Separation anxiety barking - Barking caused by separation anxiety often occurs shortly after an owner leaves the house and continues while they are absent. There seem to be two types of barking related to separation anxiety:
• The acute, hysterical type of barking begins within minutes of the owner's departure. This is a sign of panic in the dog.
• The chronic, monotonous type of barking expresses a sense of hopelessness following an owner's departure. The two types of barking have similar causation, yet sound different and represent different stages of the same condition. The acute variety takes the form of intermittent bouts of "expectant" barking, perhaps interspersed with bursts of whining. It is designed to attract the attention of the owner. The treatment for this problem is the same as the treatment of separation anxiety because that is the root cause of the problem.
• Chronic "stereotypic" barking, with its monotone and seemingly mindless motivation, also often arises from separation anxiety. It occurs once the purpose of the dog's barking has changed to become a simple release of energy - a displacement behavior.
• Territorial/alarm barking - Dogs bark to warn the "pack" of perceived strangers or intruders, but the barking is often curtailed if the dog is introduced to the stranger. Anxious or fearful dogs tend to continue barking and take longer to quiet down.
• Risk factors
• Age - Dogs bark at all ages. However, younger dogs have a greater predilection for continuous barking.
• Breed/genetics - Genetics plays some role in barking. By nature, some breeds bark more than others. Beagles and Shetland sheepdogs, for instance, are more vocal. Conversely, greyhounds and basenjis rarely bark.
• Sex - There is no known influence.
• Geographic/environmental - Environment plays a large role in excessive barking. A dog may engage in constant barking to relieve tension or convey frustration, panic or sense of helplessness (see "Separation Anxiety" above).
• Other medical disorders - Several medical conditions may contribute to the cause of excessive barking, such as hypothyroidism, attention deficit hyperactivity and other cognitive disorders.

CONTROLLING EXCESSIVE BARKING

TREATMENT PRINCIPLES

Controlling excessive barking depends on the underlying cause, be it attention-seeking or separation anxiety. Counter-conditioning techniques often play a central role in extinguishing excessive barking.

Attention-seeking behavior - Several methods may be employed to extinguish barking. The owner should note that even scolding may constitute reward for barking.

• Attention withdrawal: The owner ignores the unwanted behavior, providing attention only when the dog is quiet. All contact should be avoided (including eye contact).
• Bridging stimulus: This is an audible signal that precedes the owner's withdrawal of attention. A click, duck call or some other unique sound is made as the dog begins to bark for attention. The dog learns that attention withdrawal will soon follow the noise. It focuses the dog's attention on the consequences of continued barking.
• Punishment: As a rule, punishment should be avoided as it can have the opposite effect (i.e., rewarding the dog). However, more sensitive dogs may respond to audible punishment. Owners issue a "quiet" command such as "No bark!", punishing the dog for noncompliance by making some noise unpleasant to the dog (a shake can with pennies or small stones inside, an air horn, etc.).
• Reward: Rewarding silence tends to be more effective. The dog is given treats and praise during moments of silence. It sometimes helps to train the dog to bark on cue as well as quiet down on cue. In this way, barking can be properly and fully controlled.
• Counter-conditioning: Counter-conditioning involves training the dog to do something that is incompatible with a previously conditioned behavior, in this case barking. For example, the owner can train the dog to go to his bed, where he will receive praise and perhaps a food treat, whenever the cue for barking arises, such as mealtime or talking with someone on the telephone. The new behavior (lying quietly and/or eating) replaces and is incompatible with barking for attention.

Separation anxiety - If the barking is a symptom of separation anxiety, a treatment regimen should be established to resolve the underlying disorder. See the article on separation anxiety.

• Treatment involves training independence at home and altering the relationship between owner and dog to one that is more healthy (i.e., dog does not cling to the owner.
• Besides counter-conditioning and regular exercise, medication may prove beneficial in cases of anxiety-induced excessive barking.