Continuing with the miscellaneous questions asked by our readers, we will, today, tackle the problem associated with the incessant barker.
If you have been following the “Pet Care” columns, you would have realised that irrespective of the topic, I am inclined to provide you with definitions, so that there can be no misunderstanding about what we are discussing. Bearing this in mind, the scientific definition of “EXCESSIVE BARKING” is an amount of barking that causes distress, and which is unacceptable to humans. This condition can be further described as any incessant/overzealous barking which can be associated with the dog’s anxiety or a fundamental pathological, behavioural disorder.
WHY DO HEALTHY DOGS BARK INCESSANTLY?
Now, dogs bark for all sorts of reasons.
They may be attempting to “tell” the caregiver:
“Why am I being kept outside on this cold and wet evening? It was only recently, when I was a puppy, that I was warmly ensconced in the safe, snug, and warm kitchen with my own soft bed. What’s up? What did I do?”
I know that I am anthropomorphizing the dog’s behaviour. But, you know, dogs do express many of human traits and behavioural patterns; for example: envy; jealousy; anger; the need to be loved and to show affection; the desire to be the alpha male/female in the house/yard; and so on. And the dog will continue to plead (bark) his case until something is done to alleviate its distress. Your disregard of the dog’s needs will not help matters. He/she will continue to present the case – unceasingly.
Perhaps the canine custodian of your premises might want to alert the caregiver that there are predators (poisonous toads, snakes, etc.) that have established a home in an adjacent gutter or some secluded place on the premises. The dog, feeling that it has to protect its master’s home will continuously try to intimidate that undesirable intruder into leaving. Since the latter will not acquiesce to the invitation to leave, the barking persists.
Then there is the necessity (for the home-dog, that is) to “tell” visiting strays (or any other animals in the immediate neighbourhood) that they are trespassing. Since the other intruders could not be bothered, then the barking continues – at least until your “Rover” understands that all the barking in the world is not going to change the current locus standi (the already established state of affairs).
However, I should add that dogs that are confined solely within the home/yard, and never taken for a walk, are more likely to use barking to communicate with other dogs in the vicinity.
One very common cause of incessant barking is simply boredom, or the lack of requisite attention.
Chaining a dog, for hours and end, is clearly cruel. It is also against the law here in Guyana and all over the Caribbean. Let me also state categorically and unequivocally that chaining a dog for extended periods will surely lead to the development of an aggressive disposition. It also affects the dog’s health negatively.
Age and Gender
The researchers have found that incessant barking can occur with equal frequency in both sexes and at any age. Puppy vocalisations are more often associated with care–seeking (Tender Loving Care) behavior. Adult dogs seem to react with increased barking to deficiencies of the caregiver, not lastly neglect and the lack of Tender Loving Care.
I must mention that Puppies (and even some adults dog) when introduced to a kennel with other barking adults, may learn excessive barking (by observation), which in turn can become obsessive.
Breed
Breeds of dogs that are on record for being high maintenance on the barking scale include Chihuahuas, Beagles, Pomeranians, Siberian Huskies, and Yorkshire Terriers. Here in Guyana, we all know that the common mongrel can fall into this category, and mainly for the reasons cited above.
Whatever the reasons, the caregiver must appreciate that its ward is attempting to “tell” him/her something and the problem can be fixed if you can determine exactly what is the reason for the barking. Next week, we shall explore the possible treatment regimens to deal with the problem of incessant barkers.
