Understanding and Minimizing Excessive Dog Barking

Photo credit: PradaDearest (Flickr.com)

Dogs bark for many different reasons. In a way, barking is as common to dogs as speaking is to people. It is their main mode of communication. You will be able to recognize and respond to their needs better if you can learn what causes your dog to bark.

Why Dogs Bark

One of the most common reasons why dogs bark is to warn you about approaching strangers. Whenever a post man, a visitor or any unfamiliar face comes around, your dog will bark to tell you about it. This is, of course a good thing, since most of us wants an effective watchdog who will give necessary warnings.

Dogs may also bark out of fear or even simply to grab your attention. At times, your pet may want to play with you and he’ll tell you that through barking. Bored dogs will likely bark so try to do something about it.

Hunger is another reason that’s why it is important to feed your pet on time. If you are already doing that, then take the barking as a sign that it’s already time to put food on the plate again.

Excessive Barking Can Be a Problem

While the examples mentioned above are all considered normal, there may be instances when the dog starts barking for no apparent reason.

If your dog is barking too much, then this could be a problem. You will have sleepless nights and you can expect to receive complaints from neighbors, too. As a responsible dog owner, you need to stay on top of things and take appropriate action.

Many pet owners are trying to find safe, effective, quick, and cheap ways of preventing canine behavior problems. But since it is difficult to get these in one package, a majority of them usually fail to achieve a solution. Dog behavior problems such as excessive barking should be corrected because it is a nuisance not only to your household but to the entire neighborhood as well.

Possible Solutions

Basic dog training skills can be a good solution towards minimizing the undesirable noise. Teach principles of obedience to your pet. Be patient and try not to yell when you want him to stop. Instead choose a single word (such as “No” or “Enough”) and use that consistently. Tell everyone in the household about it and make it a rule. Never give treats when the dog is barking because he may misinterpret that as a reward.

Signing up your dog for obedience classes with professional dog trainers can be a good idea. You may also consider consulting with a veterinarian. Sometimes, a health problem can make a dog really grumpy.

Otherwise, you can check out corrective collars sold in the market. This can be a good tool you can use to stop dog barking in your home.

Get Your Dog to Love the Tracking Collar

Partnered with a leash, dog collars are traditionally used to get your pets steady and within your sight whenever you take them for a walk. Over the years, technology advancements have paved the way for many collar types for different purposes. One of the widely used collars by owners who are in for an adventure with their pet dogs is the tracking collar.

Essentially, a dog tracking collar is comprised of a collar with an integrated transmitter that the dog wears, and a receiver carried by the handler or dog owner. Mostly used for training and hunting with dogs, this type of collar is often misconstrued as a terrifying device for man's best friend.

For most who know, however, dog tracking collars are an effective way to get one of the world's smartest animals to put his skills to good use. It is not meant to harm your pet; it is a way to get him to be disciplined, focused and well-behaved, and up for a task that demands his speed and agility.

As it is with any owner-pet relationship, the effects of the use of a tracking collar are highly dependent upon the handler. There are things you can do to ensure that your pet is not in any way frightened or terrified by the collar.

Photo credit: DoggieDocs Pet Store (Flickr.com)

Ask yourself: "Is my dog ready for the day?" Before strapping the collar around your pet's  neck, determine his mood or behavior. Even dogs have bad days and you don’t want to be the selfish pet owner who doesn't care about that. Rules imply that you can't train your dog when he is not in a good mood. Get him to be playful so you won't have problems getting him to wear the tracking collar.

Be sure that your device works perfectly fine. Inspect the tracking collar. If it seems to be not working in any way, get it fixed first before using it on your dog. You can't risk putting your pet into a potentially disastrous situation just because the device isn't functioning as it should. You should also get a reputable brand to ensure no glitches occur.

Thoughtless handling is a no-no. Your Pit Bull may look like the toughest animal on the planet, but inside he is a sensitive pet that needs to be assured he is going to be alright. Exude a relaxed and happy mood when strapping the collar onto his neck. Most owners who observe their dog's anxiety talk him out of it.

Supervise at all times. Do not leave your dog unsupervised when wearing the tracking collar. Needless to say, you are responsible for keeping your pet animal safe in the hog hunting area.

Give your dog extra treats. Your dog will look forward to wearing that tracking collar when he is able to associate it with pleasant experiences. It will give him confidence about what he can do for you, and is just as glad to that he made you happy with a job well done.

With these small yet highly doable steps, you can be the responsible and sensitive dog handler when bringing your skillful pet to pig hunting. With a lot of patience and awareness about the right use of the device, you can enjoy a successful adventure without the worries.

Advantages of Using Invisible Dog Fences

These days, more and more dog owners are realizing the convenience of installing invisible dog fences on their home.

These wireless fences can be very useful if you want to keep your pet safe within your area. Instead of letting him roam around the neighborhood (or even possibly running towards the street), your dog will stay within your permitted limit as you use this effective tool. Despite opposition from some animal advocate groups, the use of dog fences is approved by many because of how helpful it can be.    

I personally chose to install an invisible fence on our home mainly for my dog’s security. Some fellow pet lovers have asked me why and I have repeatedly shared with them the benefits mentioned in this article. Read on and I will explain!

Photo credit: Havahart Wireless (Flickr.com)

1. Not too expensive

Generally speaking, a wooden fence can cost around $8 per feet while a metal fence will set you back about $25 per feet.

You can instead have the option of installing an invisible fence on your own. By so doing, you can

reduce your expenses to only $125 to $500 for your entire yard. Otherwise, you may hire the services of a professional installer for an overall $1000 to $2500. This is still a lot more affordable than buying wood or metal fences.  

2. Protect your garden

Aside from keeping your dog in a limited space, one obvious benefit of having barriers at home is that you can protect the garden from your pet. Your flowers and other plants will stay unharmed if you have fences in the right place.

3. Protect your properties

The same can actually be said about your air conditioning system, swimming pool, and other important properties. With these fences installed, damages and accidents will be avoided.    

4. Maintain the beauty of your home

Unlike wood or metal fences, invisible fences are just that – invisible. This means you will not have to worry about any potential eye sores at all. No view will be blocked and you will be able to retain your home’s appearance exactly the way you want it.  

5. Prevent jumping and digging

Unlike the traditional options, wireless fences can be very effective and economical in containing your pet. Dogs will not be able to dig holes around it, climb, or jump over it. Your canine friend will definitely not go anywhere as you utilize these fences. You will have greater peace of mind knowing that your pet (and your properties) will always be safe.

As a pet owner, the safety and well-being of your furry pets should be one of your major concerns. You can now give it an ultimate solution by knowing more about dog fencing. It will surely put your worries away.

Related Articles You Might Like to Read:

Preventing Canine Behavior Problems (tufts.edu)

Invisible Fence Review: The Pros & Cons Of Invisible Dog Fences (thefuntimesguide.com)

Choosing and Using an Electric Dog Fence (equipetstores.com)

How to Compare Electric Dog Fences (wagsandwhiskerspetboutique.com)

Melbourne Loves Pets

Melbourne seems to love pets, as most pet shows typically begin or at least take a stop in Melbourne. At any rate, here's one more that says goodbye to February and welcomes the month of March: Melbourne Pet & Animal Expo.

This expo has a little twist: it's aimed more towards those in the pet care industry than pet lovers themselves. This expo is all about teaching those in the pet care business on how to reach more customers and effective marketing strategies.

This doesn't mean that there's nothing left for the average dog lover. If a lot of exhibitors join the event, it's still going to be just like any other pet expo: only less pets and more products for pets. Either way, everybody wins. Imagine going to the event and bringing home tons of goodies for your pets. They'll love you even more!

The Melbourne Pet & Animal Expo is a two-day event that starts on February 28^th and ends on March 1^st. So if you're interested, head over to the Exhibition Hall on February 28^th. If you are unable to make it, there's another show on March 1^st. The second show will be held at the Melbourne Showgrounds. 

B.I.N.G.O. de Mayo

There's never a finer time to take your pooches out for a great time than the beautiful days of May. If you're from Melbourne or just happen to be on Melbourne on the first few days of the month of May, head over to the Royal Exhibition building to see some of the most beautiful beasts you'll ever see. That is, if you're a dog lover.

Introducing the Melbourne leg of the aptly-named Dog Lovers Show! It's a three-day event that allows you to see dogs – lots of them. If you love canines, this will be heaven. 

 

As only dogs who enter the show are allowed, you may not bring your beloved pooch with you. Unfortunate as it is, you will be able to find a lot of doggy treats that you can bring home. When attending the event, you'll also get to learn more about how to be a better dog owner. Who knows? Perhaps you'll be the first few ones to attest to the fact that old dogs can learn new tricks.

Schedules and ticket prices will vary, so look at the below list for more details. You can also find this on the official Dog Lovers Show website.

How to Solve a Dog Barking Problem

Photo Credit: dagnyg (Flickr.com)

Having a dog is a lot of fun. At the same time, it's also a lot of work. This is why training your pet is essential during its puppy years, so you can prevent behavior problems. On one hand, a barking dog is a good thing as it alerts its owners to the presence of a possible intruder. On the other, a dog barking for an unknown reason can cause sleepless nights by both its owners and the neighbors. If your dog has a barking problem, there are ways for you to minimize it.

First, you'll need to understand that it's perfectly normal for a dog to bark. If your pooch is making too much noise, there are not a lot of reasons why it's doing so. One possible reason is when someone it doesn't recognize is near. Barking is a dog's way of both alerting its owners that someone's outside your door as well as its way to scare that intruder off or greet a friendly face.

Another possible reason for a barking dog is it's either confused or scared. This happens a lot when its owners leave and it undergoes a period of anxiety. This also happens when a visitor is freely roaming around the house and the owners don't really care; the dog is left to wonder why that's so, and starts to bark unnecessarily at the visitor.

One probably universal reason that dogs bark too much is that they have too much energy. This can be remedied by giving your dog a small time of undivided attention every day. You can do this for play or for taking long walks. Either way, the aim here is for your pooch to get some exercise. When the dog has had too much fun for one day, he'll just plop on the floor and rest. The barking may continue, but without the usual energy the animal has, it will at least be kept to a minimum.

Another way to keep a dog from barking is to not encourage it; and most people unwittingly do. When a dog continuously barks at nothing and its owners yell at it, the animal may take it as you joining in the fun and will bark even louder. You either establish yourself as the pack leader,  or ignore or not show any reaction to it, but you can distract the barking with a noise from somewhere. Bang the table or clap your hands loudly without looking at the pooch. The distraction may interest the animal and it'll ignore whatever it was barking at.

As a last resort, you can go for dog barking collars. There are different types of these, but all serve the same purpose of distracting the dog when starting to bark. Keep in mind that using these collars excessively can be bad for your pooch, so take them off from time to time.

Related Links:

What 'Difficult' Dogs Can Teach Us (huffingtonpost.com)

Tips for training a well-mannered dog (money.cnn.com)