Got Silence?

Many people want it, but most don’t have it when they have a dog in their life. What we are talking about is silence! Dogs bark for numerous reasons, but mainly to get their owners attention. Because they can’t speak to tell their owners that they’re bored or something is wrong—they bark instead. When dogs seem to get bored and need some entertainment they bark, also.

Some dogs bark for fun. Although it might not be fun for us humans at 3:00 in the morning, to them it can be a game. Since dogs don’t wear watches or have cell phone with the time on it, any time is game time to them!

When dogs are isolated from society, they seem to bark a lot. They bark because they are left alone and they need to release their pent up energy. Even if you leave your dog outside, they’re still alone and will bark because there is nothing stopping them, controlling them, or telling them not to!

Try and ignore your dog when they are barking nonstop. Yes, it is hard not to feed into the temptation of petting or playing with your dog—but for them to stop barking this is very necessary. Or try and distract them when they are barking with toys and food.

When you say good bye to your dog, and also animatedly come into your house—it will obviously excite your dog. When you practice not saying goodbye and come home nonchalantly, than your dog will get acquainted to it instead of getting so excited that you’re leaving or are home. Before you walk out the door to go to work, school, etc., settle your dog in with a good chew toy or bone. With using the chew toy or bone as a distraction, you can usually sneak out of the house without your dog noticing or getting upset. Also that chew toy or bone will be there for them to play with while you’re gone and hopefully will help calm down all of the barking.