Why Does A Dog Bark - What Are The Solutions?

Most of the dog owners are without a clue when their dog barks and becomes a problem for their neighborhood. If the causes of the dog barking are found, it becomes possible to fix the dog's bad behavior. A dog owner who wants to avoid any problem with his neighbors has many alternatives available from positive training courses to the use of anti-barking devices.

Why does a dog bark? A dog barks to communicate a message, show excitement or draw attention. The sound can't be taken as a rich information message similar to human speech because it is not a language. There are distinctions in the tonality of a bark that can be recognized: disturbance barks are rough and low frequency while play barks are of a more tonal and higher frequency. A bark combined to a particular body posture may send a proper message to the dog's owner about what is going on.

The main types of barks are warning barks and alarm barks. A warning bark is a response to a territorial intrusion and starts as a low growl becoming more loud and ferocious. If the dog feels in danger, it may as well show its teeth. An alarm bark is a reaction to an unusual event and voiced by one or two barks, which are in no way aggressive. The dog may keep on barking until action has been taken by the handler.

There are also other types of barks which are playful barks, need barks and on request barks. A dog barks for a treat or during a play session with its owner. It barks in order to have the owner satisfy its need such as providing food when it is hungry or letting it going outside to do its business. Some owners also teach their dogs to bark on command, which is part of a dog obedience training course.

When barking is a nuisance, the behavior can be controlled in different ways, with the easiest solution being the first, and the last the most controversial:

- Finding the reason of the barking and if possible eliminating it.
- Correcting the behavior with positive training methods.
- Attending a dog training course.
- Using a bark collar.
- Surgical debarking.

If a dog barks at another family pet such as a parrot, the solution would be to isolate the cage in another location. Positive training is a way to correct the behavior without punishment. Time needs to be spent with the dog in order to stimulate the animal to remain quiet, and give treats or praise when the barking stops. Dog training classes are also a wonderful way to go, but they need commitment and training centers are not always conveniently located close to one's home.

There are a few types of very effective bark collars, which are more or less well received by dog lovers. Basically the device produces a response to a bark that annoys the dog and makes the animal stop. A citrus spray collar sprays citronella, that dogs do not like, to disrupt the pattern of barking. A vibrating ultrasonic collar produces a tone that humans can't hear but irritates the dog and progressively discourage barking. An electrical collar produces a mild stinging or tingling sensation after each bark. The latter is the most arguable mechanical device of all for obvious reasons.

Surgical debarking is a procedure to modify the dog's voice box so that a bark makes a reduced noise. This is the last option available for a stubborn dog that won't stop to bark despite all the efforts made by its owner. It is very controversial and also illegal in certain countries.