What to do about dogs that bark?

First, let’s talk about what makes a dog bark. There are many reasons, such as boredom, watching out for your human home, fear barking and request barking.

Although listening to your dog bark might be incredibly annoying to you, it doesn’t bother your dog or his canine companions in the least. Many people feel that their dogs exhibit a variety of barks for differing situations. Such as, “I smell a moose” or “I am going to chase that rabbit that is running away from me.” The tone can communicate different information to the trained human ear.

Let’s look at the different reasons a dog might bark and how to deal with each appropriately:

• Making requests: Your dog might be telling you that he wants to go for a walk or that he is hungry. It is best not to reward your dog for this barking by accommodating his request. Wait until the barking has stopped and then give your dog what he wants. Ignore any continued barking.

• Being a good watchdog: Try not to chastise your dog for doing what he thinks is his job – taking care of your safety. Instead, teach him to bark just once. You can do this by using the command, “bark,” and then have a person knock on the door. When your dog barks, give another command to end the barking, such as, “enough.” Give your dog a tasty treat immediately. Repeat this process until your dog produces the required response.

• Boredom: If this is the case, you need to spend more time with your dog. Give your dog a stimulating toy to occupy him while you are away for the day. Kongs are excellent toys that can be stuffed with tasty treats. Remember that dogs are social animals and they should not spend a great deal of time away from you.

• Fear: Watch your dog’s body language to determine the source of the fear (rigid body, fur up or tail between his legs). The best cure for this is prevention. Socialize your dog to be exposed to as many different types of people, sounds and locations as possible. An under-socialized dog will fear many things. Take your dog to a positive dog training facility to help you train him to be comfortable around a variety of experiences. Introduce your dog to as many treat-carrying people that you can get to take part in this process with you. Do not ever reward your dog when he is barking.

So, become an expert at interpreting your dog’s vocalizations and meet his needs at the appropriate time and manner. Give your dog lots of exercise — a tired dog is a good dog! Most of all, make certain that your dog is treated as a member of your family and almost all his needs will be met by your love and time.

Angie Lewis is vice president for Alaska Dog and Puppy Rescue.