Not such a good day for Linda....perhaps too many activities...too much company.....an accumulation of chemo....or a combination....who knows....tomorrow she is going to "lie low"....we have company tomorrow night and she has agreed to sleep in (if our neighbor's new dog allows it....his persistent barking woke us before 8 am this morning) and take naps during the day....she did take two naps today.
Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.....
Why Dogs Bark
The first step in obtaining peace and quiet is to realize that most dogs bark for specific reasons. Some reasons include:
Solitary Confinement. A dog left alone or confined for long periods without supervision is likely to bark because he feels anxious or sad and is afraid the owner may not return. (Will your dog be left along for much of the day? Some dogs adapt to this better than others.)
Who's in Charge Here? Your dog may bark excessively for your attention because you unintentionally trained him to do so. One "woof" and you open the door to let him out. Another and you let him in. A polite bark is rewarded with a treat. A loud one brings praise for alerting you to stranger danger. Too much barking brings censure. To a dog, humans are consistently inconsistent.
Inactivity. Lack of exercise can easily result in a dog that has pent-up energy and barks out of frustration. A well-exercised, happy dog is more likely to sleep when you're not there.
How to Stop the Barking
So, what can you do about your dog's barking? Here are some tips:
Let's get physical. Dogs that spend most of their time in the backyard or in the house probably need an exercise outlet. Even if your yard is large, dashing around it in circles is not the equivalent of exercise and interaction. Take your dog for a long walk, or head to the park for a change of scenery and a game of fetch.
Love the one you're with. Bring your dog into the house when you're home. It's important that he feels he's part of the family and is loved. Develop a relationship with him through play and fun.
You've got a friend in me. Dogs are social creatures. Take your dog to the same park daily or weekly and let him make doggy friends. Dogs romping around together tire easily and sleep soundly.
More Strategies
Once you've tried some of these doggie deterrents, if your dog still insists on barking his heart out, then you may need to employ a more serious at-home training strategy like this:
First, teach your dog that barking is okay until he is told to "Be quiet." Each time your dog barks, command him to "Be quiet." Simultaneously, hold a treat in front of your dog's nose. Most dogs get quiet immediately because they can't sniff and lick the treat while barking at the same time.
Praise your dog continuously during his quiet time with petting and words of encouragement.
After three seconds of no barking, let him have the treat. As you continue with your training, increase the amount of time you require him to be quiet before giving the treat.
When your dog makes a mistake and barks (and he will) reprimand him immediately. Never strike your dog, but do something that will catch his attention, such as clapping loudly or squirting water in his face. As soon as your dog stops barking, you must instantly reward him.
Monday, May 11, 2009
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5 comments:
Uggh.....we have a neighborhood of barking dogs. I could reprint your barking dog info and send out flyers to the neighbors....but the dogs would still bark on.
Our bodies certainly are not subtle about telling us we have done too much. Rest up, Linda. I am often amazed at how much the two of you are doing.
Marilyn
Hi there,
I certainly can relate to an overwhelming amount of company. Folks are just trying to be supportive and caring but don't realize the pressure they put on the person who is not feeling well.
It is a very fine line to advocate for your loved one and not be the unreasonable gate keeper for visitors.
I remember reading somewhere that they now have a device that is hidden in a bird feeder that lets off a sound only a dog can here when it barks. If it works your neighbors would never know. It sounded pretty cool. But in my old age I have no clue where I saw it.
Take care you two.
Sandy B
Hope your Mother's Day was a great one, you were on my mind as I drove home from Bonnie Lake. Hope you are feeling chipper again soon. Excited to hear you booked the Alaska Cruise. Other than it being cold and I like warm, it was really beautiful. Love to you from me, Judy
Bark Free is what we used. It does work but only if aimed directly at the dog, not "in the vicinity" and with nothing in between to block the sound waves.
We eventually had to go to city arbitration about the incessent barking. We won, of course. Neighbors don't talk to us any more but the dog does not bark every 3 minutes (I am not exaggerating; we submitted a log into evidence) any more either. I know this doggie just needs to be trained. I wish you patience to do it!
Definitely agree about all that good fun company. Wow, I couldn't handle it all. They love you more than anything so they'll be happy just to be in the same space you are. Take your time and rest. They won't mind. They just want to be with you and make you feel better. If rest is what does it, that's what they will want also.
Marjorie
Rest up and don't overdo it, young lady!! Glad you're doing well, other than the tiredness.
Just stopped by to say "hi!". Haven't had much to say lately, but didn't want you to think I wasn't here.
Love to you both, as always.
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