Dogs bark to communicate. If we start with that simple understanding, the idea of dealing with a “problem barker” becomes a whole lot easier. It changes our focus from doing anything we can to make the dog “shut up,” to figuring out what the dog is trying to say – so we can address his concerns, and finding more constructive and quieter ways for communication to occur.
We’ve asked two canine behavior experts to step in and help us solve the barking problem. TTouch practitioner Sabra Learned, of Berkeley, California, teaches us how to hear what our dogs are saying, and how to establish more quiet and effective lines of communication with them. Trainer Dr. Ian Dunbar shares some methods that can be used to teach any dog when and how to bark, and when and how to stop.
But what should I do if there is a dog barking all night outside my window and, stealing a line from the Pink Panther movie with Peter Sellers, “It is not my dog”? Some of us have neighbors who don’t seem to know or care about their dog’s incessant barking. For relief from this kind of noisy onslaught, we are pleased to offer practical and legal remedies from attorney Mary Randolph’s indispensible book, Dog Law, published by Nolo Press.
Also With This Article
Click here to view “Why Dogs Bark and How to Stop Them”
