The dog who barks at anything that moves

Barking is a normal behavior for dogs. It's impossible to eliminate barking, but a dog's behavior can be modified to avoid excessive barking. As a dog grows and becomes accustomed to its environment, it loses the habit of barking in response to everyday noises that pose no threat to the house, the family or itself. Every dog is different, and you should consult your veterinarian for advice on your dog's behavior.

According to Dr. Gary Landsberg, a veterinarian specializing in animal behavior, the secret to eliminating unwanted barking is to train the dog to obey simple commands, such as “come”, “sit”, “stay” or “down”. This training enables the owner to interrupt unwanted behavior and replace it with an easy-to-execute, rewarding command. For example, if the dog barks because it sees the neighbor gardening, the owner can ask the animal to come and sit. Once the dog has obeyed (desirable behavior), the owner can reward him. This helps the dog forget about the neighbor, so he stops barking. Over time, by frequently asking the dog to come and sit, the handler teaches him that there's no need to be on guard, and that acceptable behavior (that which is rewarded) does not include barking.

Dr. Landsberg points out that when an owner punishes or scolds his barking dog, he risks aggravating the problem. Firstly, the owner's loud voice or anger can increase the dog's insecurity at the approach of a visitor, prompting it to redouble its barking. Secondly, even negative attention while barking can encourage the dog to bark louder and longer. The aim is to calm the dog and reward him for acceptable behavior. Collars that spray citronella when the dog barks are an effective way of silencing some dogs, but the owner should be present to ensure that the dog really calms down and to reward him as soon as he does.

When an owner regularly gets up at night to deal with his dog (whether it's because the dog is barking, panting, whining or wandering around the house), he risks aggravating the problem if it's one of behavior. As for panting, it can be due to both physical and behavioral causes, so a medical examination is recommended.

In many cases, a cozy sleeping enclosure can promote calm sleep (for both dog and owner!) throughout the night. Setting up this enclosure in the basement first, and playing soft music to drown out disturbing noises, can calm the dog and eliminate nocturnal activities that disturb the owner's sleep. After a few nights, the dog not only gets used to sleeping in an enclosed pen, but often this pen becomes the preferred place for daily naps, if it has a soft bedding.

The dog is thought to regard this enclosure as a comfortable and safe “den”. It doesn't compromise the dog's development, as long as he's not confined to it day and night, depriving him of social contact.