Why do dogs bark?
Breed – some dogs were bred to bark such as hounds and dogs used as guards
Frustration – energy not burned by appropriate exercise can manifest itself in barking
Emotional need – boredom, anxiety, excitement
Attention – barking will get them attention – whether it is good or bad
Noise – dogs, people, thunder, cars, horns, doorbells, fireworks etc….
Physical need – hungry, needs to eliminate
Barking can be one of the most difficult behaviors to modify. It is a self rewarding activity meaning the act of barking is its own reward in many instances. Barking is also an normal and innate behavior, meaning barking is in a dog’s genetic makeup. A basic foundation of obedience training is a must! Excessive barking, really is not the problem, it is a symptom. To cure the symptom, we must find out why he is barking to decrease the occurance and teach him to stop barking when you say.
Leaving your dog in the back yard while you are away can lead to boredom, excited or anxious barking. Excessive barking outdoors may lead to lawsuits. It may be best to leave your dog inside or in a crate if necessary to prevent the annoyance to your neighbors. If your dog is barking in the back yard, try leaving then sneaking back to a spot where you can watch your dog without him knowing you are there and observe when he is barking. Is he barking at something he sees or hears or is he barking just for the sake of barking? If you see that he is barking AT something, the first thing to do is try to prevent the dog from seeing or hearing the things that are triggering his barking. If he is barking for the sake of barking, that is something entirely different.
Is he bored? Make sure he has plenty of toys that you can rotate on a daily basis. Chew toys that can be stuffed with a yummy filling then frozen can keep your dog busy. Hiding different toys around the back yard or in the house can also keep him busy looking for the next toy (this is not recommended for dogs that are destructive). Interactive toys that make noise, have food stuffed in them or can be pushed around for treats to fall out of are all great ways to keep him busy.
I believe dog training should be fun, rewarding and exciting for both the dog and the human. I take a scientific approach to training and train through love, kindness and respect with clearly defined rules and boundaries and get fabulous results. I have been a trainer for 20 years, graduated from Animal Behavior College (ABCDT), I am certified through Association of Professional Dog Trainers/Certification Counsel for Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT-KA) and the International Association of Canine Professionals (CDT). I am the founder and president of HEARTland Positive Dog Training Alliance; a group of pet professionals and dog owners dedicated to positive reinforcement training.
Your Dog Care Tips: Keep Your Dog Safe in Your Backyard
Keep your dog safe in your backyard. All dogs suffer when it is too hot. Some are particularly vulnerable to heatstroke. If you are in a hot climate, make sure you have a shaded area or a porch where the dog can get out of the sun.
It is vital they have a secure source of fresh water; by secure we mean he can’t easily tip it over.
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Common sense is important when deciding whether it is safe to leave your dog outside: a short coated dog or a companion dog that is bred to spend his life indoors will not be able to tolerate being left outside in a cold climate. Your dog care tips include:
Securing Your Yard
It may not make sense to you that the same dog that is so happy to see you when you get home may want to find his way out of the back yard to freedom, but many dogs are lost each year because of this.
Most dogs do not have a good sense of the dangers cars represent. Once outside your yard, they may just follow interesting scents and be so focused on those they aren’t aware of approaching vehicles. They can also get frightened and run right into traffic. Many breeds are efficient diggers.
They can tunnel under a wooden fence with ease. A back gate that is not latched properly can also give your dog an escape route.
With smaller breeds, only a few inch gap between slats can be enough for them to squeeze through. Think of this in the positive way: your dog is not trying to escape from your house, he is perhaps trying to find you.
The first thing you need to do is check the perimeter of your yard for any gaps in the fence. One easy solution is to dig down six inches below ground and affix narrow gage wire fencing material to your existing fence. You can hold the fencing in place below ground by burying bricks, rocks or pavers.
This will make it more difficult for your dog to tunnel under, and have the added benefit or making it harder for rodents or snakes to get into your yard. You may also want to padlock your gate.
A strong dog may try to push open the gate, and some gates with loose latches can even be blown open by the wind. Keeping your fence in good repair is important.
If the dog can find a loose or weak slat to chew through, he will.
Safety Inside The Yard
Your beautiful back yard with the trees, flowers, grass and vegetable garden may seem like paradise to you, and your dog will certainly enjoy romping around back there, but there are safety considerations as well, and you will want to make sure your tender plants are protected from your dog.
Again, dogs love to dig. Some breeds, in fact, simply have to dig. For them, it is part of the joy of being alive. They don’t care if what they are digging up is a prized flower garden, or the spinach crop you have been carefully tending since early spring.
And a dog doesn’t at all mind taking a short cut through the flower beds trampling them as he goes. You may want to consider fencing off areas of your yard to protect your plants. This is particularly the case with frisky young pups.
As your dog grows you will be able to train him to stay out the flower or vegetable garden, but to a puppy, it all looks like a playground.
Your dog care tips will keep your dog safe in your backyard.
Find more about your dog care tips. Dee Power is the author of several nonfiction books and the novel “Over Time.” She is the proud companion of Rose, the Irish Setter, and Kate the English Springer Spaniel. Read Rose and Kate’s blog.
Article Source: ArticleSpan