All Things Dog Blog

Monday, March 21, 2011

Ask the Dog Trainer, with Terry Lynn Cuyler: Home Alone; Daytime Barkers

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Dear Terry,
My coworker got a letter from his HOA that his dog is barking throughout the day. He is a little like me and wants the most natural way of going about this..I suggested maybe the TV or radio. Anything else I could tell him?

Thanks, Elizabeth

-------------------------------

Dear Elizabeth,

Your suggestion of the TV or radio turned on is a good one. Through a Dog’s Ear is a music CD series developed to calm and sooth a dog, and works well even within shelters.

Here are some other tips. If the dog has run of the house, he may be barking at things he sees out the window. Limit the stimulation he is getting that way so he has less to bark at – close blinds, barricade him away from entries, keep him in a crate or laundry room so he hears and sees less to get him barking. Keep several stuffable chew toys such as a Kong or BusyBudy filled with his daily ration of food so he has his mind stimulated, but is too busy working to get his food to bark. If he’s just bored, hiding the stuffed food toys will keep him occupied. These products are available at Amazon and EntirelyPets.com. You can click here to order form Amazon, or to search for other options:

Amazon.com Widgets

A product called D.A.P. (dog appeasing pheromone) is a scent undetectable by humans but soothing to dogs. It is the smell emitted by nursing mother dogs. Many vets carry this without a prescription. Bark collars are a last resort. The dog might have separation anxiety but this is best discussed with a trainer because more often it is just boredom. True separation anxiety is best treated with behavior modification and medication together.

PawsProf

Our ASK THE DOG TRAINER Column can be reached at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com. For more information on Terry Lynn Cuyler and her training, you may find her at Paws Prof. A personal appointment with a trainer will likely provide more specific information on your dog's issues and your questions.

2 comments:

Elizabeth said...: Love it. Thank you! I really hope this can help him!; March 21, 2011 at 5:29 PM
FANCY the Red Standard Poodle said...: Hi Y'all,

Great ideas, some of which I have tried and love...especially when my Human gives me a frozen Kong.

Crates are like our den and it gives us a nice protected feeling. They also leave the radio playing on the station to which the Humans usually listen.

Just stopped to tell y'all we posted our thank you's for our Award.

Thanks again,
Hawk aka BrownDog; March 22, 2011 at 2:47 PM