Why is that dog barking?
PET BULLETIN
‘Mews and Yips’ from the Central Aroostook Humane Society
By Gloria J. Towle
All of us have heard that dog barking incessantly down the street. In fact, my sister mentioned just the other day that there is one dog that is continuously barking at all hours of the day on just the street above hers. It is beyond frustrating, and even though you don’t want to cause problems or hard feelings, reporting the problem may be the best option.
Having your town’s Animal Control Officer checking the situation may find that the dog is in distress. If your dog is the one barking, you need to know why it is barking to begin with. 
You never want your dog to totally hush if they are trying to alert you to danger. But you can teach him to calm down by responding to the alert and telling the dog they are good for alerting you. So be careful how you handle the barking if they are just trying to be a watchdog.
If the dog is doing excessive barking out of boredom, try spending more time with the dog. Take it for some long walks or play games of fetch with it. It may just need some more exercise.
Dog barking problems occur frequently in households with pets. Barking is a natural response of dogs; it is a way of communication. Some people interpret barking as a sign of alert and aggression, but in fact, dog barking can have other causes also.
Why dogs bark too much
1. Self-identification. A dog uses barking as a self-identification method. This is a means of communication among dogs. Barking can let the other dogs know who he is and how far he is located.
2. Alert barking. Dogs are famous for being able to alert their owners about diverse events: the presence of a stranger or territorial intrusion. This is known as territorial or alert barking and the dog typically starts with a growl and this develops into loud barking.
3. Attention seeking. Barking dogs may bark when they want to draw attention on themselves or on something that is going on: a car arriving, mail, unusual noises, cats, children playing, etc. This is different than territorial barking: the dog barks a few times and waits for some attention or action to be taken. Typically, the dog barks to seek attention if there are people around; attention seeking barking is more frequent in mature dogs that have developed awareness of their surroundings.
4. Excitement and playful barking. Dogs can communicate their excitement by barking. If you play with him he might request a treat by barking. This is a friendly behavior and the barking stops after you have given a treat or offered some attention to your dog.
5. Barking to signal needs. A dog may realize that by barking he can signal his need of food and affection or when he wants to go outside. So, he will be sitting in front of the food bowl and barking when he feels hungry or barking in front of the door when he wants to go outside. This behavior is similar to the attention-seeking barking.
6. Anxiety and stress. Dogs may bark if they are under stress or if they suffer from separation anxiety. The stress may be induced by different factors or diseases, so it might be a good idea to visit a vet. Also, try to help your dog accommodate to the possible changes that may have caused stress. If the dog is left by himself for too long, he will start barking out of boredom or anxiety.
How to stop excessive barking
Excessive barking may be problematic for dog owners; it is noisy and may disturb the neighbors. It is important to detect the cause of the barking so as to be able to find a suitable solution.
Obedience training may solve the problem. Calming down and distracting the dog are frequent methods used to stop the barking when a stimulus that induces barking occurs. There are also different types of bark collars that can correct your dog’s behavior.
If you are looking for a friend for life, stop by the Central Aroostook Humane Society. We are located at 26 Cross Street, Presque Isle. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., closing for lunch 12-12:30. Please be responsible: spay and neuter your pets.
(Reference: Puppydogweb.com)
Gloria J. Towle is the secretary and a member of the Board of Directors of the Central Aroostook Humane Society.
