Every behavior a dog shows comes from a certain motivation and has a function; the dog is trying to tell you something. To understand why a dog shows certain (undesirable) behavior, such as excessive barking, it is important to learn to understand the body language and signals of a dog. Every dog barks because for them it is a means of communication, just like talking is for us. You can distinguish different types of barking. They all have a different motivation and purpose. So listen carefully to your dog’s barking to understand what he means. Think about the pitch, the duration of the barking and the number of barks. Just like with a human, you can also read a lot about why the dog barks from his body language. Excessive barking can indicate abnormal or unwanted behavior.
Excited barking
What should you do if the behavior is unwanted? If a dog is a bit excited, for example because you as the owner come home, then that should be accepted. However, do not join in the excitement and greet your dog briefly but firmly. If the dog continues to bark, it is best to ignore him.
A dog can also start barking frequently when you come near his food or toys. At feeding time, it is important to teach the dog that you can come close to the food bowl. You can teach this by feeding puppies from a bowl that you hold yourself. With older dogs, you can train this by adding some food to the food bowl each time. This way, the dog learns to associate you with a positive event. When the dog has prey time and does not want to give up his toys, you can practice by ‘exchanging’ his toys. For example, offer him a treat in exchange for his toy. When he lets go of his toy, he gets the reward and you link the command ‘release’ to his action.
Defensive barking
Another common problem is that dogs bark at the mailman or other passers-by. This behavior probably started as defensive barking. However, over time, the barking behavior can become learned behavior, because you have given attention to the barking (often unconsciously).
A dog can of course also start barking because the dog is scared and anxious. It is a clear signal from the dog and should not be ignored. The dog should certainly not be punished in this situation. Remove your dog from the situation that causes fear and provide support by sitting with him and petting him calmly. You may comfort your dog, but do not give the impression that you are rewarding the dog, as he may experience this as a reward for the barking behavior. It is important to find out the cause of the fear and to work on this through training, if necessary under the supervision of a certified behavioral therapist.
Stressful barking
Dogs can also suffer from separation anxiety and can then start barking. By barking, the dog indicates that he is stressed and wants to be removed from the situation.
Some dogs can be disappointed after the expectation of a joyful event. This could happen, for example, if you always grab your coat first before walking the dog. If you then have to go to the supermarket and grab the coat, the dog may expect to be walked and may already wait enthusiastically at the door. However, if the walk does not take place, unwanted barking behavior can arise due to frustration.
Insuring your dog for coaching
Attention all dog owners! Have you insured your beloved four-legged friend properly ? You have taken out various insurance policies for yourself or your family in case of illness or death. This way you can be sure that you will not be faced with any surprises if something unexpected happens. However, many dog owners are not properly insured if something unexpected happens to their pet. They are then faced with major financial expenses that could have been prevented.
It is also wise to compare the different insurances for your pet. This way you can see which insurance suits you best. For example , Get-Safe ‘s pet insurance promotes that they have cheap premiums per month. They also offer an additional Pet & Care insurance. If there is still money outstanding at the end of the year that you have not spent, Get-Safe will pay out that amount. It can happen that you have not needed the insurance because your cat or dog has not had any complaints all year. If this is the case, Get-Safe will deposit this amount back into your account. The insurer therefore says for good reason that if we all try to prevent damage together, we can keep the costs low. The insurances then remain affordable and we have money left over to pay out the annual bonus.
