Quiet, Please! When John Magill moved into his Chicago apartment several years ago, Hunger, his 2-year-old Doberman, was not happy. The dog barked and barked and barked and Magill's neighbors complained. He had to do something. So he decided to train Hunger not to bark when left alone. One morning he put Hunger into a dog crate before leaving the apartment. "I took a good book with me and sat outside the apartment waiting," said Magill, who operates Apolda Kennel in Aurora, about 35 miles west of the city. As soon as Hunger began to bark, Magill pulled a rope that lifted the dog's crate slightly off the ground via a pulley device. Hunger hushed immediately and Magill gently eased the crate down. Twenty minutes later, the dog began to bark again. Magill repeated the crate lift. "I had to repeat it a few times, but it didn't take too long to resolve the problem," he said. After a while, Magill let Hunger out of the crate and life resumed as normal ― with a lot less barking. Hunger now associates excess barking with a slight rise into the air ― something he didn't particularly enjoy. So the Doberman stopped barking needlessly and kept his feet on the ground. However, not all problem barkers are so easily cured. A dog's bark is a form of communication. The dog may be announcing an approaching stranger or that it is lonely, hungry or wants to go out. Most owners and trainers agree the dog's bark is welcome at those times. However, excessive barking can be a severe problem. If you live in an apartment, as Magill does, you can lose your lease if your dog's persistent barking disturbs the neighbors. If you're living in a house, constant barking can strain your relationship with neighbors as well. Animal behaviorists and trainers approach the problem differently but with the same goal: A dog that barks once or twice to relay its message and then stops. You must determine the reason for the dog's barking and address its underlying cause. Start by taking your dog for a health checkup. Sometimes incessant barking can be a cry for help because of pain the animal is experiencing. "Usually, barking is not the only problem in the dogs we see," explained Vint Virga, DVM, a resident in clinical animal behavior at Cornell University in New York. "It's a component, such as in the dog that is destructive when left alone, and is barking too much." On the other hand, some trainers focus mainly on changing the behavior. They suggest using shake cans (covered metal cans filled with beans or pebbles), beanbags thrown against the wall near the dog, or a light mist of water squirted on the dog. These methods are meant to startle the dog when the barking starts. They seem to work best when the dog cannot see the person shaking the can or throwing the beanbag. Here are some common barking problems and solutions: Separation Anxiety The dog is upset about being left alone. "Dogs are pack animals and need to be with other dogs or people," said Robin Kovary, director of the American Dog Trainers Network in New York. If you have the opportunity to gradually increase the time the dog is left alone before returning to work or going on a trip, the dog will benefit. "Slowly increase the time you're away from your dog," she said. "Ease the dog into it." Some behaviorists, like Virga, say owners should delve deeper into the root of the dog's anxiety. "We're trying to change the way the dog feels about being alone, very systematically and slowly," he said. He suggests reinforcing the dog's relaxed behaviors, such as lying or sitting. Praise the dog for relaxing, saying something like, "Sit. Good." Ignore more anxious behavior or barking, or redirect the dog's attention to more relaxing activities. This gradually teaches the dog to be calm in situations that once produced anxiety. Don't expect this approach to be a quick fix. "A day or two won't do it," Virga said. Instead, plan on spending four to six weeks, daily. "Desensitization in dogs is a slow process." Territorial Aggression or Aggression Against a Person The dog barks at anyone or anything, including wildlife, that comes near its home territory. Trainers suggest teaching the "Quiet" command. After a few barks, say "Quiet" or "Enough" and the dog stops. You praise the dog. The desired result: The dog will bark once or twice to relay its message. The owner then praises the dog and issues a "Quiet," "Enough" or "Sit/Stay" command. The dog should stop barking. Be consistent; always use the same instructions. Attention Seeking These dogs have discovered they get attention (positive or negative) from their owners if they continue barking. Instead of picking up a dog, petting it or yelling at it to stop barking, ignore the barking and refocus the dog's attention, possibly by startling it. The key is to avoid paying attention to the dog while it is barking. Avoid eye contact. When it stops barking, give the dog a treat or some other reward, praising it for being quiet. In all cases, spend at least a half-hour to an hour each day walking and playing with your dog, Kovary said. "They need stimulating environments and to have time with their owners." Sometimes, training doesn't work. Whether the reason is the dog's personality (some dogs are more prone to bark), or the owner's inability to provide consistent instruction, other methods are available: Citronella Collars A citrus-like spray is suddenly spritzed under the dog's chin when it barks. "It monopolizes the dog's senses," Kovary said. "It hears the spritz sound, sees some of the spray and smells the odor." Many owners who work outside the home use this method. Shock Collars The dog receives a small, harmless shock when it barks. Typically the dog stops barking after only a couple of shocks. Debarking This surgical procedure removes the dog's vocal chords. The dog is left with a whispery-sounding bark. Most trainers, veterinarians and owners see this method as a last resort. Medication Certain breeds, such as terriers and Toy Poodles, tend to be naturally anxious. While working on changing their behavior, Virga suggested treating the dog with an anxiety medication such as Clomicalm. "The medication is a supporter during treatment," he said. "The goal is to get the dog weaned after it learns to function without such anxiety-provoked responses as excessive barking." By Rose Boccio.
