Dog owners have been urged to try out this one trick that could help with their dogs’ behaviour. Those who have a pup have been advised to record various sounds, such as the doorbell, and then play them back to their dogs.
The animal charity Blue Cross gave advice to help pet owners desensitise their dogs to certain things that could trigger barking. While barking is a standard way for pups to communicate, the animal charity highlighted that barking « too much or too often », can cause major problems between owners and their dogs, and therefore, following this method could help tackle that.
The charity said: « To tackle the problem of barking, you must understand what is causing your dog to bark. From there it will be much easier to come up with a training plan. »
While some breeds are more vocal than others, « desensitising your dog » to certain sounds is a great way to tackle frequent barking, and it is straightforward to carry out.
Blue Cross explained: « Record sounds that trigger the barking, like the doorbell, and play these back to your dog. Start very quietly at first, and gradually increase the volume while rewarding them with food if they don’t bark.
« This is a process known as desensitising or counter conditioning. »
It is important, however, that when you are training your dog, it is not exposed to the real sound. Instead, the experts recommend picking a time when you aren’t expecting any visitors and placing a note on your front door asking visitors to phone instead of knocking.
There are other ‘tools’ on the market that are meant to help your dog stop barking, but Blue Cross warns against the use of the harmful ‘fixes’ such as spray or electric shock collars, compressed air sprays and rattle cans, as they cause « pain and fear in your dog, » which is far from what any owner should do.
The charity said: « While some of them might work in the short-term, this is only because it stops your dog from barking while the device is being used. They do little to address the reason behind the barking. So, they do not resolve the real issue.
« They can also do more harm than good by causing your dog unnecessary stress and even pain. Using devices that punish pets will likely damage the bond between you and can lead to further behavioural problems. »
