Ask a Trainer - Barking

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Q: My previously silent little dog, Louella, has just found her voice. She now barks at anyone walking into the office (once me, even!) and occasionally at men walking toward us on the street. I don't want her barking to escalate. What should I do? - Nicole, Toronto, ON

A: Dear Nicole, Barking at people falls into three categories: alarm woofs, warm woofs, and warning woofs.

Alarm woofs are the doggie way of announcing a new arrival and letting the newcomer know they've been spotted. Once the newcomer is identified, some dogs will greet in silence and others will continue to bark up a storm. Noisy greetings can be friendly OR unfriendly.

Warm woofs are part of a friendly greeting, often accompanied by a wagging tail, jumping up, licking, and nuzzling.

Warning woofs are quite different. They are a doggie way of saying: Back off, I'm not too sure about you. They are often accompanied by cautious investigation, standing still, retreating, growling, or biting, depending on the individual dog and the person's behaviour.

Louella may be giving alarm woofs and warm woofs at work, but warning woofs on the street...you'll need to take a close look at her body language along with her barks to help you decide on which strategy to use for each situation.

Alarm woofs and warm woofs can be shortened by teaching Louella to move quickly to another activity like fetching a ball or doing tricks for treats.

Warning woofs are trickier to change. First you need to work out what it is about the situation that makes her uneasy: Is it just men? Is it any stranger? A qualified dog trainer can help you identify the types of people and situations that set Louella off. Next you will need to set up training sessions where meeting a scary stranger leads to good things like favourite foods, fetch, and other fun. The goal in fixing warning woofs is to replace the reaction of uneasiness with a reaction of confidence.

Changing behaviour involves understanding the context, redirecting the energy, and building Louella's confidence so that her encounters with people are every bit as suave, cool, and controlled as are your own! ■

Jennifer Messer is a veterinarian working in small animal practice in Preston, Ont. She has a honours BA in psychology from McGill University and a DVM from the Ontario Veterinary College, and is curriculum consultant for Montessaurus Puppy School. Jennifer is owned by her Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Monte, and her American Pit Bull Terrier, Charlotte. Like many of our contributors, she is strongly opposed to breed specific legislation.

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