Within moments
of Robin’s departure for work, Ruffles, her scruffy terrier mix, issues his usual
succession of short, sharp, assertive barks, consistently apprising Robin’s neighbors
of her coming and goings. The co-op board is considering eviction. Robin is at wits’
end.
Why All the Noise?
Dogs who bark when left alone fit several profiles. Separation anxiety sufferers are
tightly bonded to their guardians, and act as though their world has ended when
they are apart. These dogs may also eliminate around the home, frantically chew on human
possessions, and dig, chew or propel themselves through doors or windows. To
learn more about separation anxiety, refer to “Don’t Leave Me This Way”
(www.aspca.org/companionlines).
Some breeds (including most terriers) are born watchdogs, prone to sounding the alarm
whenever a noise or movement catches their attention. Elimination of this
tendency is unlikely in those born to bark; instead, they must be taught to limit their
alerts to five or six barks and then settle down. Confining these “reactive
barkers” to a dark, quiet part of the home when you are
away promotes sleep instead of constant arousal.
Youngsters of any breed can be vocally challenging, unless exercised to the point of
exhaustion. Try waking up early to ensure an hour of romping at the local dog park,
throwing a ball until your arm is limp, or
dropping Bowser off at doggie daycare when morning exercise needs can’t be met.
Finally, there are the barkers—like Ruffles—who
seem intent on calling the family pack back together. Once family members leave the house,
the fun stops. So he
offers a vocal locator signal to draw them home. If they return while he’s barking,
his efforts are rewarded.
Breaking the Cycle
If owner-absent barkers declare victory every time a family
member returns—even if only to holler for quiet—how can this vicious cycle be
broken? |
Start with exercises that reward the dog
for being silent. On a day free of work commitments, go through your normal morning
routine, but don’t stray far from the door once you’ve left home. If your dog is
silent for a predetermined period of time, reenter and reward him. Begin with an easily
obtainable goal—say, 10 to 30 seconds. When he barks, set the timer back to zero. It
may take awhile to get that first silent success. Some dogs will improve faster when a
marker indicates unwanted behavior; a sharp rap on the door with a metal object after a
bark may speed things along. No shouting for quiet, though—most dogs prefer negative
attention to none at all.
Once you have garnered your first success, reenter the
home, tell the dog “yes” or “good,” reward him and go about your
business. Keep all comings and goings low-key, so he isn’t excessively revved up each
time. Repeat the exercise numerous times, lengthening the time
away with each success. If you have to restart the count more than a couple of times, you
may be moving too far, too fast. Some dogs will get wise to your presence on the other
side of the door. Increase your distance after the first few repetitions to replicate
departure. Instead of rapping to mark the unwanted behavior, you could employ a
citronella-dispensing collar. This device interrupts each bark with a multisensory cue by
combining the startling pssst of the mist exploding out of the container, the moist
sensation and the citronella smell.
In a 1996 Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association article, Cornell University
behaviorists Juarbe-Diaz and Houpt note that the citronella collar is twice as effective
(88.9 compared to 44.4 percent) as the electronic shock collar, without the use of a
painful stimulus. Some find that the use of the collar alone extinguishes barking
propensities. However, it is not suitable for separation anxiety cases, as these often
demand a more extensive behavior modification protocol and possibly drug therapy as
well.No matter what the reason for your dog’s home-alone barking, please let your
neighbors know that you are working on the matter. Their irritation will lessen once they
know that their complaints haven’t fallen on deaf ears.
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