What makes a dog bark all day long?

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FinellaGlen

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As per the title really. The two dogs next door bark on and off for lengthy periods of time every day. Does this mean that they are unhappy or insecure do you think?

Sometimes I know that they are barking because someone has come to their house (or to mine) or because another dog or horse has gone past their garden but other times they just seem to bark and bark for no reason.

There's probably nothing I can do for them but I just wondered if anyone had a bit more insight into what makes dogs bark so much.
 
That's the thing AmyMay, they are never on their own. My friend (their owner) is at home all day and, even if she pops out to the shops or similar, she always takes them with her. They have a walk up the fields every day and are well loved so I am mystified as to why they bark incessantly.
 
Unfortunately some dogs do naturally bark more than others. Thankfully our dog is relatively quiet and will only bark at reasonable things. However, we have had other dogs come to stay who will bark at the slightest thing, even the noise that the television makes when turned on!
 
One is a crossbreed with the most gorgeous eyes and the other is a Lurcher who seems very nervous. They are both rescue dogs which may explain the Lurcher's nervousness. My friend has had them both for several years. They are good with my dog (a Whippet) when we walk them together but the Lurcher is not so good with strange dogs which leads me to think that she may be insecure.
 
Plus, being a lurcher I expect that everything that she sees through the window, or hears is far more interesting than what's in the house.....

Has she tried one of those DAP plug in things??
 
I've never heard of the DAP things but I've just Googled them and it may be worth a try. My friend hasn't actually asked for my help as such and I would hate her to think that I was interfering but she has been complaining just lately about not being able to stop the dogs barking. I will try to start a discussion about it next time we take the dogs out together.
 
The DAP diffuser may help with the Lurcher's anxiety, but its range will be confined to within a radius of where it is plugged in. It's definitely worth a try since one of the dogs is nervous, however I would be surprised if it stopped a barking problem.

When I first got my terrier I thought I was going to have a problem, however he has settled down and only barks at cats, foxes and other visitors, which is natural. Anyway at the time I thought I was going to have to resort to stronger measures (I did try the DAP) and the thought of an anti-barking collar crossed my mind, but I really don't like the idea of zapping a dog for any reason. I contacted the RSPCA for their thoughts on the matter and they said that they endorse only one kind of anti-bark collar, and that is the Aboistop, which is the spray kind. I had to abandon the idea as there isn't a version small enough for a 5kg dog, but I thought the information might be useful to you.

At dog training, we were told that the way to stop a dog barking incessantly is to teach the command "quiet". And you can't teach this unless you have first taught the command to "speak". So paradoxically, you have to teach a dog that barks to bark on command, so that you can teach it to stop on command. Whether you do it with treats or clicker wouldn't matter, that is just the general concept. I have to say it all sounded a lot of hard work, and I was glad that my dog just got over it without these measures.

I hope these suggestions are some help. By the way I think you sound a tolerant and sympathetic neighbour, a lot of people would be very annoyed at dogs barking incessantly next door.
 
Thanks tamster. I don't think there's any way my friend would consider any anti barking methods which are cruel so no worries there. I think that both her dogs would benefit greatly from the training technique that you mention but I don't think I could persuade her to try it. I have sort of mentioned to her before about training but she isn't keen. Like you, I think she sees it as hard work (which I am sure it is).

If I was in her position I'd be willing to give it a go because I really enjoyed puppy training classes with my dog. I'm glad that your little rescue terrier is happy and contented. My own dog is curently lying underneath my ironing board sunning herself in front of the French windows so I think she's pretty relaxed too since she'll stay there for hours.
 
Chances are that one dog barking is setting off or encouraging its buddy to bark and vice versa.

Perhaps they get attention or some kind of self reward by barking at home?
 
I know that they get shouted at so maybe they see this as some sort of reward because it brings them attention? I think that the crossbred definitely sets the Lurcher off barking because he keeps stealing her toys. My friend knows this too but I am not sure if there is any way round it.
 
My dog has a barking coller (the abistop one) it worked so well all I need to do now (even tho hes stopped generally) if he barks in to pick it up and he will stop. Altho my dogs are Weimeraners and 40kg and 20kgs respectively so no problems with the collars! The box bit on the collar prob weighs nearly 5kg!

However I know someone how had one for her dog and he knew if he kept barking it would eventually run out!So it didnt work for him!
 
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