Too much barking – miserable for everybody

Question:

My son has a boxer, 4 years old, who is barking constantly since they moved into a new home. Already received one citation from Animal Control. They need to stop the barking! They both work and have to leave the dogs every day.

Dr. Nichol-

Barking is actually a normal part of canine communication but this fellow is way too talkative, indicating a quality of life problem. Frustration with a fence that prevents social interaction with other dogs is a common reason but so is anxiety from crowding in a small yard, driving a good dog #%&*@ crazy! Moving to a new house was another stress. Physical pain could be another factor.

This isn’t about boredom. These nonhuman creatures have a strong requirement for interaction with others of their ilk, off-territory is best. Your son’s boxer needs canine activities. He has to do dog stuff; he won’t jump rope, play hopscotch, or sky dive, so those don’t count.

Aversive punishment is the first go-to solution for many exasperated dog parents who’ve been hounded relentlessly by neighbors pleading for peace and sanity. Electric shock and citronella anti-bark collars are often seen as a quick fix for jolting a nervous wreck into silence. But if they get no help with the underlying cause, these pets can manifest their angst in really unhealthy ways like attempting to escape or even self-mutilating. Some just hunker down and bear it, having fallen victim to “learned helplessness.”  Nobody wants that.

A simple way for your son to care for his boxer’s innate needs would be to drop him off for doggy daycare at a good kennel like K9 Resort. He’ll run, play, sniff a few rear ends, read the bulletin boards and post messages. At home, breakfast and dinner can be served in challenging food-dispensing toys like a Twist ‘n Treat, bringing out his inner scavenger. It won’t be quite the same as ripping flesh off carrion in the woods but, being desperate for a natural life, this good boy can work like a dog to survive. A rough approximation will serve the purpose. He’ll feel like the beast that he is hard-wired to be. A quiet dog is a happy dog.

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For help with behavior problems, you can sign-up for a Zoom Group Conference on my website, drjeffnichol.com.

Dr. Jeff Nichol is a residency-trained veterinary behaviorist. He provides consultations in-person and in groups by Zoom (drjeffnichol.com). Each week he shares a blog and a video to help bring out the best in pets and their people. Sign up at no charge at drjeffnichol.com. Post pet questions through my website, drjeffnichol.com/contact/ or by US Post to 4000 Montgomery Blvd. NE, Albuq, NM 87109.