Vet Chat On:

Barking Dogs

Barking Dogs

Kate's Commentary:

"I can think of no more common or valid concern for the dog owner than the issue of barking ... Unfortunately, tho barking is a natural way for a dog to communicate (and necessary to some degree for it's mental well being), our world see's the barking dog as a nuisance and the law to some degree supports this idea. As responsible pet owners, we need to be aware of the impact our dogs barking has on our neighbors and our community in general. This said, we offer here some thoughts on this difficult issue. Maybe some of this infomation will help you create and sustain the harmony you need to live happily with your pet.

As Dr. Richards states in the following commentary, there are many different reasons a dog barks AND many different kinds of barks ... He also suggests, in specific circumstances, the use of anti-anxiety medications. I personally recommend that you go to your local health food store and look into an herbal or homeopathic calmative made especially for dogs before going the prescription route. And in the name of community harmony (as well as occassional personal sanity!) I hope this information helps ..."

Mike Richards DVM:

"The first thing to do when dogs bark is to try to figure out the underlying reason. "Second guessing" your pet can be tricky, but careful observation of his barking patterns should give you a clue. The most common causes of barking are territorial aggression, protective aggression and separation anxiety (not necessarily in that order). In separation anxiety, the barking is usually worse when the dog is left alone. For protective aggression the dog is usually in the presence of the owner and in territorial aggression, the dog can be either alone or with the owner.

In territorial aggression, barking can sometimes be controlled by a combination of medication and the use of an anti-bark collar (use the kind that sprays citronella -- it is more humane than an electric shock collar).

Dogs with separation anxiety usually require behavioral modification therapy, often with the use of medications -- and anti-bark collars are not likely to work in this situation. Some dogs do have both territorial aggression and separation anxiety, so if there is a veterinary behaviorist in your area who can help you sort all this out, it is helpful to consult with them.

The medications that work best for territorial aggression are probably amitriptyline (least expensive, Elavil Rx), clomipramine (Clomicalm Rx) and fluoxetine (Prozac Rx). These can lessen the anxiety that the dog is feeling about invasion of territory. An anti-bark collar targets the barking behavior and it is also important for the owner to consistently discourage the behavior, as well. Try to keep the number of situations in which the dog is confined to a small area where it can be approached to a minimum (so a pen or small fenced yard where the dog is exposed to foot traffic would be a bad situation). The citronella collars are available through several veterinary suppliers (I am pretty sure Henry Schein is one), so your vet should be able to order this for you.

An absolute LAST choice is to have your dog debarked. This should be a last resort and it should be done by someone who is competent at doing the surgery, preferably using a ventral (not oral) approach to the larynx. It would be a tough choice for me to make because here can be serious complications due to laryngeal scarring, but if it is not possible to stop the barking and if it is the difference between having a place to live and not having a place to live, it is an option."

(Kate's NOTE: You owe it to your dog to give ALL other options a solid try first before even considering this operation. Training will take patience and consistency on your part. If you feel you need a professional trainer to help you, be in touch with me via email and I will give you several local referrals ...)

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