Controlling Suspicion by Giving the Dog Control

As devoted dog owners, we love the companionship of our furry friends. However, it can be frustrating when we have a dog that barks at unfamiliar sounds. This behavior can be stressful for us as caregivers, but understanding the underlying cause of why your dog is barking is the first step to solve the barking.

The Nature of Dog Suspicion

Research indicates that up to 50-75% of dogs bark at noises. This behavior can stem from various factors such as genetics, environmental influences, lack of socialization, and past experiences.

When your dog barks at sounds, it may not just be an alert; it could mean they feel threatened or unsure. Recognizing that barking is often a reaction to fear or anxiety is crucial in addressing the barking effectively. For many years the answer to stop barking was to correct the bark. But, through research it has been discovered that correcting only adds to the stess the dog is already feeling. Instead, it is crucial to find a way to help the dog feel safe and secure when they hear sounds that trigger barking.

Identifying Triggers of Reactivity

Start by identifying specific sounds or situations that lead to your dog's barking. Here are some common triggers:

• Doorbells

• Loud noises

• Neighborhood sounds

• Knocking

• Car Doors

  
  

Keeping record of your dog’s triggers can give you insight into their behavior and what sounds make them feel uneasy. Understanding what prompts barking can help you develop a plan to help your dog feel more comfortable with the sounds they react to.

Creating a Secure Environment

Barking is most likely to occur when your dog is uncomfortable and stressed. To reduce discomfort, create a secure environment to help your dog feel safe. Here are some strategies you can implement:

• Safe Space: Create a quiet area in your home where your dog can relax. This could include a cozy corner with their bed and toys, giving them a retreat during stressful moments.

  
  

• Limit Exposure: Keep windows closed and doors secured to minimize outside noise. By doing so, you reduce the chances of triggering barking.

  
  

• Soundproofing your Home: Simple adjustments like adding rugs or heavy curtains can help absorb noise, making your home a quieter, more peaceful space for your dog.

  
  

Desensitization

Often, pet owners will hear "desensitize your dog to the sound". But, what is desensitization and how do you desensitize your dog to sounds?

Desensitization is a psychological process that reduces the body's response to a stimulus through repeated exposure. When your dog is stressed by a sound, desensitization is used to help reduce that stress response. At the same time, we will be working to create a new and more positive response to the sound.

For many, desensitization simply means playing a triggering sound at a soft level, treating the dog to build a positive association, repeating, and slowly increasing the volume of the sound. But, what happens if the dog needs a break from the activity? How is our dog able to tell us "I need a break". If we accidently push the dog we could be adding to the issue since the dog will be feeling negative emotions when we need them to feel positive emotions for the desenitization to work properly.

The Power of Control

Dogs can and should have some level of control over their learning. Giving your dog control over training has benefits including:

1. Increased Engagement

Dogs who have a say in their trianing are more motivated and engaged leading to a more positive learning experience.

2. Reduced Stress

When dogs can make choices they feel more secure and empowered.

3. Enhanced Learning

Dogs that have an active role in their training often retain information more easily and are more reliable when given cues. This is due to having a positive association with the learning process.

4. Improved Behavior

Dogs are active in learning learn to make decisions that lead to rewards.

Active Desensitization

Giving your dog a role to have control enhances their learning experience and allows them to communicate with us. Dogs have the power to tell us "I am ready for more" or "I need a break" through the use of more signals.

More signals are our dogs way to communicate what they are ready for in their training. To start, choose a behavior to use as the more signal. Behaviors could be going to a designated mat, sitting, laying down, giving you a paw. The possibilties are endless, just be sure you choose a behavior you do not mind them using often within training. It is also important to note that if it is already a behavior they know well, it will make the process of teaching the dog the purpose of the behavior easier. I personally prefer using the behavior sit because most dogs will sit when someone is holding a treat because they have learned that sit=get treat.

Now that you have a designated more signal identify a sound that triggers the dog's barking.

1. Play the sound at a low level and feed a treat

This is to make sure that the sound is not too loud for the dog. We want to be sure that the dog to be able to hear the sound, but not displaying body language that shows discomfort. If your dog is overly aware of the sound, reduce the sound level.

2. Ask your dog for their more signal

This is where my preference of sit comes into play. We do not want our dog to feel obligated to go into a behavior since the goal is that they will use this behavior to communicate with us. If your dog knows that sit=treats, simply hold your treats and wait for the dog to sit. If you are using a different behavior, give them their cue, but remember it is ok if they do not display the behavior right away!

3. Play the sound as a marker

Instead of saying "yes" or "good", play the sound they typically bark at. Remember that it is at a volume that the dog hears but does not react.

4. Treat the dog

Markers don't mean much to a dog unless they are paired with a reinforcer. Treat your dog so that they learn the marker of the sound is a good thing!

5. Reset the behavior

If your dog is doing a behavior that they will need to be taken out of to repeat (sit, down, ect) toss a treat away from you for them to catch.

6. Repeat

After a couple of times helping your dog get into the behavior, wait them out for them to do the behavior themselves. Once they are able to do it on their own they are successfully using their more signal! They are letting you know that they are ready to hear the sound again as a marker for their behavior.

6. End the Exercise

After your dog has successfully used their more signal successfully a few times, it is up to them to decide when the exercise is over. When your dog decides not to do the more signal again we will end and come back later.

Each time you repeat the exercise retest the volume. If your dog is successful at a certain volume you can try moving the volume up by one the next time. If your dog shows discomfort at the new volume, go back to the last volume.

The Importance of Patience and Consistency

Learning is a process. In the process celebrate the small wins! It is ok if you need to turn the volume lower than you have had it previously. It is ok if the sound you are working on happens in real life and your dog takes a few steps back. Keep working towards your goal and celebrate the dog infront of you in this moment !

Final Thoughts

Barking at sounds is a natural behavior for many dogs. Dogs are most likely to bark at sounds that induce some level of stress. We can reduce this stress by desensitizing them to the sound and creating a new positive emotion with the sound. We can reduce the stress even more by giving the dog control over their learning experience. By introdcuing a more signal we are giving our dog a way to communicate that they are ready to keep learning and a way to communicate when they need a break.

Remember, you are not alone in this journey. Together, with mutual understanding, you and your dog can navigate the world around you.