9 effective ways to stop a dog barking and avoid problems with a neighbor
9 effective ways to stop a dog barking and avoid problems with a neighbor.
By Dennis Fisher.
A dog that keeps on continually barking – especially at night – is a tremendous nuisance and a source of problems with your neighbor. Your neighbor could even be a dog lover but a dog bark that goes on and on can upset even the mildest mannered person.
At one time I was training director of an all breeds training school. A new member of my Club, who had just joined the class, explained that the reason why she had joined the obedience training school was because she had been obliged to get rid of her previous dog – that she loved dearly – because of the complaints of her neighbor, who had objected to the dogs incessant barking at night.
I told her that it was a great pity she had not started the obedience training before and come to training with the previous dog, because unnecessary barking can be avoided with the correct training.
The same principle applies to dog training problems as with any problems,
One has to look at the situation logically. First of all determine why has the problems arisen in the first place? Secondly what effective measure can be taken to solve the problem.
Why do dogs bark? Dogs have an inherent guarding instinct and the reason why they bark is because they are warning you of intruders. Obviously you will have no objection to the dog barking for this reason, so it is important to identify the nature of the bark.
With the little bit of training and observing your dog closely you can tell from the sound of the bark, whether it is an unnecessary bark or whether there is a good reason for the barking.
In the case of incessant barking we are obviously not talking about this type of barking. Why do some dogs bark incessantly without any apparent reason? A very common reason is because they are bored and lonely. The dog is a pack animal and craves company. If you only have one dog, it is highly likely that this could be the reason.
How do you cope with this situation?
Here are nine ways that have worked for many dog owners who have to deal with angry neighbors who complained about their dog barking.
(1) Get another dog as a companion for your dog. If your dog is a large dog, you can get a small dog, preferably a small spayed bitch. They will soon become excellent companions.
(2) Another solutions is to get a toy for the dog. Dogs love their own special toys. Choose something very durably like a kong that cannot be damaged. During the day make a point of playing with the dog to get rid of excess energy.
(3)Also make sure that your dog has it’s own special space to sleep where it can be comfortable and feel secure. Stress is far more common with dogs than people realize. A dog needs to have it’s own area of security as much as humans.
(4) Obedience Training is absolutely essential with all dogs. A training school is an ideal place to train your dog because of the opportunities for socialization. The socialization should begin early. Not only with this prevent aggression with other dogs as the dog grows older, it will also result in a more balanced temperament.
(5)If it’s not convenient to join a training class, this should still not prevent you from socializing your dog by taking it for a walk in public place.
(6) If you hear your dog barking incessantly at night, first of all establish from the sound of the bark whether the animal is warning you of danger or whether it is just barking with no apparent reason.
(7)If the dog has had some obedience training, you can go and correct the dog with a firm “No!” in the same way as you did in obedience classes when you had to correct the dog unsatisfactory behavior.
(8) If you have never had any obedience classes this make the situation a little difficult. Don’t shout your correction from inside the house, because this has the effect of giving the dog the attention it wants. Establish your own training schedule. Use a command that the dog understands when it does something that is not acceptable to you.
(9)Although you may be tempted to bring the dog inside, especially if the barking continues at night, DO NOT DO THIS. Try and resist the temptation. The dog will obviously bark to attract this type of action from you.
You are invited to visit the following site for a great deal of useful information about dog training: http://www.freedogadvice.com
Dennis Fisher has owned, bred and trained dogs for more than 40 years. Although he has concentrated on breeding top quality German Shepherd Dogs ? a breed he judged in many parts of the world ? as Chairman and director of training of an all- breeds training school, his training experience covers a wide variety of different breeds. He is still actively involved in showing German Shepherds and entering obedience trials. A great deal of useful information about dog training can be found on his site
http://www.freedogadvice.com
Grooming Golden Retriever – 6 Even Ways For best Grooming!
Brushing your Golden Retriever regularly will help prevent shedding (especially important if you have allergies) and matting of his fur. Matting is not only unattractive, but it’s uncomfortable for your dog as well. Brushing also helps you remove burs and other foreign matter that could threaten his health. Regular grooming will help maintain a shiny, healthy coat and enhance your Golden Retriever’s quality of life.
Grooming your Golden Retriever is a time-consuming process. Grooming should be done at least once, preferably twice, ever week. You can expect to spend about one-half an hour in the grooming process. The first step in the grooming process is a good brushing. Brush the entire body, from head to tail. When you’ve finished brushing, you can use a comb to remove any remaining loose hair and help distribute oils evenly throughout your Golden Retriever’s coat. While you’re accomplishing hair removal, you can also inspect your pet’s roots and skin for ticks and fleas or skin irritations. This will also be a good time to inspect his ears to be sure they’re clean and healthy and trim his nails.
You should give your Golden Retriever regular baths, too. Though it’s a little complicated, the path will keep his coat and skin in good condition and reduce your exposure to allergens. After brushing to get rid of tangles and loose hair, bathe your Golden Retriever with a shampoo designed specifically for dogs. Human shampoos are too harsh for a dog’s sensitive skin. You’ll find that two baths a month will be sufficient to maintain your Golden’s coat. If you do it consistently, your Golden Retriever’s coat will be easier to brush and clean.
Because Golden’s have longer fur, it is important to prevent matting. Daily brushing will accomplish this best, especially if you use metal combs or brushes. Taking the easy way by cutting the matts out is not advisable, as it could injure your pet, and it will certainly detract from his naturally beautiful coat. Avoid using scissors for grooming. Brushes and baths are the best way to prevent matting and maintain your Golden’s health.
Trimming your Golden Retriever’s nails regularly is also important. Too-long nails are bad for your dog’s health. They can split and bleed profusely. They can change the shape of the foot and cause other joint problems if they force your Golden Retriever to walk so as to protect the too-long nails.
If you have never done it before, it might be wise to take your Golden to the vet to learn how to do it properly. Most dogs don’t like having their nails clipped, and you may pick up some good hints on how to do it without a struggle. When you do clip your Golden’s nails, you should be aggressive, trimming them about 1/16 inch or 2 millimeters, from the quick. You can expect to see some bleeding now and then, so keep some styptic power nearby. You’ll probably need to undertake this task every few weeks.
Now, about your Golden Retriever’s ears. Their ears are easily infected if you don’t clean them regularly. Ear infections are very painful for dogs, and you’ll want to assure your Golden is free of this health risk. Symptoms that may indicate ear infections include head shaking and scratching the ears, painful reactions when the ears are touched, discharges or foul odors coming from the ears, and blisters, swelling, or redness on or around the skin. If you notice any of these symptoms, you should take your Golden to the vet before the problems get worse or become irreversible.
You should clean his ears once a week using a commercial ear-cleaning solution to prevent infection. Many people don’t realize that hair can grow inside and into dogs’ ears. Use a hemostat to carefully remove any hair inside the ear canal. Then use cotton or a cloth with the cleaning solution to gently clean no further than one-half an inch into the ear. Do NOT use Q-tips or alcohol to clean your Golden’s ears. And do not use water or a syringe to clean his ears. Leave this delicate and sometimes dangerous task to the vet. If you use tools like a hemostat, be sure they are sterile.
Good, regular grooming is essential to the health and well-being of your Golden Retriever. It takes some time from your daily routine, but it also helps you bond with your pet. If you don’t have the time, you should take your Golden Retriever to a dog-grooming professional. Now matter how you do it, you must assure that your Golden receives regular grooming and baths.
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