The Dog Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [25]
A Opt for a little diplomacy and neighborhood friendliness first. Introduce yourself to your new neighbors and engage them in conversation. Ask them about their dog and his personality. Tactfully ask why he stays out in the backyard and tell them that he barks a lot during the day. Although Shelties are known as vocal breeds, you’d be surprised at how many people are unaware that their dogs are big barkers when they are away from home. Some assume that their dog barks only when they’re at home to alert them of someone approaching their property.
Without being nasty, inform them that you work from home and that you sincerely want to work together for a solution. The key is not to put them in a defensive posture, from which they won’t listen to what you are saying. Try mentioning the fact that some dogs bark out of boredom and the need for exercise. Depending on where you live, backyard dogs can be at risk for being teased, stolen, or even attacked by coyotes. They can dig under fences and escape and possibly be hit by a vehicle.
Provide your neighbors with some remedies. Ask if it might be possible for the dog to stay inside and have access to a doggy door for bathroom breaks. Suggest they give their Sheltie long-lasting treats like a hollow, hard rubber toy stuffed with cheese, kibble, or peanut butter. Ask them if they have considered taking their dog to a day care for a day or more each week. A tired dog is a happy, quiet one.
In addition, your new neighbors may not realize there are special collars designed to control excessive barking. These collars come in many forms. Please do not suggest an anti-bark collar that relies on electric shock or vibrations; they are cruel. Instead, suggest pain-free types that contain citronella oil. When a dog barks while wearing this type of collar, the noise triggers the release of citrus scent. Dogs detest this smell and usually stop barking. These collars are ideal for use on dogs when owners are not within sight or sound. But experts caution against using these collars on dogs who are anxious, because the citrus sprays can worsen their uneasy feelings. They could become increasingly stressed and bark more.
With permission, you can also do a little dog training yourself once you have met the Sheltie and it’s clear the dog likes you. When there’s a break in the Sheltie’s barking, go to the fence with some healthy treats. (Ask the neighbors first if their dog has any food allergies.) Let the Sheltie see and smell the treats. When he is not barking, say quiet and give a treat. Walk away for a few seconds and come back. When he starts barking, say quiet and wait for him to stop talking before giving him the treat. What you are doing is teaching the Sheltie that silence is golden, and delicious.
The goal here is cooperation. You don’t want a neighborhood feud. But if all of these suggestions fail, then you may have to contact your local municipality about noise ordinances that could apply to barking dogs. I hope, however, that this strategy is employed only as a last resort. Good luck!
HIS BARK IS WORSE THAN HIS BITE
Some dogs bark a little and some dogs bark a lot. In alphabetical order, here are the top 10 breeds known for their gift of gab, according to the American Kennel Club.
Airedale
Miniature pinscher
Boston terrier
Norwegian elkhound
Chihuahua
Pekingese
French bulldog
Schnauzer
Irish setter
Shetland sheepdog
The top 10 hush-puppy breeds are:
Afghan hound
Cocker spaniel
Basenji
Greyhound
Boxer
Leonberger
Brittany spaniel
Newfoundland
Bull terrier
Saluki
Strider and Daisy, Territorial Terrors
WHEN THEY HEARD THE FRONT DOOR OPEN, Strider, a male Siberian Husky-mix, and Daisy, a female Labrador-mix, immediately went into seek-and-destroy mode, sometimes lunging and growling at