When a guest came to the house, the dog barked loudly, and when the guest sat on the sofa, the dog continued to bark. This barking is caused by the stimulus of “there is a visitor”. In addition, some dogs are excluded from the family because they are alone in the garden for a long time, so they express their mood through long-term barking. Keeping barking can see the figure of the companion, which is a reward for the dog after barking, so it will form a habit of barking for no reason.
To improve this situation, please don’t keep it locked in the courtyard, keep it indoors, and keep it with you often exist. After the dog has confirmed the love of his companion, he can gradually change this bad habit.
Is the stimulation collar effective?
It’s not the lack of contact with people and the constant barking. In response to this situation, some people choose stimulation collars. The so-called stimulation collar refers to a collar that can emit electrical stimulation. There are protrusions inside the collar, which can stimulate the dog’s neck when electrified. The collars are available in remote-operable and auto-sensing types of stimulation when the dog barks, but are not recommended for long-term use. A mild cough can also trigger irritation if the collar is not performing well.
The remote control collar has certain advantages in a sense. When the dog has problem behavior, the companion will not directly punish the dog, and the stimulation collar operated from a distance can eliminate the correlation between punishment and people. In addition, turning on the switch at the moment of barking can make the dog associate his behavior with the punishment. As long as he barks, it will be painful, so the consciousness of stopping barking will naturally arise.
When using the collar, the best effect can only be achieved if there is a degree of relaxation, and frequent use of current stimulation may cause the dog to change to neurosis. Stimulation collars should not be used for a long time and should be used under the guidance of a veterinarian.
Two methods for correcting barking habit: symptomatic treatment and root treatment
1. Symptomatic treatment for momentary distraction
Distracting your dog when he wants to pounce or bark can help prevent problem behaviors.
2. Punishment of root therapy
The so-called root therapy is a method of instructing dogs to recall unpleasant events to correct their bad habits. Unpleasant things include punishment and disregard. When giving punishment, be careful not to let the dog realize that it was carried out by his own companion.
Punishment directly will only increase the dog’s resentment. When punishing, in order to let the dog understand that “although I don’t know why, but I must have done something wrong”, a natural punishment method can be adopted. Also, when it comes to punishing distraction, using sprays and water pistols works well.
Suddenly giving an unpleasant punishment at the moment when the dog’s problem behavior begins is the key to implementing discipline. Just as he was about to bark, suddenly a bucket of water splashed his face. After several repetitions, the dog would remember that as long as he barked, something unpleasant would happen. In order to avoid punishment, problem behaviors are improved.
3. Ignoring the root healing method
The root healing method includes natural punishment and elimination methods. The so-called “elimination” is to use ignoring the dog’s problem behavior to achieve the purpose of elimination. In the process of eliminating the method, it is necessary to adopt an attitude of complete ignorance. This is a method that requires patience. The dog will stop barking over time because he is not praised. Conversely, when a dog has a problem behavior, if it is repeatedly criticized, the dog considers it to be praise, thus reinforcing the dog’s problem behavior.
The so-called reinforcement is to reinforce a certain behavior with continuous reward. When living with a dog, reinforcement and elimination will have a very significant positive effect on improving the dog’s problem behavior.
