Man's Best Friend - the dogs

"The one absolutely unselfish friend that humans can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts them, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is their dog."

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Wild Dogs and Phylogeny
• The Domestication of Dogs
• Breeds of Dogs
• Behaviour
• Communication
• The Dog Genome
• Man's Best Friend, Why? 
• Dogs in Society
• Quiz
• Commemoration
• Introduction

Dogs. We all know what they are, and most people have lived with them as pets or seen them about in communities. But how much do we really know about them? The above quotation is believed to be the origin of the colloquial adage ‘Man’s Best Friend.’ The truth to the adage is recognized, as dogs remain among the most popular pets in the world. This treehouse provides information about many aspects of domestic dogs, to learn more about them, what they are capable of, and where they come from and to try to find an answer to the question ‘why are dogs man's best friends?’

Wild Dogs and Phylogeny

Domestic dogs, wild dogs, and wolves all belong to the Family Canidae, which also contains jackals, coyotes, and foxes. Canidae is contained within the group caniformia which is contained within the Order Carnivora, one of the eighteen current groups of Eutherians, or placental mammals. A full list of the groups contained in Canidae is provided below.

Within the Canidae are 14 groups, or genera. Contained within those 14 genera are at least 34 species and two subspecies (a chart showing all members in the Canidae is provided below). The genus Canis contains dogs, jackals, and wolves. The gray wolf, Canis lupus, is among 7 species of canids and also related to two subspecies, Canis lupus dingo and Canis lupus familiaris, which are known commonly as the dingo and the domestic dog, respectively.

Containing Groups for Canidae

Canidae
Subgroups	‘Species’	‘Subspecies’
Alopex  Arctic fox	Alopex lagopus Arctic fox
Atelocynus  short-eared dog	Atelocynus microtis short-eared dog
Canis dogs, jackals, and wolves	Canis adustus side-striped jackal Canis aureus golden jackal Canis latrans coyote Canis lupus gray wolf Canis mesomelas black-backed jackal  Canis rufus red wolf Canis simensis Simian jackal	Canis lupus dingo dingo Canis lupus familiaris dog
Cerdocyon crab-eating fox	Cerdocyon thous crab-eating fox
Chrysocyon maned wolf	Chrysocyon brachyurus maned wolf
Cuon dhole	Cuon alpinus dhole
Dusicyon Falkland Island wolf	Dusicyon australis Falkland Island wolf
Lycaon African wild dog	Lycaon pictus African wild dog
Nyctereutes raccoon dog	Nyctereutes procyonoides raccoon dog
Otocyon bat-eared fox	Otocyon megalotis bat-eared fox
Pseudalopex  South American foxes	Pseudalopex culpaeus culpeo Pseudalopex griseus Argentine gray fox Pseudalopex gymnocercus pampas fox Pseudalopex sechurae Sechura fox Pseudalopex vetulus hoary fox
Speothos bush dog	Speothos venaticus bush dog
Urocyon gray foxes	Urocyon cinereoargenteus gray fox Urocyon littoralis island gray fox
Vulpes foxes	Vulpes bengalensis Bengal fox Vulpes cana Blandford's fox Vulpes chama Cape fox Vulpes corsac Corsac fox Vulpes ferrilata Tibetan fox Vulpes pallida pale fox Vulpes rueppellii Rüppel's fox Vulpes velox swift fox Vulpes vulpes red fox Vulpes zerda fennec

The Domestication of Dogs

One ancestor too many breeds

• Humans have historically desired certain traits in their pets and, therefore, have produced by artificial selection the vast variety of dog breeds
• Artificial selection has given rise to breeds spanning everything from pocket-sized Chihuahuas to 100 kilo Saint Bernards
• Dogs of many sizes and shapes appear in archaeological and artistic records of almost all cultures, dating to thousands of years ago
• Dogs have been specialized for a variety of purposes, from hunting, herding, protection, and companionship, to esthetics
• Almost 400 dog breeds have been established since 1850
• This radiation is a testament to the popularity of purebred pets as status symbols, specialized breeding, and dog shows

Dog Diversity depends on three key factors

• Three processes are involved in the rapid evolution of dog breeds
• Systematic selection
• involves carefully selecting certain dogs for inherited traits like body type, coat characteristics, speed, herding, hunting, endurance, and size
• over time and from breeders’ choices, produce animals with distinctive looks and abilities
• has yielded, for example, the saluki, basenji, and greyhound
• Sports (a term that Charles Darwin used for macromutations)
• refers to puppies with unusual traits, such as hairlessness or lack of a tail
• includes individuals with the mutation for achondroplasic dwarfism that causes limbs to stop growing prematurely, resulting in short limbed breeds like dachshunds and basset hounds
• mutations generally don’t help dogs survive in the wild, but they can yield dogs with exotic looks that appeal to breeders
• Cross-Breeding
• produces new forms by crossing two breeds that differ in appearance or behavior
• usually is followed by selective breeding of offspring
• unleash a lot of genetic variation – many shapes, sizes, and colors

Breed standards help keep purebreds pure

• the first formal dog show held in 1859 in Newcastle, England presented an enormous array of dogs
• these shows since have become paramount for establishing bloodlines and breed standards
• standards describe the ideal height, weight, coat color and texture, ear type for individual breeds
• breed standards maintain the uniform appearance of pure bred dogs
• once established, the look of pure bred dogs won’t change much over time
• in contrast, wild species evolve constantly in response to changing natural conditions

Picking the right breed of dog for you
Among the many breeds of dogs, finding the particular type that suits an individual’s needs is an arduous task. Therefore, a three-step process that will guide any dog lover to the dog of their dreams is provided below.

Step one: Browse the dog list. If you follow the link provided, you will surf to a complete alphabetical list of breeds, from A to Z, approximately 150!

Step two: Know your habits and correlate these with the dog breeds’. Decipher which breed is appropriate for you. Or, if you’re someone who enjoys conflict, maybe pick a breed that is inappropriate … whatever your interest, the link will help guide you to making the right choice:

Step three: Take 48 hours to review your potential commitment. Make sure that you want and can care properly for a dog, and, if after those two days you feel you can, then start your new companionship!

Favorite Breeds of Dogs

Below is a list compiling the most popular dogs in the USA in 2005.

• Labrador Retrievers, 137867 logged ownerships.
• Golden Retrievers, 48509 logged ownerships.
• Yorkshire Terriers, 47238 logged ownerships.
• German Shepherds, 45014 logged ownerships.
• Beagles, 42592 logged ownerships. 

Behaviour

• General behaviours:
• primarily flesh-eaters, but, as a group, they are more omnivorous than are most other carnivores
• most canids rely primarily on an acute sense of smell and hearing; in general, their vision is less well-developed than is vision in other carnivores
• they are adapted more for endurance than speed; most of their hunting involves a long chase, whereby they exhaust their prey
• when they catch their prey, they often bring them down by grabbing the back of the neck; smaller prey usually are killed by shaking and breaking the spine; larger prey usually are killed by biting the soft underbelly, resulting in disembowelment, blood loss, and shock
• all Canidae, whether solitary or social in nature, are territorial

Social organization:
Three types of social structure can be found among the different species of Canidae (Fox 1978).

Type I (e.g., red fox)mating is accomplished by a temporary pair bond that is formed during the breeding season; the male might stay with the female and assist in providing food for the young
litters usually are deserted at about 4-5 months of age
after litters break up, individuals find their own territories as solitary hunters

Type II (e.g., coyote)a permanent pair-bond is formed between males and females
offspring will remain with parents until the following breeding season
offspring usually are driven off and will disperse to find individual territories
very infrequently, when food is particularly abundant, yearlings may be allowed to remain in their natal territory

Type III (e.g., gray wolf)the social unit is a pack of mostly related individuals
a strong leader-follower relationship exists between subordinate wolves and the alpha wolf, who acts as the primary decision-maker and settles disputes between others
as the young mature, they usually stay with the pack and fill positions that are created by the death or departure of others
if the pack becomes too large or food becomes too scarce, then the pack may split up and move into neighboring territories (if available)

Behaviors associated with pack formation

Several behavioral differences are associated with canids, which may be categorized by whether they form packs:
pack-forming canids:

• exhibit a wider spectrum of individual differences; some are more confident and aggressive and have better hunting instincts; many are more timid and inclined to learn from the behaviour of others
• exhibit greater proximity tolerance to each other
• are more likely to exhibit group-coordinated behaviors and play
• possess greater complexity in their visual and auditory cues and, consequently, can convey a greater range of expression; this is consistent with the closer proximity afforded by pack behavior

solitary canids:

• tend to be more uniform in their behaviors; exhibit similar levels of confidence, aggression, and hunting skills
• exhibit lower proximity tolerance
• possess more-stereotyped visual and auditory cues; this is necessary because they are in close contact less often and require less ambiguity in their communication
• are more reliant on olfactory cues – as they are in close contact less often, olfactory cues can be left in areas and received much later; olfactory cues are relied upon greatly for territorial boundaries and mate acquisition

Behavioral attributes that favor domestication
Several behaviours are relevant to domesticating nonhuman animals:

• animals that have been domesticated tend to live in large social groups; this is associated closely with a leader-follower tendency and greater proximity tolerance
• those exhibiting promiscuous sexual behavior are more likely to be able to reproduce in an artificial environment
• animals that include a greater range of environments in their territories are more able to adapt to human environments
• a flexible diet facilitates adaptation to food provided by humans; for example, prior to domestication, wild dogs would have been able to eat most refuse left by humans
• untamed domesticated animals tend to be relatively comfortable near humans and exhibit less substantial tendencies toward conflict

Behaviour of Canis lupus (gray wolf)

• live in packs ranging from 2 to 36 individuals (most contain 5 to 9)
• packs exhibit a very strong dominance hierarchy; the alpha male is the leader, but the alpha female also plays an important role in decision making
• rank in the pack determines mating success and feeding order
• packs are stationary in the spring and summer (during the breeding season) but nomadic in the fall and winter, in search for food sources; they often travel up to 300 km in a night
• hunt in packs for large prey and individually for small prey; they also scavenge for garbage, steal prey, and eat carrion

Behaviour of domestic dogs

• behaviour in domestic animals rarely is studied from a scientific perspective, as selective breeding confounds information that researchers might learn
• domestic dogs behave similarly to gray wolves; when feral packs of dogs are found, they exhibit similar social tendencies
• natural and artificial selection have attenuated some behaviours and enhanced others; for example, Canis familiaris exhibits bite inhibition when presented with prey: they pick up prey with their teeth but are much less inclined to deliver a fatal bite
• different Canis familiaris breeds are selected to enhance specific behaviours; for example, terriers are selected to chase sheep whereas sheepdogs will guard them from predators

CommunicationDogs have four main ways of communicating with each other or humans:

• scent marking (spraying)
• visual (body posture, eye contact … or lack thereof)
• vocal (barking and whining)
• social communication

1) Scent marking
Spraying or urinating on objects is a method used by dogs to communicate. It serves to mark territory and to give information – such as the sex of the animal and its mating status. Dogs mark territory to avoid confrontation. Depending on how secure a dog feels about its territory, it will tend to spray more or less often. For example, if a dog is very unsure about its security, it likely will mark the territory more frequently; if this is a domestic dog, then the marking will extend to objects inside the house – the bed

s, clothing, even visitors. Dogs also will urinate when they smell the urine of another dog (Lanier 2000).
2) Visual cues
Dogs will use a variety of body postures to indicate how they will act in certain contexts.

Aggressive intent (Horwitz, 2001):
staring at offenders
snarling or baring teeth
displaying erect body posture, tilting ears forward (depending on the breed), piloerecting fur
attacking (indicated by a crouching body posture with the ears laid back)

Submissive intent (passive or active) (Horwitz, 2001):
lateral recumbancy, elevation of the hind limb, tucking the tail (passive)
no eye contact, low tail but wagging between the legs (active)

3) Vocal communication
3.1 The Vocal Tract:

Sound reproduction is similar in all mammals. Primary sound is produced by the vocal folds of the larynx and then is oscillated by the exhalation of air from the lungs. To modify airflow, the vocal folds can be opened and closed, which produces acoustics that vary with time (Riede and Fitch, 1999). The resonances of the vocal tract produce what are known as “formants,” a phenomenon that has been studied heavily in speech science (Riede and Fitch, 1999).

Although dogs lack the structure found in the modern human vocal tract, modifications that allow us to produce vowels, dogs are capable of distinguishing among the different formants produced by humans (Riede and Fitch, 1999). This knowledge caused scientists to wonder if animals could distinguish formants within their species, and if it possibly could be used as a form of communicating size between dogs.

Researchers have found that vocal tract length is related directly to the body size of the individual producing the sound, which results in a change in frequency in low-pitched growls. These growls convey an accurate impression of size to the listener.

3.2 Barking:

For a long time, barking was thought to have no communicative role. Dog barking usually is highly variable. In wild canines, only puppies bark consistently and, upon reaching adult hood, barking is restricted to specific contexts. Excessive and repetitive barking in adult dogs has no relevant communicative properties and is a result of relaxed selection during the 12000 years of domestication that have transpired (Riede and Fitch, 1999).

In a recent paper by Pongracz et al. (2005), however, barking has been shown to have a role in interspecific communication between dogs and humans.

Two rules for the foundations of interspecific communication:
"Species could rely on common rules of communication that determine the structure of the signal” (Pongracz et al., 2005)
“The individuals of different species could learn the meaning of [a] heterospecific signal” (Pongracz et al., 2005)

To test the theory that dog barking does serve as a form of interspecific communication with humans, scientists used the Mudi – a midsized Hungarian sheepdog that is highly intelligent and utilizes a large amount of barking while herding.

They made several sound recordings of the dog in multiple situations:

• when encountering a stranger
• when encountering a 'bad guy'
• when going for a walk
• when left alone
• when tantalized with a ball or favorite toy
• when playing

These barks (72 in total, 12 from each situation) were shuffled and played for three groups of people. The human participants were grouped depending on their experience with dogs – whether they owned Mudis, had owned a dog but never a Mudi, and, finally, never owned a dog.

The human participants had to fill out two questionnaires: 1) rating the emotionality of each bark heard from aggressiveness to happiness and 2) attempting to categorize the situation occurring at the time of the barking using the list above
listeners allotted high despair levels to ‘alone’ situations
the highest aggressiveness levels were given to the ‘stranger’ and ‘bad-guy’ situations
no relevant difference in categorization between the three groups of listeners was discerned – non-owners chose most of the same emotions and situations as did Mudi owners when categorizing a bark
participants found that the dimensions of quick versus slow pulsating barks as well as the pitch of the bark (high or low) were important indicators for making happy versus sad distinctions – where quick pulsating barks indicate an aggressive situation
this suggests that the capability to recognize basic emotions may be an ancient trait shared among animals

4) Social communication

Even more so than do our nearest primate relatives, dogs have an unusual ability to understand human social and communicative behaviors. They
understand the meaning of pointing gestures – in cases for finding food, etc.
comprehend what a human can and cannot see, depending on the situation
can understand gestures, such as looking in a specific direction or nodding at a desired object
can make social inferences; for example, when an owner tells his or her dog to fetch something using a novel word, the dog returns with a novel toy instead of a familiar one

FACT: With respect to gaze cues, dogs – like human infants but unlike chimpanzees – only use the human head and eye direction to locate hidden food if the person is gazing at one of two possible hiding locations; they ignore a human’s gaze if the person stares into space above the correct hiding location” (Hare and Tomasello, 2005).

Are the similarities between dogs and humans in terms of social interaction a case for convergent evolution?
Dogs evolved multiple times from Old World wolves, and their ability to read social behaviour likely is a remnant from social pack hunting.
Wolves, however, do not show the same social skills as do domestic dogs and are less capable of using human social behaviors.
Studies of foxes have shown that domesticated kits recognize human social cues much better than do wild foxes.

The ability of dogs to understand human social and communicative behaviors evolved during the process of domestication and represents a case for convergent evolution. The behaviour possibly is an incidental side-effect of selection in dogs for tame behaviour (Hare and Tomasello, 2005).
The Dog Genome
Sequencing the genome

Who sequenced it?
Whitehead Institute/MIT Center for Genome Research/Broad Institute

Picking the correct subjectneed a reference genome that is most reliable (Nhuch and Turner 2004)
tested 60 breeds and 120 dogs (Marinelli 2003)
decided on boxers due to the low amount of genetic variation within their genome
decided on a female (Marinelli 2003) because it possesses an X chromosome, which makes the genome a better representative of its autosomes (Marinelli 2003)
these criteria led to picking Tasha

they used a 7.6x WGS (whole genome shotgun) strategy

WGS involves
breaking genomic DNA into 1-3 kilobase sequences
collecting these sequences
cloning each sequence into a vector
sequencing the inserted DNA with a primer from either end
repeating many times (B. Golding, McMaster University, personal communication )

7.6x means they did a seven-plus fold coverage of the genome when initially sequenced (Nhuch and Turner 2004)

they specifically use a series of contigs (cloned overlapping regions of a genome) from a variety of data bases such as NCBI, EMBL, DDBJ etc.(Nhuch and Turner 2004)
Results
2.4x109 base pairs, when Tasha’s DNA was assembled (Ellegren 2005)
Tasha gave an estimated 99% coverage of the dog genome (Ellegren 2005)

due to highly repetitive sequences being removed (Ellegren 2005)
39 pairs of chromosomes (Ellegren 2005)
mosaic patterning within chromosomes (Ellegren 2005)

shows areas of homologycan lead to a breed specific map of traits such as morphological, physiological, and behavioural traits (Ellegren 2005)
Importance of the Genome
can compare it to other breeds/species to find single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) which are useful in finding genetic variants (Ellegren 2005)

by comparing the boxer and a few other species of domestic dogs, 2.5 million SNPs have been found (Ellegren 2005)
works out to an average of 1 SNP/1000 base pairs (Ellegren 2005)
can give evolutionary insight

e.g., anaylsis of mitochondria DNA suggests a small amount (bottleneck) of wild ancestor DNA contributed to the domestic gene pool (Ellegren 2005) BUT…


nuclear DNA does not show this same characteristic. Nuclear DNA has a high level of variability suggesting that domestic dogs have back-crossed (mated with wild dogs) after they became domesticated. This would allow for new genes to enter the gene pool (Ellegren 2005).
can provide information on mammalian biology and disease (Ellegren 2005)

use a SNP map to identify genes responsible for disease and traits that are detrimental to life (Lindblad-Toh et al. 2005)
dog is a good model for humans


they share common diseases and, due to inbreeding specific types of dogs, have a higher rate of contracting those diseases with a genetic link; therefore, the gene associated with a disease might be easier to find (Lindblad-Toh et al. 2005)
can be analyzed statistically

dogs are related closely to humans and mice and, therefore, may serve as an outgroup. This is important in analyses, when searching for conserved elements (Lindblad-Toh et al. 2005).
assists in finding common ancestors between clades (Lindblad-Toh et al. 2005)

Man's Best Friend, Why?

Domesticated animals abound. Over the millennia humans have, for a variety of reasons, domesticated everything from cats and dogs to snakes and skunks. But none of them receive the attention, care, and love that dogs do. Why is this? What makes dogs man's best friend? Is it their ease of training, the attachment they make to their human companions, or do they just really like free food?

The answer seems to lie in the long relationship between the two species. Researchers estimate the history of humans and dogs coexisting as far back as 15000 years. In this time, dogs and humans have had a long time to get to know one another. Studies in which researchers looked at the abilities of wolves, chimpanzees, and domesticated dogs to recognize human communication skills found that domesticated dogs, even those as young as nine weeks old, were better able than were wolves or chimpanzees to understand cues from human subjects. The subjects, all raised by humans, each were given instructions by humans on the location of hidden food and, despite the fact that chimps are more closely related genetically to humans and wolves have bigger brains, dogs still came out on top. The study revealed that the co-evolution of dogs with humans must have selected for a set of cognitive abilities between the two that makes the bond between humans and dogs unique (Walton, 2002). This unique ability to communicate eases the relationship between dogs and humans and lends insight into why both dogs and humans feel a special connection to one another.

Throughout the process of domestication, dogs have been of utmost use to humans, as workers and companions. In the Stone Age, dogs helped in hunting, labour, providing warmth, and protecting from predation. Often, the remains of dogs are found with the remains of Stone Age humans, in and around caves and in burial grounds (Vergano, 2006). Aside from pets, dogs the world over still work in a symbiotic relationship with humans.

True stories of Man's Best Friend
Countless news stories chronicling the bond between dogs and humans have been published. In 2005, a baby in Kenya was abandoned by her mother in a forest and left to die. A stray dog, a new mother of her own litter of puppies, heard the cries from the human baby that no one else heard and took the dying human infant back to her own litter of puppies and cared for her as best she could, treating her like one of her own pups. When a local man heard a baby crying, he was led to find a human baby snuggling with puppies, watched over by their faithful mother. The baby was taken to a hospital and is now growing up a healthy baby girl, thanks to a stray mother dog (Reagan, 2005). This begs the question, ‘How deep is the tie between humans, and their best friends?’ Did the dog know instinctively to take care of a human baby, despite the fact that she was a stray who may have had little human contact? These are the types of questions that researchers are trying to answer.

One study found that having a dog as a companion lowered blood pressure in patients in high stress jobs. Other studies showed that having a dog as a pet was a great substitute for human companionship for those who lived alone (Biology.About.Com, 1999).

Dogs have been shown to reduce stress and anxiety in hospitalized patients. Researchers showed that just a 12 minute visit with humans’ best friend reduced stress-inducing hormone emissions and lowered blood pressure and pulse rate in hospital patients (AHASS, 2005).
Dogs In Society

Many dogs are used in professional applications, working in symbiotic relationships with their human counterparts to do everything from fight crime to guiding the blind.

Guide dogs
Guide dogs, commonly called ‘seeing eye’ dogs are paired with visually impaired people to add to their abilities to move about safely. The term seeing eye dog comes from the first guide dog training school, opened in America in 1929. The first ever guide dogs were trained as part of a program run by the German government to aid veterans who were blind or visually impaired. The seeing eye dog school, and most other schools, use golden retrievers, labradors, and German shepherds, as they have the best temperament for the work (SeeingEye.org, 2006).
Police dogs, drug dogs and airport security

Police dogs, sometimes referred to as the ‘K9 units’ (a play on the word canine), are dogs specially trained to assist in police-related matters. This can include anything from drug location to suspect location and restraint. Most police dogs live with their human coworkers and enjoy the same protection and respect that human police officers do. Often K9’s are given bullet proof vests, and, in many places, laws have been passed making it illegal to try to hurt a police dog (Grabianowski, 2006).
Search and rescue dogs and fire dogs

Many dogs are employed on emergency search and rescue teams. These dogs are trained specially to search out and find people who may be trapped due to hurricanes, earthquakes, avalanches, or some other disaster. Their superior sense of smell and quickness on their feet enables them to do this much more quickly than can their human counterparts.
Sheep dogs, sled dogs and guard dogs

Dogs also serve many purposes in the everyday lives of some people. For many centuries, dogs have been used to herd sheep, pull sleds through the snow, and guard homes and properties.

Astronauts
Dogs even receive credit as the first living organism in outer space. Laika, a dog from Russia, was launched on the Soviet satellite Sputnik 2, on November 2nd, 1957. Since then, many other dogs have taken part in manned and non-manned missions to space to collect scientific data (Miffline, 2006).
Research

Dogs, as they are physiologically similar to humans, are also often used to help scientists understand certain human behaviors. The Russian scientist, Ivan Pavlov, based his theory of classical conditioning on work with dogs. He rang a bell every time he was going to feed the dogs and noted that, in response to this, the dogs learnt that food was coming every time the bell rang. As the dogs’ reactions to eating were to salivate, the bell alone was able to induce salivation. This principle relates to humans in many instances. Advertisements jingles or songs for different types of foods may make you hungry or desire the product advertised subconsciously.

Quiz

• Slowly pulsating barks indicate an aggressive situation in canines. True or False?
• Canines, rather than other primates, are much more like human infants in their ability to recognize human social and communicative behaviour. True or False?
• What is the special name given to police dog units?
• The first organization to train dogs as guide dogs for the blind was called?
• How many years ago did domesticated dogs diverge from their wolf cousins?
• How many processes are involved in the rapid evolution of dogs?
• The majority of the 400 dog breeds known today were bred after what year?
• Which breeding process involves carefully selecting certain dogs for inherited traits like body type, coat characteristics, speed, herding, hunting, endurance, and size?
• Why did they pick Tasha as the representative for the dog genome?
• Which species of canidae is the closest living relative of canis familiaris, the domestic dog?

Dogs - Human’s Best Friend

The human and dog bond goes deep and wide! This week's article is written and contributed by avid Dogs Topic reader and contributor, Kathy Abellanida better known as Kat.

When humans pulled themselves out of the primordial ooze there was a cold wet nose waiting to nuzzle their face.... Ok, maybe not that long ago, but when humans were huddled around fires and civilization was far off in the future, one creature came out of the darkness and chose to befriend them: dogs.

Dogs started hovering at the edges of tribes, picking up scraps and deciding if we were worth their time, when humans were barely standing upright. They started following the tribes when the smell of food drew them. They would eat the little that was left behind or thrown out. Humans noticed the dogs would bark if other creatures or humans they were unfamiliar with came near. This was useful to the tribe and dogs were encouraged to stay. A relationship developed that exists to this day.

If left to their own devices and treated well, dogs will give unconditional love to their companions. They seek out contact and express joy in reciprocated attention. They are devastated when they are given the cold shoulder or feel we are angry with them. As pack animals they, more than any other creature thrive in a family environment. Dogs develop a loyalty to their family or 'pack'. They raise the alarm if they perceive a threat and even confront that threat if they feel the need. The exceptions to this are breeds where these traits have been suppressed for some reason, i.e. Chows who were bred to be loyal to one person.

No other animal has evolved itself to be companion to humans. There are many different 'pets' humans choose to keep, but these 'pets' would rather be on their own in the wild. Dogs are the only animals to seek humans out. The closest any animal comes to being such a close companion to humans are cats. Somehow though, cats give off the impression that humans have evolved to become somewhat useful for cats to have around.

While this is not necessarily an argument against having other animals as pets, I think it is clear dogs are more than pets and deserve a certain respect and consideration for the role they have in civilization. They should have certain rights bestowed upon them and there should be more severe consequences when they are abused. Should they have more rights than humans? I say no. I think even dogs would put us first if given the choice. But they have earned their right to come in a strong second.

*If anything in this editorial resembles other works it is totally unintentional and the sole result of the inherent truths spoken by so many about their dogs. -Kathy Abellanida.

Stealing: Is Your Dog a Thief?

What is a thief? In the human sense, is a dog capable of stealing? When something of yours is in jaws of a dog, you want it back! How to get it?

Actions you take when your dog runs off with something of yours can create grave behavior problems in the dog-or improve the dog's training and your relationship. For either result you'll put in the same amount of time. Knowing what to do lets you shape the outcome.

Why Do Dogs Carry Things Off?

A dog's reasons for carrying something are fairly simple, but not always obvious to humans. Dogs have no way of knowing the value things have for us. Money means nothing to a dog.

Wild dogs often need to carry food from where they find it to where they will eat it. They bury some to eat later. They carry food to pups and sometimes to other members of the pack. In some cases they eat the food, travel to the pups, and regurgitate the food for the pups to eat. Domesticated dogs--at least some of them--have the ability to regurgitate voluntarily in order to transfer food in this way.

Some domesticated dogs bury bones, toys or other items, and some hide the objects in other ways. A dog worried about having a steady food supply may hide food. Sometimes a dog who does it at first in a home will stop after settling in. A dog with pups may do it when she's never done it before.

Whenever you see a dog hiding food, keep in mind that the dog may be feeling insecure or may feel a need to think about providing for the future. To rebuke the dog would likely make the dog feel even more insecure.

Dogs use objects to soothe their mouths by chewing. The jaws apparently are uncomfortable, possibly painful, in the process of setting new teeth. We should be glad that puppy chewing reduces the needle-sharpness of their first teeth! The permanent teeth need to be set in the jaws by chewing, and if this starts the dog on a lifelong habit of chewing appropriate objects, better dental health for life can be the welcome benefit. For you that means a dog with better-smelling breath, sounder teeth, and less frequent need for anesthetized dental cleaning.

Remember that dogs need to chew. When your dog has something inappropriate as a chew item, make a quick switch that ends in your dog chewing something appropriate and getting praised for it. Realize you'll likely have to do this many times and supervise until your young dog forms good chewing habits. Punishment will not help solve this problem, and will result in problems much more serious than chewed possessions.

Besides lifelong dental health, a dog with good chewing habits can use a chew toy to relax. This ability helps dogs control their own emotions in some rather remarkable ways. Instead of bugging you when you're sleeping or reading, your dog may pick up a toy and chew it until the dog falls asleep.

To help develop this ability, be sure to place one or more favorite chew toys in the crate with a young pup. With nothing else to do, the stage is set for the pup to discover that chewing helps bring sleep, and at the same time makes the jaws feel better.

Some people recommend providing only one toy so the dog will focus on that one object for chewing. Others suggest that you rotate toys, making old toys new again when they come back out of storage. Whatever you do, try to provide your dog with a variety of textures in toys to chew, especially textures similar to the human possessions that have interested the dog.

Dogs often "steal" something they notice interests you because they want to play. They'll do this with other dogs, too. Chasing your dog is not a good idea, because dogs who learn to run from humans have played this game in traffic.

Cornering the dog and angrily forcing the object out of the dog's mouth triggers fight-or-flight survival instincts-but gives the dog no flight option. People get bitten this way and damage their dogs' temperaments in the process. The dog has a new reason for running off with the object and for defensive behavior: fear of you.

The dog's playful mood in initiating this game is a perfect training opportunity if you know what to do, and we'll discuss that in a minute. Meanwhile, realize that it's vital not to turn this into a confrontation. Good work with your dog will make these situations easy to handle. In the meantime, trade the dog for something better, and act happy about the deal.

Dogs do sometimes "want" things. Some dogs have favorite toys. Sometimes this behavior may be related to maternal instinct. A heritage from the wild is food guarding, which will be made worse if you force the issue. The trick to handling food guarding is to convince the dog there's no NEED to guard food. Instead of taking food away, you keep approaching the dog as you bring small amounts of food. Meanwhile, though, feed the dog in a private place.

What Not to Do When Your Dog "Steals"

Things that don't work and that cause complications when handling the dog who has your stuff include:

1. Chasing the dog. Running away from people is life-threatening for a dog. Pattern your dog to always come toward you, unless it's a retrieve that involves going out and then coming back.

2. Yelling or punishing the dog for damage. The dog won't learn anything from this except fear. When people return home to find a dog left loose in the house has damaged things, and then freak out at the dog, they may soon find their dog has developed separation anxiety. The damage done before will pale by comparison with damage from a dog suffering separation anxiety.

3. Punishing the dog when you get the object back or when the dog comes to you. Teach your dog to bring things to you and to come to you when called. This learning does not occur when the dog experiences you being nasty when the dog comes to you or you take something from the dog's mouth. Anytime you remove something from your dog's mouth, make the dog happy about giving it to you. Give the dog something nice in return such as praise, games and treats-leave the dog happy about the transaction! The same is true whenever the dog comes to you. A dog who comes to you should be "home free," no matter WHAT the dog has done just prior to coming. Dogs are not going to come to people who penalize them for coming!

4. Corner and punish a dog. Just as you don't want to pattern a dog to run from you, it's dangerous to pattern a dog that being caught by a person can mean being in big trouble. You need to be a "safe place" for your dog, someone your dog can always trust. This will happen only if you behave in a trustworthy way. Lying to a dog doesn't work, because the dog only believes what you do, not what you say.

How to Use "Stealing" as a Training Bonanza

The brain-dog as well as human-is most receptive to learning when in a playful mood. When your dog grabs an object and prances away, enticing you with body language to come and play, you've just been handed a solid gold opportunity to teach your dog one of the most important advanced behaviors: the retrieve.

What's your first move? Instead of getting mad, join the game! Instead of chasing the dog, run from the dog. Make it the dog's challenge to chase you and persuade you to take the object. Have something handy to give the dog in exchange or to throw for the dog to pick up, carry, and hopefully bring to you. Get happy! Have fun! This is part of the great joy of having a dog. Don't miss it!

All of this fun gives you the opportunity to develop a language of retrieving with your dog. As you play together, associate words with the dog's actions of "pick it up," "get it," "go get it," "hold it," "bring it," "put it in my hand," etc.

Retrieving is the best game to play with a dog. It builds cooperation, brings the dog to you, enhances communication between you and the dog, conditions the dog to give things to you, and provides the dog with exercise.

It's Your Choice

It's no exaggeration to say that people have ruined the temperaments of their dogs by responding harshly when dogs "steal." Don't make this mistake. Recognize the golden opportunity presented to you when your clever dog picks up an object and runs around with it. The dog is ready to learn. Be ready to teach! In the process, you'll learn, too, and you and your dog will both be the winners.

Stop Dog Jumping Up On People

Dogs jumping up on people is at best an embarrassing, annoying habitand at worst a danger for all involved.

What starts out as a cute habit in young puppies often escalates into a big problem that can be very difficult to correct. If you can't stand your much loved dog jumping on you, just imagine what visitors to your home must think?

Dog Jumping Up - Annoying:Your dog jumps all over you every time you come home, on visitors to your home or just when you've put on freshly cleaned and ironed pants! 

Dog Jumping Up - Dangerous:Any small child or elderly person who crosses path with your dog. Depending on the size of your dog, anyone could be in danger of being knocked off their feet.

Why Do Our Dogs Jump Up On People?

Excitement, they're just showing you that they are happy to see you.

Your dog could be seeking your attention and has been rewarded with it by jumping up in the past.

To assert dominance over you or guests. This is a rare one but can happen.

General Tips For Correcting Dog Behavior Problems - Jumping UpAlways keep in mind that your dog doesn't understand that the jumping up behavior is "inappropriate". It's up to you to clearly communicate this to your dog.

Start as early as you can. It's much easier to prevent behavior problemssuch as dogs jumping on people, than to correct ingrained existing habits.

Punishing or hitting a dog for jumping up just doesn't make sense and will never work. Your goal, and your best chance of stopping your dog from jumping up is to clearly communicate that jumping up is always an unacceptable behavior.

Never reward a dog that jumps up on people by giving them theattention they are seeking. Rewarded behavior is reinforced behavior, meaning it will become more common.

You have to send a consistent message to your dog in all circumstances. Make it simple for your dog and eliminate any confusion. This means that everybody who comes into contact with your dog has to reinforce the same message. It's pointless and unfair if you give your dog a cuddle and attention when he jumps up on you, but then yell at him when he jumps up on a delivery man.

Don't give your dog what he/she wants (attention) every time he jumps up and you'll find the behavior decreases.

How To Stop Your Dog From Jumping Up

Depending on what stage you're at with the jumping up problem, you should find one of these training techniques will do the trick. In most cases you will see some positive results in a matter of days. These are my favorite methods which I have successfully used to stop my dogs from jumping:

When you see that your dog is ready to launch up at you, turn your body away from him. This will make your dog miss you, or at the very least deflect him off you. During this process don't make any eye contact with your dog and don't say a thing. Ignore your dog and make it clear to him that when he jumps he gets nothing from you.

When your dog has settled down and stops jumping, you then initiate some contact with him. Get down to his level and lavish him with praise and a nice scratch behind the ear. If you are consistent and persistent with this method, your dog will soon learn that staying on all four legs is a much better alternative!

The next method is the one I prefer to use with my dogs. In situations where your dog is excitable and prone to jumping up, give him something else to do. In these situationsI instruct my dogs to "sit" - this is sometimes referred to as "alternate behavior training".

So instead of jumping around like lunatics, my dogs sit patiently awaiting my attention (which I always reward them with). This is the dog obedience training guide I follow when training my dogs - dog training membership site. You can also use go to your spot for the same purpose.

Many dog trainers use and recommend correcting jumping up problems with apinch collar (sometimes called a prong collar). This technique is most suitable for bigger, strong willed breeds like German Shepherds and Rottweilers. The key is to leave the pinch collar on whenever you are around your dog and have a short leash attached to it. At the moment your dog jumps, give a short sharp snap downwards on the leash. This tightens the collar and creates a negative association to your dog. It is said to replicate the correction that dogs use between themselves. Never pull on the leash for more than a second or two, and never hurt your dog. When used the right way the pinch collar should not leave a mark on your dogs neck. Your dog will learn very quickly that when he jumps up on people, it will be an unpleasant experience. I believe this is an extreme method and would only consider it as a last resort for a dog who is jumping up dangerously.

The good thing about jumping up problems in dogs is that they areusually an easy fix. As long as you are determined to correct the problem and follow the above training techniques consistently you should be on the right track.

Dogs Play Biting

It's important to know the difference between biting, nipping, or mouthing that is employed during play, and when it's more serious. While a dog or puppy may growl and bark during play, as long as there is plenty of loose and wiggly body movements, you are probably still in the play zone. Stiff and rigid dog bodies usually indicate that events have taken a dark turn. If you ever feel unsafe or threatened, simply end the game. Wait until the dog has settled or walks away before you leave the area. Seek the services of a qualified dog behavior specialist, an applied animal behaviorist, or a veterinary behaviorist for further advice.

Play-biting is recognized as a non-aggressive act. It can happen during vigorous play interaction with another animal or with a person. There is no reason to be alarmed by this behavior. Still, it can hurt and it should be modified.

Puppies (and some adult dogs) need to be taught how to control their mouths and wild play behavior. Since human beings are not covered in thick skin and fur like other dogs, dog teeth can make direct contact with sensitive skin. When this happens, say "OUCH!" in a sharp, short tone. Do not move away from pup as this may only serve to cause your dog to chase you. Do not re-engage your pup in play until your dog has sufficiently settled. Soon pup will learn that rough play ends his fun.

It is also recommended to use a toy to play with your pup. Direct your puppy's mouth to the toy and he/she will learn to grab a toy when feeling frisky.

Most dogs are pretty good at letting a pup or other adult dog know when play has gotten out of line. But don't wait until it breaks out in melee. Interrupt your dog when you notice that he/she is thinking of getting rowdy. Redirect your dog's play to a toy or ask him/her to settle. Allow your dog to join back in the fun after calming.

dogs bark excessively? causes

Barking is a normal behaviour for dogs and an important means of communication. However, when dogs bark excessively they become a nuisance to their owners and the neighbourhood. Before you can successfully manage a barking problem you will need to determine the cause of the barking. Your neighbours may be able to tell you how often your dog barks in your absence.

Dogs bark for a variety of reasons and it is important to work out why your dog is barking excessively. Once the underlying cause and 'triggers' for the barking are identified, training techniques can be used to treat the excessive barking.

Some of these reasons include:

Boredom

Dogs that are left alone all day with nothing to do often resort to barking out of boredom. Boredom barkers will bark continuously and may also exorcise their frustration on your flower beds. To tackle boredom barking you should start by ensuring that your dog is receiving enough exercise. If you take your dog for a good walk in the morning he will be more likely to rest until you come home. You should also make sure that your house and garden are sufficiently enriched with fun toys and puzzles to keep him entertained when you are not home. Try putting some of your dog’s daily food allowance into a Kong toy or treat ball so he has to work to retrieve his snacks. Keep his toys in a toy box and alternate the toys he has access to each day. Hide his toys and some treats around the garden to encourage him to forage or if he likes to dig provide a sand pit to divert his instincts away from your garden. If your dog has any play mates in the neighbourhood you might alleviate boredom by inviting them over for the day.

You may also consider organising a 'dog walker' to walk your dog in the middle of the day while you are at work or a 'dog minder' to keep your dog company when you are away for long periods. You may also consider utilising your local 'doggy day care' services.

Separation anxiety

Dogs are pack animals and it is normal for them to become anxious when they are left alone for the first time. Take care to teach your dog how to cope with being left alone at a young age. Begin by sending your dog outside for short periods of time while you are still at home. Make sure he has a toy to play with or raw bone to chew on while he is outside (see knowledgebase article on feeding dogs) so the experience is a positive one.

Gradually extend the length of time you are leaving your dog alone. When you do leave the house make sure that he has somewhere safe to retreat to such as a kennel. Make sure that he receives plenty of exercise and that he has a supply of toys and treats to keep him entertained while you are away. Do not fuss over your dog when you come home – make sure both your departure and return are quiet and unexciteable. Most dogs will adjust to periods of time alone, however some become severely stressed and may begin to bark incessantly and even self mutilate/injure themselves. If your dog suffers from separation anxiety you will need to manage the condition in consultation with a veterinary behaviourist. Please also read the knowledgebase article about separation anxiety.

Fear

Dogs can also bark due to fear. They may be afraid of people coming near their territory or fearful of noises. particularly at night which may stimulate anxieties. Dogs can also be fearful of fireworks, thunderstorms and lawnmowers etc

Territorial behaviour

It is natural for your dog to want to warn you, the leader of the pack, about potential intruders. Your dog may not be able to distinguish between welcome visitors, people strolling past your home and intruders. Try and use predictable passers-by such as the postman to change your dog’s association from territory protection to a positive experience. Try and preempt the postman’s arrival and offer your dog a delicious treat or favourite toy. Only reward your dog when he/she is calm and not barking. With time your dog may begin to associate a person passing the house with something good rather than someone to protect you from.

If your dog barks at your neighbours when they are in their garden it is probably also because he is protecting your territory. Again, make sure you have some tasty treats at hand so that your dog associates your neighbours with the food (only give the treat when your dog is calm and not barking). You may also consider asking your friendly neighbours to treat your dog and supply them with their own stockpile – this is preferable to having them yell at your dog in frustration - yelling at a barking dog will only tend to reinforce the barking and protective behaviour. Barking is also reinforced when owners yell or scold their own barking dog - this is called negative reinforcement and should be avoided. Successfully treating excessive barking relies on positive reinforcement - that is, reward good behaviour and avoid reinforcing 'unwanted' behaviour.

If your dog is barking at the dog next door arrange a meeting time and supervise play between the two. Fun play time should quell fear-related territorial behaviour and alleviate boredom. Do not ignore or scold territorial barking as your dog will become confused and anxious if his attempts to protect you are negatively received. You might also find that one day your dog alerts you to a real threat!

Attention-seeking behaviour

Dogs can bark when trying to call out to their human pack member or when bored through being left alone for long periods of time or having nothing to do while its humans are at work/away from the home.

You can modify attention seeking barking by ignoring bad behaviour and rewarding good beahviour. When your dog barks for attention he must be completely ignored – avoid eye contact, even leave the room. Praise and pat your dog when he is calm and quiet so he realises that this is the behaviour required to secure your attention. You can also give your dog a food treat when he/she is calm and not barking. This rewards good behaviour and does not reinforce 'unwanted' behaviour.

Communication

Dogs can bark as a means of communication. They may bark when calling out to other dogs or respond to other barking dogs (being a pack animal) or when communicating with its human pack members.

Any noise, no matter how slight can stimulate a barking response for e.g. rustling leaves, a banging window or a knock at the frontdoor/doorbell.

The basis of each of these barking problems is quite different. Likewise, approaches to treating each of them need to be different. Take the time to characterise your dog’s barking habits – does he bark at people passing by? Ask your neighbours whether he barks while you are away from home – does he bark all day or only some of the time? If necessary, manage the problem with help from a behavioural specialist. It is also a good idea to take your dog to the vet for a full health check to make sure there are no medical reasons for his behaviour. Never try and modify your dog’s behaviour by punishing him.

Anti-barking collars constitute a form of punishment and are an unreliable remedy – they do not address the cause of the problem and are easy to abuse. Your dog will be punished for every bark, some of which will be appropriate, and he will not learn an alternative, acceptable behaviour. RSPCA Australia does not recommend the use of these collars.

Stop Dog From Barking Fast

Working out how to stop your dog from barking can be a difficult and time consuming task.

Dogs love to bark. It's a perfectly natural thing for your dog to do, just as it's normal for us humans to speak.

It's when our dogs bark excessively that it becomes a problem for all concerned - including our cranky neighbors.

Considering this, our goal really isn't to stop dog barking altogether, but rather to control the excessive barking.

Keep in mind that there are situations when we want our dogs to bark (and I guess there are also times when I like my chatty aunty to speak!;)

The first step in modifying the behavior of an excessive barker is todetermine the reason why the dog is barking in the first place. Once you've identified this cause or trigger, you can then plan the correct training solution.

Why Do Dogs Bark? Stop Your Dog From Barking Now!

• To express their needs (being bossy).
• Some dogs are bred to bark (some terriers and hounds).
• They are staking out their territory.
• To alert other members of their pack (that's you and your family) of impending danger.
• When playing, just through sheer excitement - this is a very common type of puppy barking.
• Barking at other animals. Depending on where you are in the world, it could be squirrels or possums (I'm in Australia - my dogs go crazy at possums).
• If they are isolated.
• Some dogs bark excessively when separated from their pack (you and your family).
• If they are trapped behind some type of barrier like a fence or window.
• Just for fun!
• To express dominance (puppies normally test you out at some stage with a display of dominance barking).
• They bark because their owners have inadvertently rewarded excessive barking in the past (this is crucial to understand)
• Through boredom or a lack of physical and mental stimulation.
• May feel stressed or uncomfortable for some reason. Things like feeling threatened or if they don't have an appropriate place to sleep can cause excessive barking problems.
• Dogs that haven't been properly socialized often become nuisance barkers.
• May be looking for a response or some attention from their pack.

Another thing to keep in mind is that even though it may appear to you that your dog is barking at nothing, this is not necessarily the case. This is due to the fact that your dog has a much more acute sense of hearing, smell and sight than us humans. Your dog's excessive barking is most probably being triggered by something.

Stop Dog Barking!

 now we've sorted out the reason for your dog's excessive barking, we just need to work out how to control the problem.

The most important piece of advice to remember when trying to modify any dog behavior problem, is that you must clearly communicate to your dog what is acceptable behavior and what is not.

One of the biggest mistakes us dog owners make is to inadvertently reward our dogs excessive barking. We actually encourage and reinforce the barking problem when we commit these three dog training sins:

"Never Reward Your Dog's Barking!"

• Yell and scream at the dog - this just gives them the attention they were crying out for. Plus your dog will most probably just think you are joining in with them, adding to the excitement.

• Let them inside. If your dog is barking his head off outside, then you let him in, this just rewards and therefore reinforces the barking. This also applies to dogs who bark to be released from a crate or bark to make you get up and prepare their dinner!

• If your dog is barking and you react by giving him a comforting cuddle or a treat of some sort, you are definitely encouraging your dog to bark again. By doing this you are communicating to your dog that you are happy with him. You should be making it clear that his excessive barking is inappropriate and won't be tolerated.

Right, lets get stuck into some proven dog training techniques to helpstop your dog from barking. I've listed the most common reasons why your dog may be barking, and added some proven solutions you can try to alleviate the problem.

Dog Goes Crazy Every Time The Phone Rings

This is a very common and annoying time for dogs to bark excessively. Try these training techniques:

• Never yell at your dog.
• Get your dog conditioned (desensitized) to the sound of the phone ringing, don't make it such a big deal. Ring your home number from your cell phone or get a friend to keep calling you. When the phone rings just sit there, don't say or do a thing. Repeat this process over a few days, your dog will probably continue to bark for a while but will give up before long.
• If you give your dog basic obedience training, behavioral problems such as excessive barking are easily controlled. Your dog will look up to you as their firm but fair leader and will be eager to please you in any situation. Teaching the "Quiet!" or "Stop!" obedience training command will soon correct this problem. To learn how to properly train your dog yourself, at home visit dogproblems.com barking fix.
• Another method which is related to the point above is to request analternate behavior each time the phone rings. So instead of your dog barking and being a pest every time you are on the phone you could have him/her "go to your spot" in the corner.
• You may have some success by changing the style and volume of your ring tone.

Dog Barks When You Are Not Home

I'm not going to pretend this type of barking will be easy for you to control, because in reality it is often a difficult and lengthy process.

Always remember that dogs are social creatures, when they are separated from their pack (you) they can become stressed, vulnerable and frustrated. This type of excessive barking is often caused by separation anxiety.

Firstly I'd say just use your common sense and get these dog ownership basics right. Keep your dog well exercised (physical and mental) and provide fresh water, chewing toys and a nice comfortable place to sleep. You can also try to block your dogs view of the street and other distractions/triggers. Basically, make sure your dog is happy.

If you know your dog has been barking while you have been away, you must ignore him for a while when you return home. I understand this is difficult for lots of owners, but otherwise your dog believes that his barking is the reason you came back home to him. Just go about your business for a little while when you arrive home, ignoring your dog. When your dog has settled down, you then initiate contact with him. Please note this method applies to dogs who were barking at the moment you arrived home.

"You Must Convey A Clear & Consistent Message To Your Dog At All Times"

This next technique takes time and patience, but can be a very effective way to stop your dog from barking. It's based on that important rule applicable to all dog training situations. Praise or reward when your dog does something you want to encourage and create a negative association when he does something you don't like.

Leave the house as you normally would, but just hide somewhere nearby. When your dog starts to bark, spray him with water or throw a tin can full of coins or rocks in his direction (this is the negative association). Try to keep out of your dog's sight while doing this if possible. Go and hide again, if he is quiet for a while, go in and reward his good behavior with some praise and maybe a treat. This process may need to be repeated over and over until you have broken the excessive barking habit.

The above techniques have proven to be successful with my own dogs, but if they don't work for you, maybe you could try a Citronella no bark collar. Again this method uses the power of negative association. Every time your dog barks, a fine mist of citronella is sprayed into the air. Most dogs hate the smell, and soon realize if they don't bark, the smell isn't there to bother them. *If you have more than one dog this method is not really a suitable solution. I always advocate some proper training before even considering an option such as a citronella no bark collar.

Dog Barks For Attention Or To Demand Something

This is one excessive barking problem that can be corrected very quickly.

If you establish yourself as your dog's leader in the owner-dog relationship you share, this type of barking problem won't occur. In the process of training you'll also form a strong bond together based on trust and mutual respect. To learn the best way to obedience train your dog visit dogproblems.com membership site.

You can also teach your dog the "Stop" or "Quiet" command to help prevent this annoying type of problem barking. When your dog is barking simply say "QUIET!" at the same time as you wave a tasty treat in front of your dog's nose. After you dog is quiet for a few seconds you can then give him/her the treat. Eventually you will only need to say "QUIET!", without the need for a treat.

Another proven method to help stop your dog from barking for attention is to simply ignore your dog. Your dog will no doubt become frustrated and bark a whole lot initially, but once he realizes that it is not getting him anywhere, he will stop. Warning - this training method can be hard on the ears for a while! Remember that a dog's behavior that is not rewarded and reinforced will become less prevalent.

Stop Your Dog Barking At The Door

Dog Barks At Passers ByWorkers such as the Postman or a delivery driver are constantly being barked at and harassed throughout their day.

Your dog perceives these type of people as intruders or a threat to their territory. When your dog barks in this situation he is rewarded every time, as the intruder goes away. Your dog is then very pleased that he has averted this "threat", which leads him to do it again and again. His behavior is reinforced and therefore can be a very difficult problem to extinguish.

If possible, you could try to block your dogs vision or access to the area where these people pass by.

Dog obedience training is the best solution to this type of excessive barking. Once you have your dog properly obedience trained, you will be able to communicate to him that this is unacceptable behavior. 

If your dog consistently barks at a particular person, you may need to use this person to help modify your dogs behavior. Just say your dog gets really agitated each time the postman arrives. Have a chat to your postman and give him some of your dog's very favorite treats. Each time he delivers mail to your house, he can also deliver a tasty treat to your dog. In your dogs mind the postman goes from being a threat, to a welcome guest.

How To Stop Your Dog From Barking

In extreme cases of excessive barking, where all else has failed, some people advocate debarking surgery. I've never needed to go down this path with any of my dogs, and don't think I ever would. But if you have come to the end of the line and think you have run out of options, you could discuss debarking surgery with your Veterinarian. Hopefully your Vet will come up with some other options before taking this drastic step.

Proper dog obedience training is the key to solving any behavioral problems (including stopping your dog from barking), and also to building a strong bond with your dog.

Train your dog at home with this comprehensive dog training course -dogproblems.com. It's a fantastic community of dog lovers who strive to raise and train their dogs in a positive, reward based and non-violent manner.

Best Tips to Stop Dog Barking

Remember, barking is natural! It's an important means of communication for dogs. But sometimes problems can develop. As the pack leader, it's your job to step in and control excessive barking. Here are my 5 tips to help you stop nuisance barking for good.

1. Correct dog problem behavior and follow through.

Tell your dog to stop barking using a look, a sound, or a physical correction. But don't stop there. Your dog may pause and then go right back to what he was doing. His body relaxed, but his brain was still on alert. Be patient. Wait until your dog completely submits before you go back to what you were doing.

2. Stay calm when trying to stop dog barking.

Constant barking can be irritating, but you won't be able to correct the dog behavior problem if you are frustrated. Animals don't follow unbalanced leaders. In fact, your dog will mirror your energy. If you're frustrated, he will be, too! And barking is a great release for that frustrated energy. Take a moment to curb your own internal barking first.

3. Stake your claim to stop the barking.

Is your dog barking over and over again at the same object, person, situation, or place? Then you need to step up and claim that stimulus as your own. Use your body, your mind, and your calm-assertive energy to create an invisible wall that your dog is not allowed to cross. Do it with 100% dedication and focus, and the results may surprise you.

4. Stop the barking by challenging your dog mentally and physically.

Excessive barking is often the result of pent-up energy. If this is the case, the solution is simple: release that energy in more productive ways. Does your dog receive a daily walk? Can you make the walk more challenging with a bicycle, a backpack, or by walking on an incline? Can you provide more mental challenges, such as herding, agility training, or simple obedience games? There are many, many ways to increase the challenges in your dog's life. Find one that you enjoy that your dog can participate in safely.

5. Get professional help to stop dog barking.

When you brought this dog into your life, you made a commitment to provide the care he needs. Prevent dog barking, and other dog behavior problems by calling in a canine professional to help him cope with a behavior issue.

EXPLANATION OF HOW DOGS LEARN

Dogs are very efficient in their behavior. If a behavior is inherently pleasurable (eating, playing, chasing, etc), or if doing a particular behavior gets something pleasurable for the dog (like food, attention, or social interaction), the dog will display that behavior more and more often. If a behavior is not pleasurable, if it does not work to obtain something pleasurable, or results in something unpleasant, the dog will use that behavior less and less. Whenever you interact with a dog, you’re constantly giving her feedback about what works to get the good stuff and what doesn’t work. If a dog jumps up and gets attention, even if the attention is that you push him, then he knows that jumping “works” -– that is, it gets him attention and social interaction. If a he accidentally bites you in play and you don’t end the game, then he learns that play biting “works” or at least is not a serious impropriety -– the fun continues. So you can see why it is very important to manipulate the consequences of your dog’s behavior to be sure he is getting the right messages from you. This is a big responsibility.

The good news is that we can easily use the way dogs learn to “sculpt” their behavior, by consistently rewarding the desirable behaviors we see and ignoring or interrupting the undesirable behaviors. Gradually, you will see your dog behaving more and more in desirable ways, and less and less in undesirable ways.

But what about, for example, dogs who jump all the time? Well, that’s just it: no dog ever jumps literally all the time. Even with a dog that jumps a lot, there’s a moment when she isn’t jumping, so reinforce that moment with attention and some food! If you don’t like what she’s doing, show her what you would like her to do and then reinforce the new behavior.

Repetition and patience are key elements in dog training. There’s never a magic moment when the dog understands the meaning of our requests. Animals gradually become conditioned through lots of repetition that certain behaviors in certain situations will or will not “pay off.” 

We use these principles -– rewarding desirable behaviors and ignoring undesirable behavior or removing rewards when the animal behaves in an undesirable way -– in Open Paw training, and do not use physical punishment. Dogs make associations with you and with the situation every time you interact with them. Thus, an unfortunate side effect of using punishment to try to train animals is that, while they may learn to respond to cues, or to stop doing something you don’t like, they may also form negative associations to you, to the situation, the environment, to people in general, or to training. 

Furthermore, often you don’t get the result you wanted from trying to use punishment to train. Take for example a dog jumping on people. It’s not a desirable behavior to people, but in the dog-dog world this is usually an appeasing, friendly greeting gesture. If you use punishment to try to get the dog to stop jumping, you have to use a severe enough punishment the first time that it effectively outweighs the positive associations of the friendly greeting gesture. If the punishment is not severe enough, then, you are not effectively damping that behavior. You may even unintentionally be rewarding it. Furthermore, even if you succeed in punishing severely enough, some dogs may try to stop the punishment by offering an appeasement gesture rather than by stopping the undesirable behavior– so the result might be more rather than less jumping.

So, using punishment to train is pretty inefficient, difficult to do correctly, and, in order to be effective, must be severe. A much more efficient, friendlier way to train is to teach the dog a desirable, incompatible behavior: ask yourself, “If this is ‘wrong,’ what is ‘right’? In the case above, you could train the dog to sit to greet people instead of jumping. 

Please keep in mind, physical punishment can jeopardize your relationship with your dog or cause her to become defensive or fearful. Surely that is not your goal. Besides, dogs aren’t trying to be “bad” when they do something you don’t approve of; they are just being dogs. It is unfair to punish a dog for being a dog. It is up to you, as the human with control of all of the resources, to sufficiently and benevolently teach your dog the rules of the house and to train him to meet your expectations.