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How to stop dogs from barking?

Dog barking is quite normal behaviour, because it’s the only way that a dog can communicate. But sometimes that barking can become quite annoying and can cause some trouble between your neighbours, or anyone in your neighbourhood, and even your local authorities.

And this can become quite a problem. Sometimes your neighbours just won’t understand, especially when the barking is happening in the middle of the night when everyone is trying to sleep. Or maybe your dog is barking when you’re away.

It’s normal to dogs to bark from time to time. It’s exactly the same as when children laugh, and make noise when they play. But your dog has a barking problem if it’s happening for long periods of time. It’s a sign that you should do something right now to solve your dogs barking problem.

First thing you need to do is determined what’s actually making the dog bark? And how long is the dog barking for? Before you do anything, you may have to turn yourself into a detective. Gather as much information as you can, especially if the barking is happening mostly when you’re not at home.

Ask some friends to walk past your house and listen for a while to see if your dog barks. Maybe you can set up a video camera out your window into the backyard, or wherever your dog is, to see if you can catch the dog in the act. You might be surprised what you find.

The dog may be barking because it’s lonely or bored, the dog may be barking because of isolation. Maybe it’s barking for attention. Or maybe it’s barking out of sheer frustration.

So, That brings up the question… how to stop dogs from barking?

Well, If you have a dog is full of energy, particularly a breed that was bred for sports or for herding is properly barking because it’s bored. These types of dogs need a fair bit of attention and room to move. Try some toys in the backyard for the dog to play with maybe that will entertain the dog so that it doesn’t get bored.

Make sure you walk you dog every day. It’s excellent for its physical and mental well-being, a healthy dog is a happy dog.

Keep your dog inside when you are unable to supervise. Maybe something is catching his eye.

Make sure you play with your dog lots, make sure that there’s time with you on a daily basis, playing, exercise, throwing the ball and generally having fun. This way, the dog won’t act up trying to get your attention.

Summary on how to stop dogs from barking – Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise and attention when your there, and when you not there make sure that there is plenty of toys, or you can keep your dog inside when you’re away.

If you are a nature lover but yet find yourself living in a small space, you may think that you have to settle for the sounds of the birds and the wind that gently seep through your open window. However if you like you can add other elements to your life that will let you feel closer to nature. Now you can do this by adding a bird bath to your garden. Since a bird bath is something that offers soothing effects when one sits near it watching all of the birds enjoy a soak in the sun, you will want to ensure the bird bath you select matches the d

The first time your dog receives a correction from the bark control collar he may react in a way that concerns you. He may yelp or yip or jump slightly. Do not be alarmed by these reactions. His first reaction to the correction will always be his most intense.

After the first few corrections his reaction will lessen. He will eventually just stop barking and remain calm. It is advised that you observe your dog’s reactions to the correction.

You should notice an improvement in your dog’s barking within the first week of training. At this point many dog owners feel that the “problem has been solved”. In some cases this may be true, but in most cases the training is still not complete.

Most, if not every dog, will “test” this new learning experience, i.e., they will increase their attempts to get away with barking. This testing period usually occurs during the second week of training. When it does occur you must remain consistent – do not alter your use of the bark control collar.

Once your dog is trained, you must continue to place the dog bark control collar on him in every situation in which he must be quiet. He may see a new dog or a squirrel through a window for the first time and he may bark. If he is not wearing the bark collar he may get away with barking and his training may suffer a setback. If he is wearing the bark collar, he will stop barking immediately and any setback will be prevented.

Moreover, you may have a need to train your dog to do other things. If you decide to use another type of training tool, be selective with the type you use while your dog is wearing the bark control collar. Generally, it is best not to let your dog wear more than one collar at a time.

Never use a metal choker collar while your dog is wearing the anti bark collar as it may trigger false signals and possibly false corrections. If you must have a second collar on your dog consider the use of a nylon choker collar or other nonmetallic collar.

If you use a leash, attach it to a collar other than the one used for the bark control collar. You should never attach a leash to the collar and you should never pull the bark control collar while it is on your dog. Doing so you may cause injury to his throat.

Today I fell into a trap that I should never have allowed myself to get into. I actually trusted my dog, my Nikki, a 3 year golden retriever.

Nikki is an amazingly affectionate dog, even more than normal for a golden retriever. She is gentle, good natured and behaves pretty well.

She loves going out for car drives, and she is a very well behaved dog in the car. She sits beside me, head hanging out the window and gently watching the world go by. She never gets agitated, restless or excited, even when she spots another dog out the window.

The other day, I took both Nikki, and Benny my black lab out for a drive. This time Benny was sitting in the front. Nikki was in the back. As usual I had the back and front window open.

I drove around the corner, and pulled into my driveway. And, what do I see…Nikki, sitting by the front gate. She must have jumped out the back window as I was pulling around the corner and ran to the gate.

I had absolutely NO clue she had even jumped out. Never before did she ever show any signs of jumping out.

Needless to say I was freaking. I mean, with a little imagination, I could imagine what could have happened.

Rule number one: Don’t trust your dogs. No matter how well behaved your dogs are, they are still dogs. Look out for their safety. Always make safety your first priority.

I should have known better. I try to make dog safety and dog training and dog nutrition my priorities. I have 3 dogs, 2 black labs, and my Nikki, a golden retriever. Dukie, one of my black labs is blind. Oddly enough, when I walk my 3 dogs and my neighbour comes and joins me with her dog, Dukie behaves the best. He loves walking and going for car rides. If you are observing him, you would never know he is blind.

The Labrador Retriever (“Labrador” or “Lab” for short), is one of several kinds of retriever, and are the most popular breeds of dog (by registered ownership) in both the United States and the United Kingdom. The breed is exceptionally friendly, intelligent and good natured, and as a rule these qualities mean that Labs love people, handle children well, and therefore make excellent family and service dogs. Benny, my black lab and Nikki are both Certified Therapy Dogs. They visit the elderly in homes.
Labradors are relatively large with males typically weighing 60 to 80 lb (27 to 36 kg) and females 50 to 70 lb (23 to 32 kg). They are energetic outgoing dogs, and are black, yellow, or brown (called “chocolate”) in color, in that order of frequency. Their fur is usually fairly short and straight, and the tail quite broad and strong. The otter-like tail and webbed toes of the Labrador Retriever make him an excellent swimmer. Their interwoven coat is also waterproof, providing more assistance for swimming. The tail acts as a rudder for changing directions. Yellow labs can have black or pink noses; chocolate and black labs’s noses match the coat color.
As with some other breeds, the English and the America lines differ slightly. Labs are bred in England as a medium size dog, shorter and stockier with fuller faces than their American counterparts which are bred as a larger dog. I have both, one English, My Benny, and one American, my Dukie.
Famous Labs

A feline friend can be a wonderful pleasure. Every cat has his or her own personality, which incorporates all of those little idiosyncrasies just like ourselves. It is a fact that cats like to think that they are the boss; they often have us running around after them and some of us are well and truly wrapped around their little paws!

Throughout their lives – which are now anywhere between eight and twenty years – they need constant love and affection as well as nutrition and general care. It is in their latter years when the care becomes more involved, just as you would expect with any of our elder relatives and friends. These senior years start from about eight years: with that bit of extra care and attention they can live contentedly for a good few more to come.

Above all, it is your cats’ general comfort and well-being that is the priority. They need reassurance, a regular pattern that they are happy with and lots of attention. Vet visits may also need to become more frequent, just to ensure that their health is still good as they age. They must be wormed and flea treated regularly to keep them in tip-top condition. Any medication should always been dispensed on the advice or prescription of the vet. Advances in veterinary science and technology, along with our increasing devotion to our pets in general has meant that the lifespan of the average household pet is a lot longer than in previous decades. This means that more of us will experience what it is like to live with an elderly pet, and should prepare ourselves accordingly.

One of the first signs of ageing signs is the loss of certain senses – specifically sight and hearing. This can sometimes of course be mistaken for a cat’s natural snootiness! This then brings about the fact that they become more susceptible to dangers that were not so much of a worry a couple of years before. They may be unable to hear or see vehicles and other animals, for instance. It may therefore be advisable to confine your cat to more suitable areas, either solely within the house or in restricted areas outdoors where they can be safe and still content.

If you, like me, have owned cats that turn their noses up at food on a regular basis, it will be of no surprise that this may well increase as they get older! Mine for one has to have a least 3-4 brands or food types on the go otherwise she will get fed up and just refuse whatever is there until you change it accordingly! Needless to say, that her selective hearing never stops her from noticing a tuna can being opened or cheese being cut! So far, her sense of smell and taste is still there, without question. But it could be that these senses are deteriorating; regularly changing foods and adding extra moisture will keep your old timer interested as well as suitably nourished. It is also important that water is always available for them. As age creeps on, cats can occasionally become dehydrated as they often don’t seem overly bothered about drinking. Again, by adding moisture to their food, you will know that they are receiving adequate fluids.

As we grow older, we become less flexible and supple. This is true also of our moggies. Common ailments include arthritis, and because it can be more of an effort to get about, they do sleep more – if that is at all possible! The lack of movement also can mean that they plump up a bit. This in turn can be a double edged sword as more weight can not only make it more uncomfortable to move but brings on other health issues further along the line.

You will need to ensure that some playtime is incorporated into their day and that the diet is well controlled. After all, you as a discerning owner wants a cat that is still active in mind and body – don’t you? Regular exercise will also help them to retain some muscle strength and tone. As with humans, if muscle groups are not used, they will atrophy. By keeping your cat relatively active you will also help to keep at bay the more serious health issues of heart disease, digestive disorders and diabetes.

In this respect, I am very fortunate. My 16 year-old lady still enjoys her mad ten minutes racing about the house, up and down the stairs, behind the sofa, chasing toys and wrestling with her catnip cushion. Needless to say, she sleeps pretty much for the rest of the day after that, but hey, that’s because she can! She is still known to jump out of windows, to peruse the neighbourhood over the conservatory and garage roof when it is hot enough. But it is rare for her to venture out far anytime between November and March, as it is just far too cold for those poor old bones!

As cats get older, it can be difficult for them to groom themselves, especially in some of the more contorted positions they used to achieve as kittens. Daily grooming of your cat can keep those nasty hairballs at bay and also maintain your loving bond with each other. Their hair can also become dryer and more knotted as they are unable to reach it. Sometimes the coat can thin or lose its shine; grooming will help to stimulate those all important natural oils again, enabling a glossy shine and healthy coat. It’s like them having a little massage and we all understand the benefits of that! Grooming and massage increases blood flow, nerve stimulation, aids relaxation, releases tension and pain, and aids the respiratory and digestive systems.

It’s fair to say that one of the things that cats are really great at is sleeping. Therefore as they get older, they do indeed tend to sleep more & their comfort is imperative. If yours is like mine, she will slowly move around the house, following the sun so she can slowly cook throughout the day! It is very rare for her to stick with one particular place, maybe moving several times in just one room. During the night, I regularly have a constant heat source at my side. Wherever they sleep will always be determined by them. You must however ensure that any area or bedding is kept clean and free from any mites or fleas. If your cat prefers a more up-market bed and isn’t satisfied with any old cushion, there are various beds available to buy including ones that hang from the radiators & most will encircle your cat in the utmost comfort.

Another fact of getting older is the deterioration of teeth and gums. Unfortunately cats can’t clean their own teeth, so it’s up to you. Poor teeth can be a major cause of bad health. With the build up of plaque, gums can become problematic. They in turn can produce infections which affect a cats internal organs. Always try to check their teeth if they let you, otherwise those regular visits to the vet will keep an eye on them. If you’ve introduced your cat from a young kitten to having teeth brushed, good for you, as this is the best way to ensure your cat’s oral hygiene. There are many cat toothpaste and toothbrush products on the market if you’re brave enough! Otherwise certain food brands which claim to have have teeth-cleaning properties in them – especially dry foods that break up in a certain way – may be effective.

Unfortunately there are some more serious conditions that cats develop as they age. These include constipation, a decrease in organ function and diabetes. An older cat also finds it harder to fight off disease as their immune system lessens in its ability. Ensure that if you see a change in their toilet routines that you see your vet at the earliest opportunity just to rule out any underlying problems. You may also find that their behaviour may change in relation to their health or maybe just because they find it harder to cope with their environment. It is best to avoid any undue stress to your older puss-cat as their tolerance levels and coping stategies are not what they were. So it’s probably not a good idea to expose her to uninvited attention, such as visiting children she is unfamiliar with.

An important point to note here that it is a good idea to make sure that you have adequate pet insurance in place before your cat reaches her twilight years – that way you will be better protected should
your feline friend develop any of the common ailments associated with old age. It is never too late to buy pet insurance – at Animal Friends Insurance they insure cats of any age; they don’t have to be kittens to be elegilble.

At the end of the day, we care so significantly for our cats that we will do pretty much anything for them. Letting them grow older gracefully and healthily in their twilight years is all they ask of us.