Is your dog driving you

Solve your pooch problems with brilliant tips and advice from the experts

We love our dogs, and we’ve relied on them more than ever during the past 18 months as ordinary life was turned upside down during the pandemic. But no matter how much our hearts melt and spirits soar when we’re with them, their behaviour can sometimes leave a little – or even a lot – to be desired. Luckily the Dogs Trust Wagony Aunts are here to help. Thank you to everyone who has sent in questions – this week we’re looking at barking and leads.

My dog always barks at other dogs on walks

First, take your dog along to your vet to make sure there aren’t any medical issues affecting her. The vet could also refer you to a qualified behaviourist who can give you tailored advice.

In the meantime, walk her on quieter routes, where you’re less likely to see other dogs. Take along tasty treats and her favourite toy so you can make walks engaging and build focus on you. Reward her when she “checks in” on you voluntarily.

Learn to recognise when she is starting to become worried or frustrated. Once you know the warning signs, you can then step in straight away.

Give on-comers a wide berth and try to take action – such as crossing the road or turning around – before she starts to react. Calmly and quietly lead her far enough away from the other dog so that she can start to relax. Remain calm and keep the lead as loose as possible. Remember to always reward her for calm, quiet behaviour.

My dog barks a lot and it’s annoying my neighbours

Barking is a noisy but normal part of canine communication. Dogs bark for a purpose – usually to try to get something they feel is good to happen, or to try to prevent something they feel is bad from happening. Whenever

barking gets the outcome the dog wants, they learn that barking was a good choice.

The key to reducing and even preventing barking is to understand why he is barking in the first place. When you learn what he hopes to gain from doing so, you can show him that he can get what he wants by behaving in a calmer, quieter way.

Make sure he doesn’t find barking rewarding, and instead reward him for being quiet.

For example, if he barks at mealtimes, ignore the barking and wait for him to stop before feeding. Similarly, if he barks to get you to play, turn away or even leave the room. When your dog is quiet, pick up a toy and invite him to play.

If your dog barks because he is worried, try to avoid the scary thing. So if he barks at passers-by through a window, cover it up to block his view. You might need further support from a behaviourist to find out exactly what your dog is scared of and to help change the way he feels.

Dogs are more likely to bark if they’re not getting enough mental or physical exercise, so make sure you spend quality time keeping him engaged and active.

If you normally respond to your dog’s barking by interacting with him, when you start ignoring him he is likely to bark even more. This can cause a lot of frustration and anxiety, so it’s best to try to pre-empt the barking.