Adopter says she was told her dog ‘did not bark’

Dear Cathy: I adopted a 10-year-old Chihuahua mix. I was told she “did not bark.” When she first arrived, she did not bark very much, but now she doesn’t stop. We live on a somewhat busy street. I have tried using noise spray cans, telling her to be quiet, shaking cans of coins and anti-bark machines. I had the opportunity to move into a senior housing complex but refused because one of their rules is no barking dogs.

I thought she may be bored, but she does not play with toys or chew on them because she only has five teeth. This is her third home. I do not want her to go through any more trauma, but she needs to stop the barking. Any suggestions? — Regla, New York, New York

Dear Regla: No adopting agency should tell you that a dog won’t bark or make much noise. All dogs bark or make some sort of vocal noise. I am sorry you were misled.

We have trained dogs to alert us to potential threats. This works well if you live in rural areas and want to know if someone is approaching your home. In the city, however, a dog is bombarded by noise and likely to alert you all day long.

The things you have tried are intended to interrupt the barking, but you must ask her to do something else afterward to distract her. When using interrupting techniques, call her to you, ask her to sit and then give her some treats. Then give her something to do or ask her to sit on the couch with you. Be consistent with your training, and you should see a reduction in this behavior in a few months.

You also can block outside noise with a white noise machine. When you leave the house, turn on the TV or music for her as well. Blocking the noise will help reduce her need to alert you.