My dog won’t stop barking

Q My dog barks all the time. Is there anything I can do about it?

AThere can be many different reasons why dogs bark. To get to the bottom of why your dog is doing it, you’ll need to find a pattern to the barking. Keeping a ‘bark diary’ can help you to identify what the triggers are for your dog. If you become agitated or cross when the dog barks, it can make things worse, so try to keep as calm as you can. Distraction can be a useful technique and, once you know what triggers the barking, you may be able to pre-empt it. These things take time, and your best chance of a long-term solution may be to seek advice from an animal behaviourist. Ask your vet or doggy friends for a recommendation.