Client - My dog barks at everything

Stats: 2 In-person Behavioural Sessions

Gemma contacted me about her two dogs, Dorothy and Glo, a mother-daughter pair with some complex issues. Dorothy, the more confident of the two, had a barking habit that was causing tension in the household.

When I arrived for our first session, the focus was on Dorothy. Her barking was a big problem, and Gemma had even made a list of all the things Dorothy barked at - everything from motorbikes passing by to the neighbour’s cat sneezing.

Solving Dorothy’s Barking Problem

The solution to Dorothy’s barking was surprisingly simple. I noticed a subtle communication issue between Gemma and Dorothy. By tweaking this interaction, we saw almost immediate results. Next, we explored why Dorothy was barking, which turned out to be enlightening. We found ways to help Dorothy manage her worries so they wouldn’t escalate into barking. These methods, combined, made a significant difference in reducing her barking.

Tackling Dorothy and Glo’s Issues Together

During the second session, we looked at both dogs. It became clear that Glo’s anxiety was affecting Dorothy. Both dogs are great at self-soothing which was a skill Gemma had taught them as puppies. The times at which they self-soothed helped us understand their stressors better. We began formulating a tailored plan for Glo, which I’ll share more about in ‘My anxious dog pulls on the lead.’

Dorothy’s Fear of the Lead

Gemma mentioned that Dorothy was scared of the lead, so I observed her body language when the lead was brought out. On close examination, I notice the issue wasn’t the lead itself but the noise of the metal clip hitting the wall or floor. This discovery was a game-changer. By adjusting how the lead was handled and preventing the metal clip from swinging - we eliminated Dorothy’s fear.

Transforming the Household

Two small adjustments - tweaking communication and addressing Dorothy’s fear of the lead - have reduced stress for everyone in Gemma’s home.

For Glo’s story and tips for anxious dogs, check out ‘My anxious dog pulls on the lead’