Dog Talk

A Debarked Yorkie Still Has Something To Say

I am writing this post because good things can and do come in little packages.  The shelters used to only be filled with large dogs.  That’s no longer true.  If you are interested in adopting a little dog, the shelters are full of them waiting to make your life a little bit better!

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If you have followed my blog, you know of my little Yorkie named Melody.  You may not think there is a need to describe a Yorkie as little; however, she is tiny.   I was volunteering at the shelter when she was brought in.   Her services as a breeder at a puppy mill were no longer needed.  At this age of her life (about 7 years old) had probably never known kindness from a human.  She was more than willing to bite if you got too close.  Not exactly a spokes-dog for the hold-me-in-your-lap Yorkie someone would be looking for when adopting.

Having enjoyed the company of large breed dogs, I had not intended on adopting Melody.  I would take her home to work with her on being a little kinder to her prospective new family.  Melody never even attempted to bite me.  She knew she was safe. The first time I heard her bark, I did a double-take! It was obvious she had been debarked.  In my opinion, it’s a terrible thing to do to a dog.  There are other far less invasive tools – not to mention the benefits of training.

She has been with me two years.  She may never willingly approach another human other than myself.  However, to see who she is now compared to who she was is nothing short of wonderful.  Here is a short video clip of Melody and her raspy little voice asking, “where’s my dinner?”

Bark! Bark! Bark! What Are They Saying?

Guess what?  Dogs bark.  This isn’t the first time you have heard it from me.  This post is another segment in why dogs bark.  Here’s the scenario:

You are walking down the street with your dog on a leash and working on having your dog heel.  Your dog spots another dog in the distance and starts barking (and barking and barking).  What is your dog saying?

Your dog’s bark could be saying:

“Look a dog!  Hi dog!  I’m a dog!  Come here dog.  We can play!”  Or…

“Oh no a dog!  A big dog!  A little dog!  I don’t like how that dog looks or smells.  I need to get that dog – now before he gets me (us)!”  Or…

“Look a dog!  Get me outta’ here!  That dog just said he doesn’t like me and to prepare to defend myself. Run!”

There is so much more than just a bark happening in these moments.  Some dogs have more obvious triggers than others, and it takes time in learning those triggers and if your dog is being assertive and dominant, passive and frightened, or just wants to have fun.

To those on the other end of the leash, it appears that when our dog sees a dog it goes crazy for no reason and we either panic or get embarrassed.  I have a vocal dog, so I have to tell people, “sorry, he’s vocal.”  It seems like common courtesy to apologize for our dogs barking.  Seldom do humans apologize for being overly vocal.  Granted a barking dog can be annoying but for them it is not without purpose.

Observe and learn from your dog, watch their body language, and while you can’t remove their ability to communicate, you can keep them from escalating into panic mode.  You can acknowledge what they are saying and they should trust and respect your request for them to be quiet.

Do You Have a Guard Dog?

Not all dogs are good at being guard dogs.  A barking dog is a huge deterrent to anyone entering a place they aren’t invited to enter.  Mac, a large Labradoodle, is boisterous and can be intimidating because of his size; however, I am almost certain his bark is his way of saying, “hey, look at me…I can bark.”  End of story.  How do you know if you have a guard dog?

Where a dog chooses to lie down and rest, tells you a lot about their protective instincts.  Ever notice how they seem to pick the same area or position even when you encourage them to lie elsewhere?  Perhaps they choose the foot of the bed rather than snuggling up next to you.

I am not only referring to whether they are on the sofa or on the floor, but rather where they choose to be positioned in relationship to you.  If I’m on the computer or seated in a room working, one of my dogs will almost always have her back to me and she is facing out so she can keep a watchful eye on what is happening around us.  She instinctively will position herself as the guard.

Another dog, will always have his back to something (a wall or the couch) when lying down.  He is able to watch what’s happening around him while keeping his back protected.  He is far more concerned about his back than mine!

It is interesting to watch and learn from our dogs as they share their pack instincts with us.  They are paying a lot more attention to their positioning in relationship to us than we may know.  My lovely Chapin, a sweet Pit Bull, would have gladly told anyone who cared to break in that I was upstairs and that my purse was in the kitchen, but please don’t make her get up from the chaise lounge.

If a guard dog is all you want, maybe you should try a home security system.  If you get a dog as a deterrent because of their bark, most will do a good job of that.   They will also be a great companion and given healthy attention and guidance, be there for you whether or not they will protect you from all harm.

In this pack, I have what I refer to as the early warning system (barkers) and the backup – the ones who might do more than just bark.  I hope I never have to find out!

What’s In A Dog Bark

Again, I say dogs bark.  That’s what they will forever do.  Some feel the need to express vocally more than others, and can be worked with to reduce their anxiousness through proper behavior modification.

Lassie was known for actually “saying” something with a bark; i.e., “Timmy is in the well.”  “The barn is on fire.”  His people knew when he barked, it meant something.  Most of us wish that were the case with all dogs.  The bark does mean something to the dog, but may be lost in translation.  Like Lassie, dogs may bark as an alert to let you know someone is at the door or as a request to let you know they need to go outside.

While some dogs get this, others may need to be trained to let us know.  I have found that while my dogs are not reserved when it comes to barking for warning, they are tongue-tied when their water bowl is empty.  All random barking ceases as they sit quietly by the empty bowl waiting for me to look their way.

While we tend to think of barking as a dog’s form of communication, they may be relying on mental telepathy!

If you need assistance with an excessive, anxious barker, please contact me for guidance.

Stop A Barking Dog

I know you’ve heard it more than once from me that dogs bark.  That’s their voice.  How much they have to say and when they say it, may need to be fine-tuned!

As a personal note, my little guy, Moby (please never tell him he is little), feels the need to exit the slider as he announces to any and all who might go before, after, or are outside when he approaches that he is coming and he is to be feared.

As the temperatures cool and dogs (in the desert) are out more, they may become more excited (accompanied by vocal expression – i.e., barking) in exclamation that they can once again be given free access to the outside world that fears and respects them.

Tonight, Moby was declaring his presence to a neighboring dog.  I walked outside and sometimes that alone is enough.  This time, I gave the human hand signal for “cut” by turning my flattened hand toward my neck as I said “ixnay arkingbay.”  He stopped immediately and hasn’t barked since.

Why do I share this moment of enlightment?  To let you know that once your dog listens, respects, and responds to you, you can even speak in pig Latin and they will get it.  It all means stop, and most important is the energy behind your words. Their respect for you will be evident.

Why Little Dogs Bark

As I’ve mentioned previously, dogs bark. That’s what they do. Some more than others, and some for reasons known only to them. If you have a little dog, particularly if it’s a recent rescue with an unclear history, think of it this way.

They have been in an environment where they weren’t exposed to any stimulus that is now a part of their every day life. What the heck is a leaf blower to a dog? Can you imagine being a five-pound pup and being expected to remain calm and still as a stranger walks toward you in possession of a creature that makes an ear-piercing sound and blows strong winds in your direction (or any direction for that matter)?

What is any of it to them. . .vacuum cleaners, bicycles, skateboards, trucks, airplanes, etc. Not to mention people. There are strange people everywhere and the dog thinks, “you want me to do what?”

As I watch my little guy announce randomly that there is a huge object moving down the road, I realize he has no clue if that street sweeper is going to all of a sudden lose control and drive through the fence and into the living room. I mean, really! What if I didn’t hear it coming (like anyone in a two-mile radius didn’t) and Moby wasn’t here to warn all of us?

The other dogs – the ones of larger stature and a few more tools in their shed, don’t bother looking up as I say, “Moby, thanks for warning us, now quiet.”

So, if you find barking annoying (and it is) first ask yourself what your dog is experiencing. As long as they stop barking when acknowledged, good dog. If they don’t and you would like assistance with excessive barking, please contact me.