Don’t want to be the neighbor everyone hates because of your noisy pup? Follow these tips from Whiskers to Tails Petsitting to ensure that your beloved dog is viewed as a great addition to your neighborhood, not a nuisance.

 

Keep your neighbors—and your pets—happy

 

• Train your dog: Practice patience and consistency. Use positive reinforcement, not harsh words, and praise wanted behaviors. Sign up for an obedience class because training benefits both you and your dog.
• Research local pet laws: Different areas have different laws. Some ordinances require a leash at all times, a special receptacle to dispose of waste, or quiet times when a barking dog might result in you getting a noise citation.
• Give your dog attention: The biggest “pet” peeve expressed by most people, especially those living in apartment or condo complexes, is pet noise. Take your dog for regular walks, give her plenty of attention, and explore options to keep her occupied and happy when you leave her home alone.
• Play outside: If you have a yard, utilize the space for exercise and playtime for your dog. Put up a fence to keep your furry friend from wandering into neighbors’ yards. It’s recommended that when searching for services, turn to Angi fence installers to ensure that the service you hire is licensed and highly-rated. Expect to pay around $4,500 for fence installation, but do get quotes from various services to get a good price for your wallet.

 

Treating Separation Anxiety

 

Contrary to “The Secret Life of Pets,” wild pet parties don’t really happen. But pets can and often do get lonely. They don’t know—even when you reassure them—that you’re coming back. Many dogs choose to voice their sorrow (or displeasure) with a cacophony of howls.

 

If you live in close proximity to your neighbors, a regular crescendo of barks and yips won’t earn you any friends or “good neighbor” points. The American Kennel Club offers some great suggestions to ease separation anxiety and stop (or greatly reduce) nuisance barking.

 

If your dog’s on the younger side or you’ve crate-trained your pup, consider using a wind-up clock, secured in a wrapping of several socks. The tick-tock sound soothes lonely puppies. The ASPCA provides other helpful suggestions about treating dogs who have mild, moderate, and severe separation anxiety.

 

Hiring an in-home pet sitter can also help to reduce separation anxiety, since your pup will be getting loving attention and care while you’re away. Turn to Whiskers to Tails Petsitting for compassionate petsitting services.

 

Why dogs bark

 

It isn’t just separation anxiety that triggers your dog’s “bark box.” Some dogs bark from sheer joy when their owners return. Others bark because they’re hungry or a leaf fell and they have to tell you about it. Some barking is beyond your control, but if your dog barks excessively and the neighbors have complained, it’s your responsibility as a dog owner to troubleshoot why.

 

Besides separation anxiety, other typical triggers that lead to barking include:

 

• A territorial or protective attitude: If mail delivery or a stranger in front of the house makes your loving pup bark like crazy, she’s seeing that person as a threat.
• Alarm or fear: Some dogs bark at anything that catches their attention.
• Boredom or loneliness: Dogs are pack animals, and when they’re left alone for long stretches, they become sad or bored and express their unhappiness with barking.
• Attention: Just like a toddler, many dogs bark to get your attention, whether it’s to go outside, get a treat, or receive a satisfying belly rub.

If you’ve exhausted all your ideas or are looking for other ways to discourage your dog from barking, Victoria Stilwell’s Positivity Training offers a whole host of solutions, from obedience training games to using calm energy to teaching your dog to bark, that may help curb the behavior.

 

Public Etiquette

 

No one likes a misbehaving child, and people frown upon pups who don’t mind their manners in public, too. Most communities require that people leash their dogs, which protects not just the dogs, but other pets and people, too.

 

Badrap, an organization formed in 1999 to tackle issues associated with pit bull-type dogs, quickly discovered that the advice it gave to bull terrier owners really applied to all canine owners. Read this article for a common-sense checklist of dog laws and dog owner rights.

 

Dogs and humans have shared a relationship for thousands of years. Emotionally, people see their dogs as family members. It makes sense that just as parents socialize their children to behave appropriately in all settings—whether at home or in public—pet parents take the same time and consideration to ensure that their pups also behave well in different environments.

 

Guest Author: Tyler Evans is a pet parent himself and loves to write about topics to help other dog owners (and their dogs!) live their best life. Check out his site to see more informative posts.

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