Are there different types of barking?
There are typically 5 different types of barking (this will differ from different sources and can have slightly different labels). Labels are just a guide, and dogs will often present with more than one type of barking behaviour.
Alert barking
Play vocalisation/barking
Demand/attention barking
Distance creating barking
Anxious barking
Something to bear in mind is that more than anything, barking is often just communication – it’s meaningful to the dog, and often the barking itself is focused on too much the underlying function or need isn’t being uncovered/met. To understand more about your dogs behaviour in general, check my blog on: The A-B-C’s of Dog Behaviour When we look at barking, there are many things that need to be noted down to look at patterns and triggers in our dogs barking. Once you've read the blog on the ABC's of dog behaviour, the following poster will make sense on what we mean by focusing on the Antecedents, not the Consequences.
Goal directed behaviour VS Habitual behaviour
Goal directed behaviour The individual has a goal and preforms a behaviour in order to achieve that goal. Goal directed behaviour happens mostly in the thinking/thought processing parts of the brain and can often be changed by changing the consequence of behaviour. Most often all barking starts here, and then falls into the latter category of habitual barking once practiced enough.
Habitual behaviour The individual is no longer behaving to achieve a goal, instead the behaviour has been practice often enough that when the individual is presented with a certain situation/event, they fall into preforming that behaviour without much thought processing happening. Habitual behaviour is therefore resistant to changes in the consequences.
So what can I do about my dogs barking?
As every dog is an individual and so will be their environment and set up, plus all the different types of barking to address...it's difficult to give specific advice on a blog. HOWEVER, there are some common themes you can start to look at with your dog below. First, here is a poster to give an example of when working to change a behaviour, everything needs to be looked at and not just the behaviour itself.
Common threads in a plan for all types of barking
Reduce stress. Stress is usually a factor (positive or negative), and there needs to be a holistic assessment done to ensure all parts of the dogs life are being looked at. High levels of stress make any animal preform in a more habitual manner compared to a goal orientated manner. Habits are difficult to interrupt the pathways, so stress should be reduced where possible to help.
Enrichment has a profound affect on the brain, making it more flexible and creates a more optimistic individual. https://www.tail-talk.co.uk/enrichment-ideas.
Management. Where possible manage the environment to reduce events that lead to barking until you’re prepared to work on the training aspect.
Training alternative behaviours out of context so they can become new habits.
Capturing more appropriate behaviours during events of barking if and when appropriate.
Time and patience. Understanding that barking can be a difficult behaviour to overcome and it won’t happen in a short space of time.
Keep a log/diary (videos are especially good if possible). This allows you to not only assess the situation and figure out triggers, but also to see progress.
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