Barking and Occasional Growling... WTD? Please Advise

[Camilla and Darwin]

So, as many of you know Darwin has always been a very quiet dog. He doesn't bark, and he's friendly and welcoming to everyone. For the past two months or so, he has started being a bit strange. 

In the past he's only barked very rarely, when something really startles him. Lately it's been much more frequent. I can't identify a pattern, he'll spend all day listening to noises and random children playing with no issue. I mean, there are tractors and gardeners in the back yard working 2 feet away and he is completely calm. Then randomly and sometimes even when nobody is outside, he'll have a "barking fit". Basically, he'll bark, then run back and forth between us and the back door or front door, barking. It's alarming, and really, not him.

It started just being a few times a week, and then after spending lots of time at the in-laws, I feel like it kind of snowballed. I think it's because they have a fence they close and when he's outside playing he can patrol it as it sits on a pretty busy street. In addition, they have a large window in their living room that he can watch the street from. He would also occasionally give off a low growl out the window, which we always sternly corrected with a firm "no". We knew that the window and gate might be why, but it continued increasing, even when we are at our own apartment and stopped allowing him in those areas.

The way we have decided to deal with it is redirection. Basically, if he barked once we would get a treat and pull him aside for a small training session. This worked for a while. Now it's to the point where if he starts (which again is completely random) he will be too hyped up to stop for a treat. He may come and sit for a second, but then immediately jump back up and run back to the door or the sound. We are continuing to work on his training when he's calm and focused so he'll be more disciplined when he does start barking.

I know that many people attempt to curb barking by teaching their dog to "speak" but that really isn't feasible for us. It's not a predictable pattern behavior, but completely sporadic. So I don't think that would be an easy route, how would we get him to do it? My plan was to just continuing with training and redirection and hope it didn't get worse... until today.

DH took him outside to pee and he barked at a man who was outside. Not just a friendly woof. He DOESN'T bark at people we meet outside. That is just so not him, he is friendly and welcoming to everyone! I am really sick over this. I want to stop this behavior before it gets any worse. I worry that his reasons for barking are some kind of reactiveness or stress and that makes me stressed. I don't want him to become a reactive dog!

I will come out and say it. I am NOT okay with barking, period. I know that it's normal for dogs, and many people find it acceptable for dogs to bark when someone comes to the door. I'm not one of those people. I live in an apartment, and I've enjoyed the fact that Darwin doesn't bark. I know it wouldn't be unfair of me to try to get back to that stage, because Darwin happily did fine without barking for a good 3 1/2 years. If we can't get rid of this will we stop loving him? Of course not. But I do want this to stop.I worry that the cause of his barking is stress or reactiveness - which to me is a precursor to undesirable behavior.

So why is it starting all of a sudden? I'm probably overreacting but I'm worried that this is the beginning of some kind of downward spiral into an aggressive reactive dog. Does anyone have any advice, experience, etc? Is this normal? Should we just continue with redirection? Is it a symptom of something? It's true we have been out in less public places as of late, but he's still had plenty of socialization. Other than that, I can't think of anything has changed. Help?

[charlotte bednarsh]

I would definitely contact a good trainer who may have more insight into what is going on.   My trainer has been so very helpful explaining certain behaviors that may be developmentally appropriate, as well as helping me to understand what may trigger certain responses.  I've found that once I can understand things from Paz's perspective, it becomes easier to move forward with a training plan.  I live in an apartment in Lower Manhattan, so I totally understand why it is important our dogs not be barking at every sound....have hope, it usually just takes time for it to get better once you have a good plan.

[Adina P]

I have no words of advice, but I am with you.  I hate barking.  Our house is like a fish bowl (lots of windows) and on a fairly busy corner (even though it's a small town) and if the dogs are in the dining room with us while we eat, I go deaf several times as they see/hear things to bark at.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

' I'm probably overreacting but I'm worried that this is the beginning of some kind of downward spiral into an aggressive reactive dog'

Yes, you are worrying too much. Dogs bark. For centuries they have been taught to bark. Bred to bark. How I taught Spud to stop barking when I thought it was not necessary ( he is a chatting boy) is to teach ' Shhh' The Command is 'Shhh' and the hand signal is one finger in front of my mouth ( think librarian) I did teach speak but it was separate and long ago. Then I taught whisper. He would bark real quiet. It was difficult because he is excitable. I do think you can go straight to 'Shhh' Working with him I lowered my voice to almost a whisper. I think the thing that bothers me most is when I hear someone yell, SHUT UP. So, they are screaming, their voice is raised, and the it alarms the dogs. Also, the dog picks up that they are tense which causes more barking. Alarming. Why is my human getting tense?

It was a lot of work.  It was also really important here in my home that this stopped. 

I also go check out the reason.  Let Darwin know, ' Hey, enough. I see nothing'  ' Shhh' and redirect as you are doing.

Barking is an alarm. He is talking to you among other reasons. Find out why then let him know, it's okay.

Many times, it is as simple as a chipmunk on my porch.  He hears them, he sees them, but to me, I really have to tune into what he is telling me.  So, listen to him, then keep redirecting. 

It took me awhile to perfect but most days it works well

So start with lowering your voice and say shhh.  Use your hand signal.   As soon as he stops, treat.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Thanks for the advice Joanne. We aren't yellers so we have been doing good on that front. :-) I will start trying the "shhh" command. I guess my confusion is why now. He's never been territorial or anything of the sort....?

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

' DH took him outside to pee and he barked at a man who was outside. Not just a friendly woof'

What time of day?  Evening, low-light, dusk?

[Camilla and Darwin]

Mid day. The same time that he does every day...

The man did startle him I think (he took the trash out while Darwin was mid pee). The weird thing is that Darwin has been startled many, many times and has rarely reacted that way.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I also have to close the blinds to the front of the home.  I use low noise such as a tv or radio to reduce the noise heard outside.

[DJ & Chance]

With Chance. I've found it important to remain calm when he barks and then to find out what is bothering him and to say in soothing tones, "look, it's okay" or something similar as I redirect the behavior. I like Joanne's idea of teaching the "shhh" command and I'm going to try that.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I agree with Joanne's advice. This has worked well with Tara too. I use the "enough" command rather than"shhh" but the idea is the same.  Since Darwin is running back and forth between you and the door it does sound like he is expecting you to take care of what he perceives to be a problem. Tara does this as well, and one of us will get up and calmly walk to the door/window/whatever and then tell her "it's okay" similar to what DJ does with Chance.

Also, is he getting enough exercise? Perhaps his barking and running is a way to release some energy? Just a thought...

Tara's barking also escalated with age. When she was young she rarely barked but she barks frequently now and that is why it became necessary to teach her to stop when instructed.

 

[Camilla and Darwin]

His exercise HAS gone down as we've been super busy this summer. He's definitely still being exercised, but perhaps not as much.

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

Lola is sometimes growly and barky, too.  When she growls it's either a play growl or if she is touched in a way she doesn't like or to complain about something.  When she barks, it's classic alarm barking.  She has never, ever showed the slightest bit of aggression towards any dog or person and I don't think one has anything to do with the other.  In fact she barks for good reason, and I've learned to trust her judgment even if I don't understand why she's barking.  The fact is, these dogs perceive things that we don't - they can be trained to detect seizures before they happen, for example.  The other night we were having dinner at Harry Cary's.  Usually she is very good about holding her down stay right next to the table, but in this case she popped up and started barking at something about 20 feet away.  Needless to say I was not thrilled that she was barking in the middle of the restaurant - but it turns out she was completely right.  A few minutes later the paramedics showed up. Turned  out she was barking at a women that was having some kind of medical emergency.  In a different context she could have saved the woman's life.

That said, I am very, very sensitive to the reality that there are many people out there that are scared of dogs and interpret any barking or growling as aggression - even when it has nothing to do with aggression.  It seems like almost every day there's a story about a dog getting shot by the police because it barked or growled in their presence.  Maybe I'm just paranoid, but for me the "ssshh" command has been elevated to category as come and leave it and walking on a leash - fundamental behaviors every dog has to know to live in human society.  I don't think of it as correcting her, as much as teaching her to moderate her innate, natural and healthy behavior for her own safety.  

I have taken "sssh" as my cue, along with holding up my finger to my mouth.  That was I can signal to her silently if I am on the phone or for some other reason can't give the verbal cue.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Camilla, I feel your pain. I am wondering if it was stressful for Darwin to have been unsettled this summer while you have been traveling. Owen has become reactive or something since our move. He has always been happy-go-lucky around other dogs and now he is acting huffy with them on the beach. We are keeping a short leash on him to redirect his attention to the water when another dog approaches, and it is working out pretty well. Obviously flying to Hawaii and having to settle in a new place is far more unsettling that going to Darwin's grandparents.  We are seeing changes in both of the doodles as a result of this stress. I am anxious to see what people are saying here so we can try those suggestions on our boys. We checked in with a trainer whose lowest service is $2000. We will be continuing to look for something more affordable.

Sending hugs to you and Darwin. I'm sure you will work through this soon.