A dog who barks non-stop can be a challenge. His continuous barking could be a sign of a medical issue or as a result of boredom, but it can be very irritating for your neighbours, and very frustrating for you. Things could even escalate if the neighbours start seeking legal advice. Rather take action to keep the noise levels down before things reach this point.
Animaltalk spoke to a veterinarian and a behaviourist to find out how to deal with the situation, and we also looked at the possible legal implications.
How much barking is normal?
Katherine Brown, an animal behaviourist, explains that barking is a complex communication behaviour that has many potential causes, depending on the individual dog and situation. “What may appear excessive for a human could be perfectly normal for a dog. One study found that, in general, dogs bark up to eight times a day for an average of 50 seconds [at a time]. This is a guideline and not a golden rule: there will be individual differences, and factors such as breed can play a role. However, if barking is in extreme excess of this average, it could indicate a severe problem,” says Katherine.
Possible medical reasons
“Dogs bark for a variety of reasons, including seeking attention, excitement, warning against danger, insecurity, boredom, loneliness and anxiety, or due to medical causes such as pain, illness or canine cognitive dysfunction,” says Dr Vanessa McClure, senior lecturer at Onderstepoort.
She says that the majority of the time, excessive barking is a behavioural problem and not a medical one. “Dogs who are barking due to medical reasons usually show other concerning signs like lameness, decreased appetite, excessive licking at joints and reluctance to walk/jump.”
Dr McClure adds that if a medical reason for the barking is suspected, the dog should be taken to the vet immediately to determine the underlying cause. “If a behavioural cause is thought to be the trigger, then a veterinarian or behavioural specialist should be consulted.”
Ignoring the barking
One option is to ignore the dog’s barking, but this may cause more harm than good. “Dogs who bark excessively become a nuisance and, if left uncorrected, can result in strained relationships between owners and neighbours. If this is left unattended, it can ultimately result in dogs being surrendered to a shelter, or even euthanasia,” says Dr McClure.
What can I do?
Dr McClure says that treatments depend on the cause of the barking. “Your veterinarian will need to fully assess your dog’s overall health to determine that there is not an underlying medical condition that is causing your dog to bark. If none is found, behavioural modification will be needed.
“There is no ‘quick fix’ or pill to get a dog who is barking for behavioural reasons to stop barking but, with help from the appropriate experts, the problem can be resolved in most cases,” says Dr McClure.
She adds that owners should NOT consider debarking, which is a medical procedure that involves removing a dog’s vocal cords. “It doesn’t stop a dog from barking, it just makes the bark harder to hear. It can lead to many issues in the long run, like the formation of scar tissue in the larynx that can compromise the dog’s ability to breathe and swallow food. This procedure can also lead to other behavioural problems, as you have removed the dog’s ability to communicate with other dogs. Debarking is not the answer, in my opinion,” warns Dr McClure.
Katherine says that, with so many possible causes of excessive barking, it’s essential to work with a qualified behaviourist to assess the cause. “This is a crucial first step, as the cause determines the treatment. What owners can do is increase mental stimulation, as this is often part of treatment programmes. Providing dogs with activities that they enjoy and encouraging calm behaviour is useful – sniffing walks, stuffed Kongs, treat searches or just extra cuddling time. What doesn’t help is trying to stop the barking by yelling, spraying water or using anti-bark collars and similar devices. These methods are punitive and usually ineffective: they don’t address the underlying cause of the behaviour and may raise stress and fear levels,” she cautions.
What the law says
The bottom line is that owners have to act on a dog’s non-stop barking, even if it is only for the sake of the dog himself. Dino Montepara, previous director at Malherbe, Rigg & Ranwell, explains that according to the City of Johannesburg by-laws, “No person may keep a dog who barks, whimpers or howls (or has another habit) to such an extent that it causes a disturbance or nuisance to inhabitants of the neighbourhood.”
The City of Cape Town’s animal by-law provides that: “No person shall keep any dog who barks, yelps, howls or whines for more than six accumulated minutes in an hour or more than three accumulated minutes in half an hour,” and that any person who fails to comply with this provision commits an offence that is punishable with a fine.
Nthatisi Modingoane, spokesperson for the Johannesburg Metro Council, says that Gauteng won’t regulate barking dogs, but that the by-laws make provision for the delivery of a warning letter to pet owners. Noise complaints may be lodged to authorities but fines, as governed by Cape Town’s municipal by-laws, do not apply to Johannesburg.
