Behavior is Just Behavior
Advice from Animal Expert Dr. Grey Stafford
 What makes a behavior desirable one day and “problem” the next? More importantly, how is our pet supposed to understand when certain behaviors are appropriate and when they are not? After all, to animals, a behavior is just a behavior; we are the ones who determine whether it is a “bad” behavior or a “good” one.
To Bark or Not To Bark
For example, take the all too common situation of a barking dog. Sometimes it is appropriate to bark and sometimes it's not. Most of us want our dog to alert us to intruders, but would prefer no barking when friends drop by. By itself, barking behavior isn’t the problem; it is the timing, volume and/or duration of the barking that may be at issue. However, if we look at it from the dog’s point of view, both of the previous situations use the same or quite similar signal (i.e., person coming to the house). So, how are pets supposed to learn the difference? And what effect does punishing them in one situation do to their behavior in other situation?
Why Bark at All?
To tackle the problem of barking at inappropriate times, we should focus more of our attention on the causes and consequences of the barking, and less on the behavior itself. The reason? Punishing animals for displaying a behavior in one situation, while rewarding them for the exact same behavior (from their perspective) in others is a recipe for confusion and failure. So, how can we improve things without having to endure incessant barking?
When Do They Bark
First, identify the situations that lead to all forms and episodes of barking—desirable or not. What signals seem to control the onset of barking in your pet? Be sure to list them all: play, running, children present, strangers, the need to go potty, the doorbell, phone, other animals, and so on. Where do these situations occur: in the home, backyard, at the dog park or at the vet clinic? Your list will be unique to your pet(s).
What Happens When They Bark
Next, think about past barking episodes (“good” or “bad”). What happened as a result of the barking? Does your pet usually get rewarded? For example, does it make incidental noises while playing tug of war with you? Do the people that stop by greet, play with, or otherwise acknowledge your barking animal? When people do drop by, do you make a big fuss and try to bribe pets away (distract them into silence) with a toy or treat? Or, is the pet punished either by force or by being removed from the area--perhaps tossed into a boring dark room, backyard, or crate?
As you compile this last list (of barking consequences), keep in mind that all behaviors persist because of something called reinforcement. Pets can either find these consequences (i.e., your actions) fun, in which case the barking will persist and get stronger. Or, pets may find some of these consequences unpleasant. Through barking (or any sort of appropriate/inappropriate behavior), pets learn they can remove those unpleasant things (e.g., “strangers” visiting the house) from their immediate surroundings. Either way, barking gets the animal something it wants or gets rid of something it wants to avoid. That's why the behavior persists, whether we find it to be good or bad.
Prevention is Key
The key to reducing inappropriate barking (or any behavior) is prevention! Since we know the situations that usually lead to barking, we can prevent the conditions that cause our pets to fail, before they fail. For example, we can engage our pets in constructive (silent) behaviors during playtimes or as people come by before the barking begins. If barking does happen to occur, we can do our best to minimize any immediate changes that might reinforce the barking. Plus, we can spend more time rewarding our pets for calmly and quietly encountering new situations, both at home and on the road.
Dr. Grey
Learn more about Dr. Grey Stafford
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