BAD HABITS: BARKING

The more I see of humans, The more I love Dogs                         

BARKING : A NUISANCE 


As the puppy becomes a young dog, as he matures he will bark. The first bark of the puppy turning into a matured dog is astonishing and a matter of pride for the master. The master would love to hear it, to feel that he is now having a full-size dog about which the strangers and encroachers will be afraid of.

However, this situation i.e. the phenomena of barking at the slightest of provocation, becomes a nuisance for the family and the neigbhourhood, if not checked in time.

Barking is a bad habit that starts early. The first stage of barking is whining. Whining is a sing-song stage of barking the puppy uses as a way of nagging complaining. It is a sound which falls short of crying
Sometimes the dog might be unhappy. The mother of the house who is the constant companion, has gone out shopping or is on a visit, leaving the dog alone. Now, the whining is a sympathy-winning sound, and the master is sometimes so distressed bearing this whining that far from stopping it, he gives in to the indulgence of the dog. He gives the dog things it is whining for. This is absolutely WRONG!! It will encourage the dog to get things done his way and later on this whining will turn into barking.

There are many neurotic dogs who love to bark; they are enchanted with the sound of their voices. The neurotic apartment-type dog barks from loneliness and boredom. He craves attention and wants everyone  to know he is there. Every time he hears someone in the hall, or sees someone outside the window, he barks to let the world know that he is a member of the family and also its protector. Every dog has the protective instinct of a guard dog, even if he's not trained for it.

Continuous barking is a social inconvenience and has to be curtailed at all costs. The worst offender is the night barker. This dog probably has slept  all day and is coming alive when the master and the whole of the neigbhourhood is about to retire.

STEPS TO BE TAKEN TO CURTAIL IT :

1. Barking habit is best corrected in the puppy stage before it becomes embedded permanently. A stern 'NO' every time the puppy starts to whine will curb this habit. If you sincerely love your dog, you will not give in to his indulgence. You have to be STRICT with him.

2. Dogs bark because they crave for your companionship. Try spending more time with them when you are home.

3. If your dog barks only when you are away, sneak back to catch him at it and punish him so he'll be able to associate his barking with your disapproval.

4. There are comfortable muzzles which you can put on your dog to prevent him from barking. Muzzling is not a cure, but is an answer when it becomes imperative to stop him from barking. Sometimes a dog will associate the muzzle with punishment for his barking and will be cured.

5. Some vets advise administering female hormones to adult male dogs to suppress excessive barking.

6. Castration is a permanent cure. However, expert advice is needed before this is implemented.



Raj Prateek Verma

YET MORE OF'THE SPECIALISTS:'

The more I see of humans, The more I love Dogs

Labrador Retrievers :
Labrador Retrievers were originally fishermen's dogs. Their main task was to swim to and fom boats dragging nets and ropes.





Lundehund :


Lundehund is a Norwegian breed, specifically trained to retrieve puffin's nests, which are edible. The dog  climbs a cliff, puts the bird to flight, grabs the nest and brings it to its master. If it is working in caves, it can close its ears to keep out dripping water.





Nova Scotia Duck-tolling dog:


These dogs have one function: to excite the curiosity of wildfowl by creating a disturbance on the shore. In theory the ducks are so intrigued that they come and investigate, and the  wildfowler then takes aim. The natural reaction of wildfowl to any predator - e.g. a fox on the shore - is to swim towards it en masse: thus every bird is aware of the predator, which cannot hope to make a sneak and often slinks away in disgust with a fleet of ducks shadowing its progress along the bank.





Portuguese Water Dogs:


Portuguese Water Dogs, like Labrador Retrievers, were fishermen's dogs for centuries. As well as catching ropes, they also brought back fish which had escaped the nets.





Shar peis :


They are probably the oddest looking dogs we know today. They were developed for dog-fights, and their excessively loose and wrinkled skin, with its pig-like bristles, and their very small ears, did not give opponents much to grip.





Tibetan Spaniels :


Tibetan Spaniels were originally used to turn prayer wheels, act as sentinels, and be hot water bottles for their owners.





Tosa Mastiffs:


Tosa Mastiffs are a Japanese breed originally developed for ceremonial dog-fights. They were paraded during festivals dressed up in silk and gold blankets and controlled on the end of huge thick ropes.



Whippets:


The most perfect racing machine ever fashioned by man!!
They were bred by miners in Northern England for snap trails, the aim of which was to achieve the quickest kill of a rabbit in an enclosed area.




Raj Prateek Verma

THE SPECIALISTS

The more I see of humans, The more I love Dogs


Most of the breeds have been developed by man to cater to specific needs. here are some of the unusual specialists.

BULLDOGS :


Bulldogs and similar breeds were used to bait bulls - not merely for the sake of sports but also because butchers believed that the practice tenderised the beef.

CHINESE IMPERIAL CH'IN :


This is a breed that spent most of its day in meditation. It used to be very much a court dog; in one ancient Chinese court about a hundred of the dogs would stand up on their hind legs at the entrance of the Empress and would remain upright until she was seated.

COONHOUNDS:


Coonhounds were bred in America specifically as raccoon hunters but they also used for bear, stag, fox and wildcat. The 'treeing' breeds literally clamber into the trees in pursuit of their prey. The dogs now take part in rough and tough trails, by day and by night, which involves swimming in fast streams and climbing trees.


EASTERN GREYHOUNDS(AFGHAN AND BORZOI)


These hounds were trained to hunt as a brace. The bitch attacked the prey's hindquarters, attempting to hamstring it, and the dog went for the throat. Borzois were supposed to pin a wolf rather than kill it.


ELK HOUND:


Elk hounds were bred for pursuit of elk and bear. They have special hunting methods: they slither over the snow, cut off the prey's line of retreat and drive it into gun range.


FILA BRASILEIRO:

Fila Brasileiro hounds were originally trained to kill Indians in battle and later to capture runaway slaves!!


HEELER:

Heeler is a type of cattle dog which bites the heels of its charges and quickly drops flat to avoid being kicked!


KELPIES:

Kelpies are superb Australian sheepdogs which can do the work of six men and cover more than forty miles a day. They separate the sheep for drinking at the water-hole, and have perfected the art of walking(and running) on the backs of enclosed sheep. They also practise the unique skill of Tinning the Chicken, when they herd a chick into a tin can.




Raj Prateek Verma