Pet care: A bark in the night ... and another and another

Q: Our longtime neighbor got a dog last year but has not, it appears, had it trained to not bark when it goes out 4 to 6 a.m., and 11 p.m., waking us up. We get along just fine, but the dog wakes us up daily from a deep sleep. Our bedroom is on the same side of the house (there is a fence) where her dog goes. What can we do without alienating our neighbor?

Dr. Nichol: You sound cranky and you are not alone; barking is among the most common complaints to animal control departments. We all want it to stop. You could write to Dear Abby but she may not be aware that dogs are highly social creatures who communicate a lot. Those who bark excessively are doing it for a reason.

This dog’s nightly verbal catharses might diminish with consistent punishment, but his underlying motivation would continue. Some dogs just bear the misery and yap anyway. Others may pipe down while manifesting their frustration with different behaviors like escape attempts or self-mutilation. Forget trying to train anybody to stop a normal behavior like vocalizing. There’s a better way.

Addressing the cause will be essential to the well-being of creatures on both sides of the fence, which, by the way, is very likely the problem. Some dogs adapt to wire fences, but your next-door pupster is struggling. If his person takes down the fence, he can engage his inner feral self while quietly roaming freely. He would, of course, be at serious risk of injury or worse. You might sleep better, but it’s still a bad idea.

Dogs who can’t see anybody beyond their territories are less prone to “barrier frustration.” A tall block wall would eliminate this barker’s visual triggers. Cheapskate dog people can attach tarps to their fences. You can wear the white hat if you offer to help install them on all sides of your neighbor’s yard. As a last resort, there are noise-canceling headphones that you can wear uncomfortably in bed.

For help with behavior problems, you can sign up for a Zoom group conference at drjeffnichol.com

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