NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Lifestyle

Talk to the Animals: Dealing with barking dogs

Herald online
4 Mar, 2014 12:30 AM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

It is normal for dogs to express themselves through barking, but sometimes it becomes a problem. Photo / Thinkstock

It is normal for dogs to express themselves through barking, but sometimes it becomes a problem. Photo / Thinkstock

Opinion

My friends were shocked when I got my two little dogs. "You're not a dog person" they said quite rightly. I like lizards and frogs and all things weird and wonderful. I was even traumatised as a child by a dog - all huge and black and threatening. I very slowly crossed the street to avoid the menacing creature. This was before my parents realised I needed glasses, so despite the fact that 'the dog' actually turned out to be a rubbish bag it was still very unsettling.

My foray into dog ownership started with customers of my animal care workshops constantly asking why we don't have them. Of course any pet I adopt will be loved, but I just hadn't really had the urge to get a dog before. I went along 'just to have a look' at a pomeranian-cross-Japanese spitz pup and instantly knew she would be mine. Unable to bear leaving her only other littermate behind, I came home to my then shoebox apartment with two little balls of adorable fluff. I got very fit walking them twice a day to compensate for the lack of space and to wear them out so they wouldn't bark at the neighbours.

I would love to be a shining example of a dog owner that has barking under control, but despite three training courses I am now of the opinion that small dogs are just a bit yappy. What works best for me is a well aimed bucket of water as they as they bark at the many people walking past my fence. The only problem is that the water often connects with innocent pedestrians, so not only do they get barked at, they also get a drenching.

I work from home but for those who have to leave dogs home alone, that is where the barking can become a real nuisance to others.

I have a friend who not only trains dogs but really understands them. I asked Kayla to shed some light on why some dogs bark constantly and owners can do about it.

Why do dogs 'nuisance' bark?
• Boredom
• Guarding of the area they are confined to, and when this is large, the barking can be worse
• A response to noise or movement
• Lack of exercise means lots of energy for barking
• Separation anxiety - being upset at their owner having left them

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

So what can you do about it?
• Take your dog for a walk before work so that it is tired and content for the day
• Leave a meaty bone or food filled toy (e.g. kong) to occupy the dog
• Utilise the services of a doggy daycare
• Hire a dog walker

The suggestion of restricting the dog's area to guard was very enlightening for me. Kayla says it can be quite stressful for a dog to feel they need to constantly protect the entire perimeter of a property, particularly when there is a lot of activity around. I would combine the smaller area with some chew toys or treat balls to ensure boredom doesn't become the next problem.

Ideally dogs would not be left alone all day but as this is inevitable, Kayla suggests starting as you mean to continue by leaving a new puppy for short periods, increasing over time. When you return, wait until the dog is calm and quiet before making a fuss of it.

I am not a fan of bark collars to control nuisance barking. It's okay for dogs to bark sometimes, and it's a normal way for them to express themselves. Bark collars are often used incorrectly, causing fear and distress to the wearer. Children can be annoying too but would you ever think of controlling them with electric shocks - I think that got outlawed some time ago.

The surgical procedure of debarking is only performed in NZ as a last resort if a dog is facing euthanasia. This procedure severs the dog's vocal chords and the result is a gasping rasp instead of a bark. Exercise, training, and changes to the environment are a much better option and will work with commitment from the owner.

Discover more

Opinion

Talk to the Animals: Holiday plans for pets (+WIN!)

03 Feb 11:15 PM
Opinion

Talk to the Animals: What to do about animal cruelty

10 Feb 10:45 PM
Opinion

Talk to the Animals: Are zoos good or evil?

17 Feb 11:30 PM
Opinion

Talk to the Animals: Loving ugly animals

24 Feb 01:43 AM

When it's your dog causing the problem, you have the ability to do something about it, but what if it's the neighbour's dog driving you mad?

It is quite possible that the neighbor has no idea that their dog barks while they are out, so a polite word may be all that's needed. In one such case, the affected neighbour simply dog-sat during the day as she worked from home - all the barking dog wanted was some company.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

A call to your local animal control is the other option. Keep a record of how often and for how long the dog barks before calling. Your complaint can be anonymous to keep neighbourly relations intact and an animal control officer will make suggestions to the owner to improve the situation, not only for the neighbours but for the dog as well.

- www.nzherald.co.nz

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Lifestyle

Royals

'Scapegoats': DJ blames bosses for tragedy linked to royal prank

07 Jul 09:08 PM
Lifestyle

No more crying in the kitchen: 'Tearless' onions launch in NZ - at a cost

07 Jul 06:27 AM
Premium
Lifestyle

My weird week on a Government-prescribed ‘perfect diet’

07 Jul 06:00 AM

Sponsored: Get your kids involved in your reno

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Lifestyle

'Scapegoats': DJ blames bosses for tragedy linked to royal prank

'Scapegoats': DJ blames bosses for tragedy linked to royal prank

07 Jul 09:08 PM

Michael Christian made a hoax call to the Princess of Wales' hospital in 2012.

No more crying in the kitchen: 'Tearless' onions launch in NZ - at a cost

No more crying in the kitchen: 'Tearless' onions launch in NZ - at a cost

07 Jul 06:27 AM
Premium
My weird week on a Government-prescribed ‘perfect diet’

My weird week on a Government-prescribed ‘perfect diet’

07 Jul 06:00 AM
Premium
What makes someone cool? These six traits it seems

What makes someone cool? These six traits it seems

07 Jul 01:08 AM
Sponsored: Why heat pumps make winter cheaper
sponsored

Sponsored: Why heat pumps make winter cheaper

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP