Barking!!!

[Naya]

Over the past few weeks, Harley's barking has got worse. She has always barked when someone comes to the door and I have accepted this and it doesn't bother me, especially as there have been a lot of house break ins locally. The past week or two, she seems to bark at anything and everything. Sometimes because she has heard someone walk past, or a car drives past, or just stands and barks at me for attention, or she spots something in the garden. The past few days have been particularly bad, especially when I am on conference calls. When I start work at 9am, she gets the rest of her breakfast in a frozen bone/kong. This works well as I usually have meetings starting at 9am. I've been working from home for nearly a year now and she has always been pretty good until now. We are having an extension built so occasionally have builders here (mainly weekends and has been like this for the last 6-7 months), but her barking has got to the degree that yesterday it was on and off all day. I do reward her when she settles, but I can't keep giving her treats / kongs constantly and i can't keep getting up to entertain her every time she wants attention. If i ignore her she just carries on and on, sometimes for over 10 mins. Any suggestions?

 

[Beanwood]

Oh that is awkward, for both of you. I am sure you have tried most things. Have you looked at the relaxation protocol for inspiration?

I was also wondering, if a bit of extra analgesia or massage might help. Extra muscular tension through a bit of anxiety leakage, from being disturbed from builders, but possibly any change in your own personal circumstances? This might have contributed to Harley's restlessness

Relaxation Protocol | Canine Behavior Science

This is a set of simple exercises where you teach your dog to relax and stay calm even when there are “weird” things happening around them.

www.caninebehaviorscience.com

Can you manage to carve out a duvet day or two for the both of you? I know you could do with a bit of a rest. xx