Dear Fisher,
I am a 13 year old male. When I was a puppy I had a barking problem, I stopped barking after proper and now that I am in my golden years, I have converted back to the problem. I bark as if to get approval to go ahead and eat, and I bark when my human is gone. The neighbor says I am becoming senile. Is that true?
My owner thinks I am playing a game with the food but he is frustrated about my barking and bothering the neighbors. I am afraid I am becoming a nuisance. Why am I doing this now?
Toby Seas Stars
Dear Toby Seas Stars,
I can sympathize with your worries. As we get older, anxiety builds and we worry more about our imperfections. Add to that the worries of our humans who love us so dearly, we have a clear case of building anxiety.
While most barking is normal for dogs, anxious barking is usually higher pitched and tends to annoy the neighbors more than usual. Take a look at your possible motives. You might be lonely or bored. It will serve you well to look into a new hobby – a quiet and calm hobby.
In addition to wonderful training tips, the internet offers helpful products. First is the electrical shocking color which is pretty self-explanatory. Then, my favorite is a collar that emits a citrus smell that lingers in the air so your owner knows when he gets home that you have enjoyed a personal bark-a-thon. Another is surgery to remove your barking mechanism. That just renders me speechless! These may not be for you at all.
Since you already brought up the “senility” word, it is important to realize that age does make a difference. Doggy Alzheimer’s disease, formally known as Canine Cognitive Dysfunction, is a condition that causes problems similar to those that affect aging humans. Memory loss, confusion, and disorientation can easily lead to agitation and barking. You were easily trained as a pup, but now that you are older, the same techniques are inappropriate and could lead you to react defensively. After all, you are likely unaware that a problem exists and you may think the training is for puppies. Insulting!
Some of the things your human can try to help you include:
- *First and most essential – determine the cause of your behavior
*For boredom, try fancy new toys and more exercise – tired dogs bark less
*Use a new command such as “enough” rather than “no”
*For separation anxiety, do short practice sessions of pretending to leave the house
*”The Neighbor” might be more than happy to stop in to give you a break, or consider a pet sitter or doggy day care to help you through the day.
When you calm and silent, change daily routine by getting completely ready to leave and then stay and relax awhile. Next, leave for short periods of time, building on that as each segment is effective. Do not rush the process or all will be lost.
For more great information, go to Petfinder for the article by Jacque Lynn Schultz, ASPCA Director, Special Projects, called “Silencing the that Barks When Left Alone.”
Your friend,
Fisher
published in tbt Tampa Bay
Out There weekend edition
Dear Fisher,
I’m a 10 year old tabby. I was a feral kitten before I was rescued and I have a hard time dealing with change. I live with a loving female human and a cat named Scarlett. Six weeks ago my human started putting stuff in boxes. Last week I was put in the cage and moved. We were put into a room with big fluffy pillows, food, water, litter box, toys and recently worn T-shirts that smelled like our human. When all the moving people were gone, our human opened the door to let us out. I’ve ventured out a few times but when I see Scarlett it’s like I don’t know who she is and I hiss and growl. Yesterday we got in quite the fight.
I had displaced aggression disorder many years ago and had to take pills and be in a separate part of the apartment for several months, I don’t want to have to do that again. What should my human do to help me?
Desi ‘perately’ Seeking Soothing
Dear Desi,
Wow! Your human made wonderful moving plans for you and Scarlett. It seems she thought of everything to ensure your comfort and peace of mind. I love the smelly t-shirt idea and if nothing else works, that one is usually a winner. But, as luck would have it, your “other” personality has come out in large order. Once the tiger is unleashed, it takes some time to get it back in the box. That is not by any means to infer you are a cornflake.
Your reference to starting out life in a feral cat environment as well as you bout of displacement aggression indicates that you are having some flashbacks. Stress and fear have now come into play and you will do well to catch up with the present and concentrate on the good life you enjoyed in your recent past. It is true, however, that those first eight weeks of kitten life form intricate personality traits that sometimes hide away and come out when major changes take place. Aggression and avoidance (hiding) are traits established when you were first presented to the world and you are calling them back to help you deal with the stress of a new home.
Some ideas for your human include:
• Talk in a soft, higher pitched voice than normal. “Stroking” you with her voice is very soothing and healing.
• Gentle grooming and massage, along with interactive play a couple of times a day can go far to alleviate stress
• Holding you closely while touring around the new house will help you get more comfortable with the new environment, and if you behave, presentation of some yummy treats will reinforce your decision
• If you continue to blame Scarlett for your predicament, your human might want to visit Cats International for tips on introducing (or re-introducing) cats to each other.
Your human has indeed been a loving caretaker and you will soon realize she has no plans to change.
Your friend,
Fisher
