Territory guarding

Territory guarding, the double-edged sword.

Part two:
One of the traits many of us love about our dogs is their tendency to guard. It makes us feeling safe, protected and loved.

In general, and simply put, dogs don't have much to say when they bark. Depending on the tone of the bark (the sound wave patterns created by the bark) the dog is either saying, "Go away" or "Help. I need something."

When dogs bark at windows or fences they are eliciting territory guarding behaviors and saying, "Go away!". In most cases the dog's barking is unrelated to the activities of the passer-by, but in the dog's mind there is a connection. Very quickly the dog can make an association between barking and the passer-by's departure. Barking gets rid of the stranger. Yay me! That apparent connection reinforces the guarding behavior, which increases the likelihood that the guarding behavior will continue.

If left to bark freely at the windows or the fence frustration builds in the dog. The barking generally escalates, because while the passers-by do go away, they don't stay away; they come back, over and over again, and all the while the dog becomes more and more angry and frustrated. Over time the dog becomes increasingly sensitive (intolerant) to people and/or other dogs invading her territory. When that happens guarding behaviors tend to bleed out into the rest of the dog's activities. The dog tends to become increasingly more leash reactive, and possibly reactive, or more reactive, on rides in the car. The dog can also start to become more aggressive/less friendly with visitors to the home.

Stay tuned for Part Three