BARKING MAD!

How do I Stop Excessive Barking in Dogs?

This is a question that has come up a few times and in some cases is better answered by a behavioural specialist. However, let's look at some energy based approaches ....

Why is it happening?

Sometimes the barking is a response to a fear, anxiety or stress.

Sometimes real and sometimes imaginary an 'associated/habit'.

So what can you do to lessen these emotions?

Massaging the back paw pads, paws and lower legs, followed by tracing Kidney meridian can help reduce fear - both sides of the body.

• The pathway begins under the back paw

• Runs up inside leg

• Up the abdomen

• Up the chest

• Ends at base of the neck

Massaging the front paw pads and stroking the inner front legs can connect to the Heart Protector meridian, think of it as the Gatekeeper to their 'Inner Kingdom' of the heart - that gate needs to feel safe in opening and closing with ease and not thinking absolutely everything is a threat to the Inner Kingdom (i.e. survival) ..... this might be especially important for a rescue dog, or simply a dog that has had an impressionable shock.

Massage the top of the ears (inner) to encourage any shock, trauma or fright to leave the body - this will be helped by massaging all four paws

Click Me for shock point blog

Relaxing the Triple Warmer meridian (always associated with fear) with appropriate 'tittle tattle' (see suggestions below) can encourage calmness. You can do this by simply stroking along the jaw, up, over the ears, down behind the ears and off the front legs. Triple Warmer is also the 'Keeper of Habits' so is useful to have on side when barking is a 'bad habit'

Excessive barking can sometimes stem from disruptions in the flow of energy through the meridians and chakras. A general balance of the meridians can be achieved by a doggie spinal flush - see the embedded video. Plus I've put the full instructions at the end of this blog.

For chakras ...

• hold your hand off the top of the spine, but make sure you can still feel/sense the energy, the connection with your dog, then SLOWLY love down the spine over each of the chakras, stopping and circling (in either direction) if you feel a 'change' in the connection and observe your dog's reaction, they will guide you. I've added some brief info on each chakra at the end of this blog.

• Root chakra is often associated with a feeling of grounded safety, so might be one to linger on. Continue off the tail.

• Come back to the front of the body, place a hand in the biofield (or on the body) on either shoulder and feel the connection between your hands.

• Imagine a Figure 8 moving between your hands, crossing over at the Heart.

• Stand in front of your dog and Figure 8 between your heart and their heart, repeating the phrase .... it is now safe to be calm and silent, there is no danger, there is no threat, you are so safe and so loved - I love you.

Okay! this may not work the first time BUT with consistency, done even when they are not barking ........ something can shift.

Dogs may also bark due to boredom, loneliness, territorial instincts, or lack of proper socialization. Really stop and evaluate your dog's life: are they bored, lonely or haven't been socialised as a puppy? What can you do practically to reduce the boredom, loneliness and social reaction? For example:

• More exercise?

• More mental stimulation? it can be as simple as sniffing out treats hidden in the house or on a walk, interactive toys.

• Take him with you more when you leave the house?

• Take him to doggie training to meet other dogs under a trainer's guidance?

These can all alleviate boredom etc., and reduce the need to bark for attention.

Territorial instinct I tend to ignore, unless it is unreasonable. That is my personal choice. Merlin will bark at anyone who walks up the gravel drive, he's warning me, I say 'thank you' and he'll stop, his job is done.

Reward quiet behaviour with treats or praise to encourage the dog to remain calm. Recent studies have highlighted the effectiveness of positive reinforcement techniques in reducing excessive barking behaviours in dogs (Bennett & Rohlf, 2007).

Expose puppies to various environments, people, and animals from a young age to build confidence and reduce fear-based barking later in life.

I have a little puppy joining Merlin in a few weeks and he will come with me everywhere to experience different sights, sounds, smells etc., from the safety of my arms/basket/bag. He'll then go to puppy socialisation, which is basically a puppy free-for-all where they learn how to interact.

After which I'll attempt (well try to!) establish clear boundaries and consistent training routines to reinforce desirable behaviours and discourage excessive barking.

There will also be daily spinal flushes, paw massaging, mummy licks, meridian stroking and chakra balancing.

I'll do some video posts during the Summer which may offer you some guidance if you are thinking of getting a puppy.

However, if the excessive barking is an established habit, can I suggest you try the above tips but also ask around to see if there is a good animal behavioural specialist in your area .... it may only need a couple of consultations AND lots of work from you .... but that professional advice can be invaluable in creating a more peaceful life for you and your canine companion.

A couple of other thoughts ....

I love flower essences and will often use DOG ROSE which is good for a dog that is shy or fearful and barks or howls. I will apply in one of two ways: either rubbing on my hands and stroking over the spine/chakras, or, standing on my 24/7 photo ..... click on this link to find out what that is! I call it the lazy person's way!

Click Me to discover 24/7 technique for the lazy person!

For a rescue dog holding Liver and lung points as described in this blog can really bring stability, a sense of safety and hope to the animal.

Click Me for the Lung and Liver points

Here's a fun technique ...

GET GROUNDED AND BREATHE

IMAGINE YOUR PET SHRUNK TO THE SIZE OF A CHESS PIECE sitting in the palms of your hands that you are holding in front of your heart. Perhaps they are barking like mad!

LOOK DOWN AT YOUR PET with total love and send healing through your hands into the miniature’s body with the intention that it flows to your actual dog and instils a calmness that extinguishes the need to bark. -

SPINAL FLUSH INSTRUCTIONS

     Start with a Mummy Lick

     with relaxed fingers, stroke over the top of the head and down the back to the base of the spine and then brush off the entire length of the tail.  Do it simultaneously on both sides of the head and spine.  Repeat several times, increasing the pressure gently with each stroke. This get her relaxed and used to your touch, she will know you have a different ‘intention’.

     End by going over the head, down the front legs and off the front paws

     Stroke up between the eyes to the top of the head (over her 3rd eye, located between the ‘eyebrows’) repeat 3 times. You can use thumbs or fingers – whatever feels comfortable.  (This sends Mabel into a semi-zombie like state in a nano second).

     I always talk to her at the same time.  It really doesn’t matter what words you use, we all know it’s the tone of voice that is important.

     You can use two hands or one, it really depends upon the size of your dog but with fingertips gently rub down on either side of the spine.  You will be stimulating key lymphatic reflexes that are linked to different organs of the body, bringing balance and calm.  Plus stimulating blood flow, helping to remove toxins and relieving any residue muscle tightness. 

     Rub over one set of points for a few seconds and then move down an inch to the next pair. 

     You can rub up and down or in a circular motion, both are valid, see which one feels best for you and of course which variation gets the best canine response.  

     Pressure is firm but not enough to cause pain and don’t rub on the bone itself; you are working in the ‘gully’ on either side of the spine itself.

     Start at the neck and work all the way down the spine and brush off the tail.

     Add a more emotional aspect by pulling out to the side a little – between an inch and six inches depending upon the animal – these will not only open the area for energy to move more efficiently but also work some of the Shu points that sit on Bladder meridian and are therefore very calming emotionally.

     End by stroking from head to tail tip a couple of times.

MORE ON WORKING THE CHAKRAS

1 – ROOT EARTH STAR	These two work as a combination on dogs. Associated with survival instincts and sexual issues.  Without doubt work this area on rescue dogs. Very grounding, when they lie down they will be drawing Earth energy up through their Sacral chakra as well as through the minor chakras in their paws.  Earth energy in yin in nature, so cooling, calming and ‘contracting’, coming back into their space, back into a tribe. Important for their physical energy and ‘presence’.  Right at the base of the spine, dogs interact and communicate from the Root (you will know what I mean if you are a dog owner ... sniff sniff ). The Root Chakra is stimulated when they roll and rub on the ground. The scent around this area and the ‘bottom’ is like a canine ‘calling card’, a vital clue to identity.
2 – SACRAL Also known as Womb Chakra
3 – SOLAR PLEXUS	This is fear and ego and the one to work if you have a fearful or excessively dominant dog. Entry point for Yang energy into the body.  If this is constantly out of balance, make sure you clear the minor chakras on the paws so that she can take in balancing Yin energies.
4 – HEART SHOULDER	It is said that this is NOT a major chakra on dogs as they are so evolved – they ARE all heart. However, I personally feel that connecting into this chakra, gently enhances the loving bond between the two of you.  Work this chakra if you are weaning puppies, if there is a new pet coming in, if one has been lost and you might like to include flower essences (see later in the book). Take a minute to connect your heart energy to hers.
5 – THROAT	Dogs communicate telepathically so this is not such an important chakra as it is on humans. Nevertheless it can get blocked and cause a problem over the area.
6 – 3RD EYE/ BROW	These two work so closely together with dogs as they operate on psychic levels and are totally ‘connected’ to the ‘Universe’.  Their connection with you too. Deeply stressed dogs will sometimes shut down in these chakras – notice the dull emptiness in the eyes of deeply traumatised dogs. Some dogs are uncomfortable with this area being touched, so go gently. There is an inherent balance that Nature keeps here and we humans need to be sensitive to that delicate dance of energies.
7 – CROWN
Minor chakras	These are located on the paws They are the main entry points for YIN energy into the dog.   The tip of the tail  Paw chakras sense the earth energy and will lead a dog to a ‘good’ energy spot, where it will then lie down so that it’s Root/sacral chakras can better absorb that energy.  There are little bud chakras at the inside base of each ear

Chakras can be worked from a distance. They vary slightly on animals but it is the intention that carries the power so don’t worry too much if the position is 100% correct or not.

If you are working on the body, you can calibrate the strength of the chakra with a pendulum. Simply hold it above the chakra and see how fast and strong a spin it has.

     Crown on the top of the head between the ears

     Brow over the brow

     Throat over the throat

     Heart over the heart

     Solar plexus on the ‘withers’

     Sacral chakra over the womb area

     Root chakra is located at the base of the tail on the top

     Earthstar about 18” below the paws

Chakras 1-6 can be accessed on the spine too and in the case of a nervous or vulnerable cat, it might be an easier way of connecting.

It is said that there is an extra key chakra on the shoulder of animals, Margrit Coates talks about it in her book Healing for Horses. To me it is as if the heart energy comes out, not only on the spine and under the cat but also to the side to the shoulders. Like the throat, it is linked to and affects all the other chakras. I know my cats love simply being held on both shoulders with a subtly gentle circling of the skin over the muscle/bone.

There is also the Earth Star situated about eighteen inches beneath the back paws.  This can be useful in re-homing: simply bring the palm of your hand  to the back paws – draw it back about 18 inches (about 45 centimetres) – close your eyes and try and feel the energy in that area then figure 8 between the back paws and the Earth Star – slowly either with your hand or with your mind’s eye – six or seven times.