The four-legged enemy of man: How to cause terror in a dog?

Loud barking, howling or whining can cause quite tense relations with neighbors. A similar reaction is typical for overly emotional animals that are acutely aware of the events that happen to them. Knowing how to calm a dog, you can easily cope with its fear, aggression or unruly hormones. First of all, you will have to find out the cause of the concern.

How can you tell if an animal is overexcited?

All pets react differently to the same stimuli, so it is quite difficult to name the exact symptoms of overexcitation. Despite this, anxiety always affects behavior. If your pet behaves too strangely and unusually, help him cope with the tension that has arisen.

In most cases, an overexcited state is accompanied by:

How to calm a puppy or dog when they're mad

One of the simplest and most effective ways is affection. Stroking relaxes and soothes, so just run your hand from the top of the head to the hips of your four-legged friend and watch the reaction.

Despite its effectiveness, this method has its own nuances. Affection is the main tool of encouragement. Because of this, your pet may misinterpret your efforts, mistaking them for approval. You should also avoid hugs, which increase anxiety in 85% of cases.

Do not yell or use physical punishment. Both methods are fraught with even greater fear, but in relation to you.

Leave alone

If the reason for the violent behavior lies in hyperactivity or an attempt to attract attention, leave the room and leave the pet alone. Lack of reaction will extinguish interest in further pampering.

Try to ignore the dog until he calms down. Only after this can he be praised, taken for a walk or entertained with a game together. Otherwise, he will perceive all these actions as a reward and will rage on an ongoing basis.

Distract with a toy or treat

If the source of stress or overstimulation cannot be eliminated, turn your attention to your favorite toy or treat. This method will help consolidate pleasant associations. Over time, the dog will feel more confident and calm, even without distractions.

Make noise or splash water

You can distract from an irritant not only with the help of something pleasant. Another irritant produces a similar effect. If the dog gets angry, clap your hands loudly or spray it on his face with a spray bottle. In an attempt to deal with the source of noise or wet fur, the animal will temporarily forget about the main reason for its worries.

Helping a dog when scared

Mild fear is an absolutely normal reaction, but pathological cowardice is a serious cause for concern. The appearance of this quality is often the fault of the owners themselves, who are overprotective of their pets.

Constant attempts to hide the animal from unfamiliar guests and covering it with a blanket during thunderclaps interfere with an adequate perception of the world. Instead of total protection, it is necessary to pay attention to proper education and adaptation.

During a thunderstorm or fireworks

The fear of thunder and exploding fireworks is also common among people. The main reason for this phobia is too loud and harsh sound. To suppress it, use soothing classical music. If your pet is often left alone, turn it on all day to reduce possible stress levels.

To get used to frightening sounds, try playing recordings of them regularly, accompanying the unpleasant noise with games or other enjoyable activities. This will help you adapt to the stimulus and reduce anxiety in the future.

If a thunderstorm catches you right on the street, try to find shelter and pet the frightened pet. Sit down next to him so that you are on the same level and reassure him with encouraging words.

New Year's fireworks and firecrackers are the scourge of all dogs who go outside to relieve themselves. Take care of your pet’s comfort in advance and put on an anti-stress vest if there are celebrations going on outside and you still need to go for a walk. This item of clothing puts light pressure on the entire body, reminiscent of a hug. In this outfit the animal feels confident and protected.

When visiting a groomer or veterinarian

Touches from a stranger, painful injections and unpleasant odors can scare off even the bravest pet. Fear of the groomer and veterinarian must be combated with the help of distraction by following commands.

Teach your pet the “down”, “sit” and “give paw” commands. They will help control behavior not only at home, but in unfamiliar places. Once at a haircut or examination, distract the dog by following the command and reward it with a treat or a new toy. This trick will help reinforce a positive association with an unpleasant place. Previously frightening establishments will be perceived as a place to receive a reward for following a command.

On a journey

Traveling in a car over long distances must be taught from childhood. Start by staying together in the cabin without moving, distracting the dog from an unusual place with his favorite toy. Then try driving a short distance with your pet as a passenger. Increase the duration of the trip gradually and do not rush to move into the driver's seat until you are sure of the calmness of your four-legged passenger.

Before your trip, take care of your pet's comfort. Walk him in advance and do not feed him 2 hours before departure. Cover the seat with a soft cushion and take a few toys into the cabin. At the end of the trip, offer a pleasant reward - this could be a walk in the park or in the forest, where you can run without a leash.

Under severe stress

Pets often experience stress during noisy gatherings in a large company, moving, changing owners, having a child or a new pet. In such situations, the following recommendations will help:

Respect personal space. Every pet should have its own secluded corner where it can hide from annoying guests. Ask your friends not to bother the dog or force him into unwanted communication. Over time, he will get used to the smell and sight of frightening strangers and will try to establish contact with them on his own.
Give your four-legged friend to your friends for foster care in the first days of moving. Moving things, repairing and cleaning in a new place are the most alarming events that should be avoided. Settle down in the house, arrange a sleeping place for your pet and be sure to transport his personal belongings, which have retained their usual smell. Only after this can the dog be introduced to an unusual environment.
Be patient and kind. If you got the animal from other owners, avoid pity. When communicating, use only positive emotions to win the trust and love of the new family member.
Avoid changing established relationships. If you have a baby or have another dog, try to pay equal attention to each family member. Avoid excessive displays of love for the “new recruit” in front of the “old man.”

In addition to fear, excessive excitability can be explained by a hormonal surge. Most often, owners of uncastrated males and females encounter this problem.

If hormones are playing

In addition to sexual hunting, childbirth and pregnancy affect the emotional state. In the second case, hormones can go crazy even during false pregnancy, so sterilized animals are not immune to mood swings.

During estrus in a bitch or heat in a dog

The most effective and safest way to solve the problem is castration. This operation stops the production of sex hormones and stabilizes the emotional state.

When participating in breeding, use sedatives. Before use, be sure to consult a veterinarian, as hormonal drugs have a long list of side effects.

During pregnancy and childbirth

A pregnant pet is very sensitive, so try not to leave her alone for a long time. Make sure the puppy nest is located in a cozy and quiet area. This will prevent the expectant mother from worrying due to extraneous noise.

During childbirth, try to be nearby. This will give the woman in labor confidence and a feeling of security.

During a false pregnancy

False pregnancy is accompanied by increased anxiety, as a pet prepared for the birth of puppies is faced with their sudden absence. Instead of babies, she begins to babysit toys, dragging them into the “nest”.

This condition lasts no more than 2 weeks, so just be patient and play along. Don't take away toys or yell at your pet for her quirks.

If false pregnancy occurs regularly, be sure to sign up for sterilization. Otherwise, mastitis or other dangerous complications may develop.

What should you keep in mind?

A dog can be taught to obey the command “quiet”, but this will only calm it down temporarily. And after the owner leaves, she can resume barking. The best way out would be to reorient your four-legged friend to calmly endure loneliness, eliminating the root cause of his howling, teaching him to remain happy with life even when he is left at home alone.

The couple shared what they saved on in order to save up money for a house in a year.

Everyone should read Grachevsky’s farewell words from his last interview

A Hindu man has collected a collection of 430 types of bananas in his backyard.

Of course, this process is not at all easy, especially if the habit is already ingrained. Sometimes it may be necessary to contact your veterinarian for sedative medications. But first you should try to cope on your own.

To do this, first of all, you need to understand that a dog that begins to whine does not need to be encouraged with an expression of pity and affection. When she starts making noise, she should be ignored. Thus, she has the opportunity to understand that howling will not bring her any benefit.

At the same time, if the dog is silent when you leave, you should express your approval to it. Then she will gradually begin to connect her behavior with consequences in her mind.

What to do with an aggressive dog?

First of all, analyze the situation to understand exactly how to calm an aggressive dog. Unlike a strange dog, a beloved pet is unlikely to attack you without warning. This will give you time to think.

Redirected aggression can be explained by fear. In this situation, act according to the circumstances, focusing on the previously proposed advice.

If the reason for inappropriate behavior lies in childish restlessness, insufficient upbringing or lack of activity, work on these issues. Don't let your puppy play with your hands or lunge at people. To wean him off, use prohibition commands and non-traumatic punishments (slapping a newspaper on the floor, spraying water from a spray bottle, ignoring). Timely training and regular walks accompanied by active games will help improve obedience and eliminate hyperactivity.

What are dogs singing about?

But all this work was complicated by the fact that during the research process the results were different and no patterns were identified. Therefore, to date, the nature of this phenomenon remains not fully understood, and it is generally accepted that it can arise under the influence of various reasons.

- Grandfather, it turns out that dogs can sing? — my wife asked after watching the Saturday program “Saw the Video.”

- Hmm, say the same! They don't sing at all - they howl. And the participants of the program and the presenter with a fashionable mohawk on his head are touched: what musically gifted dogs!

- But I saw it myself - the dog really sang to the music!

- I saw it, I saw it... I’m telling you: they howl! You know, I spent my childhood and youth in my grandparents’ house, and they always had dogs.

First the mongrel Grimka, and then off we go: the Lilliputian circus performer, who lived across the street, gave my grandmother three white lapdog puppies at once. They were named like the musketeers: Athos, Porthos and Aramis. The surprising thing is that the puppies, when they grew up, exactly matched their literary heroes in character and appearance. My grandmother gave Porthos and Aramis to her daughters: my mother and my aunt Inna, and Athos stayed with us. And a year later, my mother brought from Kyiv a large poodle, Tyapa, who had strayed from the circus...

Photo: Depositphotos

Later I bought a shepherd puppy, Irma. He became a member of the service dog breeding club and mastered the work of a dog handler. Trained dogs according to OKD and ZKS courses. The last one was my friend, the Doberman Count, champion of the Rostov region. I think I know dogs pretty well.

As for their “singing,” the conversation is long and not at all simple. Nobody, in fact, is interested in the reason for this phenomenon. Most often, this reaction of dogs to music touches the hearts of ignorant people; others are annoyed by their “singing.” They think it's a bad omen.

You know, in my youth I studied music, played in different groups. Therefore, I had to study at home for at least two hours a day. And here's what I noticed...

Tyapa somehow tolerated the sounds of the lower and part of the middle register, but as soon as he heard high notes, he began to howl heart-rendingly, throwing his head up. I couldn't stand the third octave at all. I didn’t like him because he chewed the spines of books and interfered with my rehearsal, but he reciprocated.

Thinking about the howl of a poodle, I set up a simple experiment. I tried the effects of sound not only on Tyapa, but also on Grimka and Irma. Grim became alarmed, spun around and ran away, and Irma sat on a chain - she had nowhere to go. She howled pitifully and anxiously. Irma’s melancholy howl was different in both tone and character, which, in general, was not surprising, since the breed, gender of dogs, weight and other physiological characteristics are different.

Photo: Depositphotos

I remembered that I read in V. Bianki’s Lesnaya Gazeta that you can even count the number of a wolf pack by howling. The howling of wolves and the barking of dogs have specific individual characteristics: the polyphonic chorus coming from the pack makes it possible to determine their numbers. After all, each individual displays roulades in its own way.

Based on this fact, it can be argued that dogs have not only individual voices, but possibly also individual perception of sounds. But this does not mean at all that they are singing.

Continuing the experiment, I took up the accordion and explored the influence not only of sound, but also of melody. In addition, I checked the dogs’ reaction to combinations of sounds. Once again I was convinced that dogs howl when the tone rises.

The third and the harmonic series in general in the lower and middle registers had no effect, but the interval in the major and minor seconds made my dogs howl heart-rendingly. So the howling of dogs depended not on the melody, but on the pitch and the annoying combination of two or more sounds. By the way, the sound of a harmonica greatly irritates dogs—I’ve checked it more than once.

“Very interesting,” said the wife, who had perfect pitch. “But I heard that, while howling, the dog was in tune with certain musical phrases.

- Nonsense, it's a coincidence. There is no reason to assume that dogs have an ear for music. Although I have heard more than once that a dog’s ear supposedly prefers classical works, that they do not respond to rock, rap and other “ragged” rhythms. This is fiction, in my opinion. They, forgive the repetition, react to piercing notes!

I read somewhere that stray dogs in Turkey howl during the prayers of a mullah when he sings in a mosque and his drawn-out voice is heard through the microphone throughout the whole city. But based on this fact, someone can claim that dogs have religious abilities - they say, dogs pray too!

An explanation for this phenomenon must be sought in their distant past, and not inventing who knows what. They sing - they don’t sing! Scientists are still arguing even about the ancestors of domestic dogs, but there’s a problem with singing! The role of ancestors is claimed by wolves, jackals and wild dogs, which are not left in nature - only in the cartoon Mowgli fights with a huge pack of wild red dogs.

But no matter who the ancestor of dogs was, they have common methods of communication: they all communicate with each other using smells, signals transmitted by the tail, ears, the whole body and sounds.

Sound signals can be divided according to their transmission over distances. Animals whine and squeal if it is necessary for this sound to be heard by those who are nearby. Barking can be transmitted over distances of up to one hundred meters. But the howl of the canine family is transmitted over very long distances. On the plain, the howl can be heard up to ten kilometers, and in the mountains or on high ground even more.

Marina Vladimirovna Bogolyubova, “Wolf Family”, 2010. Photo: artchive.ru

The need to howl is due to the presence of instincts embedded in the genome. In this way they transmit information about the pack to each other. The howl allows you to delineate the boundaries of hunting areas and prevent the development of territorial conflicts. Hereditary information, the same for representatives of all breeds, requires a howl to respond to a howl, even if the sound does not come from the throat of a wolf or dog, but from any inanimate object, a musical instrument, for example.

There are dogs that don't like to howl. Everyone has different talents, just like people, but all dogs respond to similar sounds. And the majority respond to any semblance of a calling cry.

Interestingly, scientists have found that dogs can detect sounds that go beyond human perception. For example, they can hear infrasound and ultrasound. I don’t remember where, I read that the maximum frequency of sound perception for a person is 20 kHz, and a dog is able to hear sounds with a frequency of up to 40 kHz. And this feature causes corresponding reactions in her.

It is not for nothing that ultrasound devices are now widely used in training and behavior correction of dogs. Depending on the frequencies at which they operate, they can be used both as whistles and devices that call the dog or encourage a certain action, and as repellers that cause a feeling of fear in the animal.

In my practice, ultrasonic devices were not used in training. Most likely, these are the latest developments, but what is interesting in this regard: music has a fairly wide frequency range. It is quite possible that some sounds, indistinguishable to the human ear, are clearly heard by dogs, and it is they that cause a state of discomfort, which manifests itself in a restless howl. Moreover, the “strength” of this perception is individual, as is the range of frequencies accessible to the ear. Therefore, different dogs react differently to the same music. And for the same dog, some chords can be indifferent, some unpleasant, and some can cause anxiety and even painful sensations...

So, most likely, dogs perceive sounds as an alarm signal . If high frequencies are produced by a musical instrument, then the call of the ancestors may awaken in the animal. As a result, the dog begins to “sing” to the music. Moreover, one must think that among dogs, individuals with leadership inclinations have a much greater ability to howl. Their instinct takes precedence over other dogs.

Having become interested in the narrow problem of “singing” dogs, I learned a lot about myself. I think that the reader will also find it interesting.

It turns out that not only people have psychologists, but also animals! There is such a science - zoopsychology. It is part of ethology and is in great demand today. The topic is interesting, and I read with great interest everything I found on the Internet.

For example, American veterinarian and animal psychologist Charles Snowdon from the University of Wisconsin-Madison writes that:

...circus and parade horses are clearly in time when the orchestra plays. Rhythm is also good for the same dogs that dance to marches in the circus. Rats love Mozart, this has been proven by numerous experiments. Some species of monkeys sing almost like humans. Sharks and even goldfish (unlike some people) respond to classical music and are able to differentiate between compositions. Gray parrots love something rhythmic, like reggae, and, surprisingly, they calm down to the menacing sounds of Bach's toccatas. Moreover, some are more willing to listen to reggae, others love classics more. It was found that parrots cannot tolerate electronic music. Elephants have musical memory and hearing, they are even able to remember melodies of three notes.

And Snowdon, exploring the influence of music, together with composer D. Tay, created music suitable for animals.

Back in 2009, researchers composed two songs for marmosets, monkeys that have vocalizations three octaves higher than ours and heart rates twice as fast. The songs sound shrill and unpleasant to us, but, as it turns out, the monkeys quite like them. One melody was modeled on the tones of an excited animal, and the fast tempo visibly animated the marmosets. Well, the second song, “The Ballad of the Marmoset,” based on the tones of a happy monkey and a slow tempo, calmed the animals and made them unusually friendly.

Snowdon and Tay continued to write music for cats:

We have found that cats prefer to listen to music in their pitch range and tempo over human music.

Based on the results, Tay began selling cat songs online ($1.99 per song) through a company called Music for Cats.

With dogs, the results of their research became more complicated. They only noted that “large dogs respond better to music than small dogs, such as Chihuahuas” (Snowdon’s publication “What Music Do Pets Prefer?”).

I am skeptical about these reports. In them you can read that dogs not only howl, but even perform musical compositions! The same article reports that three dogs performed Kirk Nurock's "Howl" at Carnegie Hall, and then the composer wrote a sonata for piano and dog.

It is quite possible that the dogs howled in the famous hall for the entertainment of the public, but all dog handlers unanimously note: not a single dog will howl in a good mood and a cheerful mood. She is forced to do this by loneliness, boredom, discomfort, fear. This behavior is especially typical for dogs living on a leash or in constant isolation, deprived of walks and close contact with humans.

There is also an opinion, and it is not groundless, that howling a dog can react to a premonition of trouble, a natural disaster or separation from its beloved owner.

In any case, howling is a signal of the animal’s discomfort. Accordingly, it can also cause anxiety in other dogs that hear it, and they often begin to howl.

Photo: Depositphotos
Unfortunately, people often do not understand the true reason why dogs howl to music and tend to endow their four-legged friends with non-existent abilities and musical talents, and sometimes use these features for personal gain, making entertainment shows out of it. I would like to warn everyone against such entertainment: they are unsafe for the psyche of dogs .

Tags: howling, dogs, dog behavior, canines

What to do if your pet barks, howls or whines?

Voice signals always have a reason, so to correct unwanted behavior you need to find them. Make sure you give your pet enough time.

Avoid boredom while leaving for work. Interactive toys and channels or YouTube videos filmed specifically for pets will help you cope with longing for your owner.

Work through situations with the main irritants, reinforcing positive associations. In 95% of cases, it is possible to wean a dog from barking without outside help. If all the proposed methods of struggle do not produce results, contact a dog handler.

Don't forget that sometimes inappropriate behavior can be explained by pain caused by an illness. Make sure your four-legged friend is healthy before enrolling in a training course.

What should you stock up on?

The following items will help you achieve success.

Container with treats. You leave your dog food that he particularly likes and that he can eat for a long time. This should keep her busy, distracting her from your care.
Radio or TV. By leaving any of these devices at a low volume, you give your dog the illusion that someone other than himself is present at home.
An entertaining toy. You give it to your dog when you leave and take it away when you return home. By doing this, you let your pet know that the toy connects your arrival with your departure.

Next, we will consider several methods to help wean a dog from howling in the absence of the owner.

Correct cuts in pomegranate make it much easier to peel: video

Dark walls allow you to highlight areas of rooms. Why dark walls decorate the house

Why Leonardo DiCaprio never uses bodyguards

How to calm your neighbor's dog

Any questions regarding other people's animals must be resolved with their owners. If talking doesn’t help, file a statement and contact the local police officer. It is better if the application is collective - from several neighbors at once.

Before complaining about noise, try to record it with a voice recorder or camera. In the latter case, it will be clear not only the presence and duration of the extraneous sound, but also the exact time of appearance.

Another option, acceptable with the consent of the dog’s owner, is personal acquaintance with the noisy pet. Often neighbors on land plots are friends with each other’s animals, and therefore can give the command “quiet” to a noisy four-legged animal.

Ways to deal with an overexcited dog are very varied, but most of them are based on proper upbringing. Living in a society imposes certain responsibilities on its members towards each other. Thanks to timely socialization and regular training, you will be able to raise an intelligent and obedient four-legged friend with whom you will not be ashamed to go out or visit.

The article is of a recommendatory nature. Contact a specialist!

How to make a dog shut up?

Come up with a command word

There are many ways to get your dog to calm down. The main thing in this matter is proper training. Don't regret a few minutes a day for this good cause. Cynological practice shows that even the most stubborn dog is able to learn lessons.

Choose a command word such as “quiet” or “keep quiet” and use only that to make it easier for your dog to remember. When your pet starts barking, offer him a treat and voice the command. Practice this every time your dog barks for no reason.

Eliminate the irritating factor

Another good method that will help the tailed one learn its lesson is to find out what exactly is bothering it and eliminate the irritating factor. Animals don't know how to answer questions, so bring out the explorer in you.

If you have come to the conclusion that your pet is barking uncontrollably at the postman who delivers your mail every day, then no, there is no need to eliminate the postman. You will have to do things differently. Work on desensitizing your dog.

To do this, put the animal on a leash and make it sit still when the postman arrives. Reward silence with goodies. If the dog continues to bark, give the command. Let us note that such training is not easy.

"Smart" things

There are some products available in the market that can make dogs stop barking. One of them is the citronella collar. This is a special collar that emits the bitter smell of this plant. Dogs don't like its scent, so they quickly become silent.

A so-called noise collar will also help. This product has a sound emitter that goes off when the dog starts barking. Since dogs have sensitive hearing, they do not like loud noise, so they settle down.