PET WORLD

By Steve Dale

 In her latest book, “For the Love Of A Dog: Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend” (Ballantine Books, New York, NY, 2006; $24.95), certified applied animal behaviorist Patricia McConnell says science offers evidence that dogs do have emotions — and that they express them very much as people do. McConnell answers these selected reader questions:

Q: My two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are wonderful, but one has a high-pitched, ear-piercing bark. I’ve tried shocking collars but he barks and then gets shocked. One wonders why he barks again, but he does. We’ve tried holding his mouth shut and maintaining eye contact for 10 seconds as I repeat the word ‘No!’ He still squirms and barks.

Would you advise de-barking surgery? I’m a 70-year-old lady moving to a 55-plus community where people won’t appreciate a barking dog. — L.S.

A: Shock or electronic collars can work in some instances, if your timing is perfect. However, in my view, they often do far more harm than good. McConnell agrees: “The aversive and painful stimulus often raises reactivity – exactly what you don’t want,” she comments. “Clearly, the other methods you’re currently using just aren’t working. So, try some dog training. When your dog randomly barks, reward him by saying, ‘Good bark.’ Then, after three or four more barks, give him something yummy to chew on. If he’s chewing, he’s not barking. As you give him a treat, say, ‘Enough.’ Soon, hold the chew treat above his nose and say ‘enough’ but don’t give it to him until he quiets down. If he’s at all food-motivated, he’ll quickly learn what ‘enough’ means.”

McConnell says there are potential issues associated with de-barking: “It always doesn’t work long-term, it’s intrusive and it’s not the most humane alternative.”

If you have problems with the training method described, consider hiring a veterinary behaviorist, canine behavior consultant (www.iaabc.org), or skilled dog trainer for assistance.

Q: We found a wonderful Airedale around July 4; we believe she was spooked by the fireworks. Our vet says she’s healthy and about 16 months old. The problem: She falls into a deep sleep and acts likes she’s running, whimpering and barking in her sleep. Her body constantly twitches. Is she having nightmares? She does this every time she goes to sleep; it’s not sporadic. — J.D.

A: “Just as people dream during R.E.M. (rapid eye movement) sleep, we know dogs also do,” says McConnell. “We don’t, however, know what they dream about. The ‘running movement’ dogs do in their sleep is normal, as is twitching, wagging the tail and ‘talking.’”

McConnell subscribes to the theory that as well as visualizing their dreams, dogs probably smell their dreams in a way we can’t comprehend. The smell in a dog’s dream likely seems every bit as real as the pictures we see in our heads when we dream. Some say dogs mostly dream about chasing squirrels. McConnell says, “I’m sure they do, but the range of their dreams might be as far ranging as our own, even using imagination, like, ‘what might happen if this person took me for a walk?’ Of course, we may never know.”

It may be your dog spends more time in the R.E.M. phase of sleep than most. However, if she whines, seems distressed, or even screams in her sleep consistently, you might have a reason for concern.

© 2006 Tribune Media Services, Inc.