No-bark collar woes, toy destruction: Modesto trainer answers your doggie questions

It’s time to catch up on the many letters you readers have been sending!

Cindy wrote to complain about her neighbor dog’s barking, sort of. It seems the exuberant adolescent next door has always barked occasionally, but it has never been a problem for her, or anyone she's consulted in the neighborhood. Her complaint is not hearing the dog occasionally bark, but the high pitched yelp that follows. Yes, the dog is on a no-bark collar, and Cindy is troubled over the dog’s obvious painful response to the correction it is receiving. She wonders if the dog’s owners are aware of the situation, and what she might do to help.

In order to sleep at night, I have to assume that dog owners don’t usually intend to apply painful, corporal punishment to their best furry friend. Perhaps the neighbor is limited in her knowledge about dogs, or perhaps she was given some bad advice. I often discuss this subject with clients and much of the time, when they stop and truly think about the unnecessary pain and fear they are causing their dog, combined with educating them on the numerous alternatives to addressing barking humanely and without pain, they will eagerly tackle the real issue behind the barking without resorting to electronics.

As I've stated in the past, dogs have very few needs, but they are non-negotiable. Basics include regular stimulation and activity, both mental and physical. Barking is not a problem, it is a symptom – sometimes of fear, alarm or stress, but most often of boredom. The chronically under-stimulated dog will develop a variety of ways to deal with boredom, which include digging, destructive chewing and barking. A dog that receives regular attention and inclusion with his people, daily physical exercise and creative projects to focus on when left alone is a content dog, and not a chronic barker. These basics are fairly easy to provide, and if they seem to be too much trouble, why even have a dog?

Cindy, you might kindly offer your leash walking services to your neighbor or wrap up a few special gifts for your dog friend and describe how they can best be used to stave off doggie boredom, and therefore, barking. You might also mention that there is help available via professionals, and a consultation might give your neighbor the knowledge and means to end the barking. You are a good neighbor and even better, a voice for a misunderstood furry friend.

Kevin wrote to ask about teaching his dog Molly to play correctly with her toys. It seems that he buys her many items that end up quickly shredded, and continuous replenishment is getting expensive. Although he doesn’t mention Molly’s breed or size, it really doesn’t matter. I stipulate that Molly is playing correctly with her toys – it sounds like she’s enjoying them immensely!

Whatever notion one has about what constitutes proper toy play among dogs is immaterial. There is no wrong way to play; take a bit of time to watch and learn what your dog likes to do with her toys, and then shop accordingly. For many dogs, including my own, the entire purpose of playing with a plush toy is to rip it open and pull out the stuffing! Denying your dog this activity is no solution; buy inexpensive plush toys, offer them to Molly occasionally, and sit back and watch her enjoy the shredding process. Once she has sufficiently unstuffed the package, pick up the stuffing and place it back inside the ‘skin’. Use a needle and thread to sew it up, and stash the recycled toy away, to be offered again at another time.

I think part of the issue is our tendency to focus on the cost of the toy, and we naturally want to stretch our dollars and make it last. You might find that you’re not at all concerned with Molly’s toy destruction if, for example, you give her an empty milk jug to play with. These are a favorite at my house; rinse out the jug, load a handful of kibble in it, and toss it to the floor. If Molly is like my dogs, she will move it all over the house as well as chew it up while trying to get at those goodies inside. Toilet paper and paper towel rolls are also great – swab a bit of peanut butter inside and let Molly shred and chew to her heart’s content, and you can enjoy the show watching your trash get recycled for another purpose!