Category: Uncategorized

Most locations have noise or nuisance laws that allow a dog owner to be fined for a barking dog. Many such laws also include jail time, so it’s possible that a dog owner could spend time in jail, although this would likely only occur in very extreme cases. The ordinances vary by location, so it’s important to know the laws where you live.

How To Deal With A Barking Dog 

Dogs bark. No reasonable person expects complete silence. Unfortunately, many pet owners have unreasonable neighbors who call the police at the first sign of a bark. While most police officers are understanding in such situations, the more they are called, the more likely you’ll end up having an issue.

If your dog’s barking isn’t excessive, try reasoning with your neighbor. If that does no good, it will be more important than ever to have a full understanding of the local laws regarding the matter. From there, talk to the police and let them know what’s going on. Some pet owners dealing with problem neighbors go so far as installing security cameras to eliminate the chance of the neighbor lying about what’s going on.

If your dog’s barking is excessive, you’ll need to find ways to manage that. This may include:

• Changing The Environment: If you normally leave your pet outdoors, try crating him instead. If he’s normally crated, try leaving him loose in one room.
• Exercise Him More: Make sure your dog is getting plenty of exercise. Lack of exercise can lead to stress, and stress can lead to barking.
• Rule Out Separation Anxiety: If your dog barks excessively when left alone, he may be suffering from separation anxiety. Speak to your vet to determine if this is the case and, if so, work together to identify effective treatments.
• Soothing Music: Classical music can have a calming effect on dogs, so leave it playing when you go out. You can also try leaving the television on.
• Back To Training: When you’re home, you should usually be able to stop your dog’s barking with a command. If not, invest in more training with a qualified professional. 

The bottom line is that in most locations, you can be fined for excessive barking. Avoid any issues by taking the time to learn what triggers your pet’s barking and then find a solution. The result will be a happier dog, happier neighbors, and a happier you.  

In order to stop your dog from barking when he is home alone, you’ll need to address the triggers or environment that causes the barking. The solution could be as simple as crating him rather than leaving him outside or playing some soft music to soothe him. Of course, not all barking is bad, and you don’t want to eliminate all of your dog’s vocal contributions, but if the barking is excessive or causing problems with neighbors, you’ll want to find a way to control it.

Solving Excessive Barking 

If your dog were to come up with a solution, it would probably be for you to quit your job and stay home with him all day. Unfortunately, becoming full-time stay-at-home pet parents simply isn’t in the cards for most people. The good news is that there are plenty of other things you can try such as:

• A Change in Environment – Try changing the environment of where your dog is left when you’re gone. For example, if you normally leave him outside (which is never ideal,) try crating him, using a slow introduction to the crate to make it a positive experience. Or if he’s normally crated, try confining him to a single room instead. 
• Wear Him Out – Lots of playtime can go a long way in helping your dog deal with being alone. Before you go to work, make time to take him on a long walk or run. Do the same at night. When your pet doesn’t get enough exercise, it can make him anxious—which can lead to barking.
• Mid-Day Visit –  If possible, arrange for a mid-day dog walker to come by to break up the time your dog will be alone. This is also another way to ensure your pup gets more exercise.
• Reduce Triggers – If you notice that your dog barks at people walking by the windows, keep the curtains closed. If he barks when the mailman comes to the door, keep him confined to the back of the house when you’re away. You can also help to reduce the effects of noise triggers by playing soothing music or leaving the TV on while you’re gone. 

You and your dog (and your neighbors) will be happier if your dog’s barking can be controlled. If nothing you try seems to work, or if the barking is excessive and accompanied by destructive behavior, it may be separation anxiety. If you suspect this, check out this article or talk to your vet or an animal behaviorist, as this condition does not go away on its own, but can usually be resolved with professional help.

You can call the animal control department of your local police on a barking dog, but it should only be used as a last resort for excessive barking. If your neighbor’s dog barks a lot, it can be annoying, but you should address it with a measured response rather than going straight to the law. There should be a few steps between the dog barking and you calling the police.

How to React to a Barking Dog 

When a responsible pet owner’s dog starts barking, they either get the barking to stop or bring the dog inside—but not everyone is a responsible pet owner. Some people have no problem letting their dog bark all night. While that is inconsiderate, you need to ask yourself if it’s worth having an ice-cold relationship with your neighbor. Here are some things to do before calling the cops:

Ask Yourself If The Barking Is Really Excessive

When you live in close proximity to neighbors, you can’t expect total silence. Whether it’s a kid banging on his drums or an especially enthusiastic game of kickball in the street, some noise is part of life in a populated area. With that in mind, consider if the amount of barking is really worth involving the police or animal control. 

Know The Law

Laws regarding dogs barking vary by location, so take the time to learn the law where you live. You could bring a copy of this information along when you talk to your neighbor. Knowing the law can also help you decide if calling the police is really the route you want to take. For example, if you learn the homeowner will get a $500 fine and possibly have the dog removed from her home, would you still want to call? 

Talk To Your Neighbor

Your neighbor might not realize how her dog’s barking is affecting you. Approach her in a polite manner and tell her how it’s affecting you, i.e. you can’t sleep at night, it’s hard to have a conversation on the phone, etc…

If the neighbor seems receptive, offer ideas about how to reduce the barking such as letting the dog spend more time indoors or providing extra walks and lots of playtime. If she’s not receptive, tell her that if things don’t change, you may have no choice but to call animal control.
Police and animal control should not be used as a weapon against your neighbors. Instead, calling them should be reserved for when all else has failed or when the dog appears to be in distress.  

It typically takes a Yorkie between one and three months or so to get accustomed to being in a new home. However, many other factors will play into the exact amount of time it’ll take. A young dog or a puppy, for example, can often adapt to a new home faster than an older dog. Even two Yorkies of the same age could have different timeframes for adjusting based on their personality traits.

This means that even though it’ll generally take a couple of months for your new dog to get used to their new home, it could be more or less time. Naturally, you’ll want to do everything that you can to make the transition as easy as possible. Keep the following in mind when you are helping her to adjust.

Be Patient

When you bring home a new dog, it can sometimes feel frustrating when she doesn’t adapt right away. It can help to think of things from her perspective. Everything in her world has turned upside-down recently, and she’s nervous and anxious. It would take you time to get used to a new house or a new job. She just needs to know that she’s safe, loved, and cared for. It’ll take some time, but she’ll come around.

During the first week or so that she’s at your house, you’ll also want to keep the number of visitors to a minimum. Overwhelming her with too many new faces all at once is not a good idea.

Provide a Private Space

It’s a good idea to ensure that she has a private space of her own. If she has some toys that she likes that were sent with her, make sure she gets to keep them. Put them in a space that you reserve just for her, such as a pillow bed in the corner of the room. This can be her spot. Knowing that she has her spot will make her start to feel more comfortable.

Be Ready for Accidents

Since this is a big change, be ready for some potty mistakes. You might not know her signals for going outside, for example. Pay close attention to her and take her out on a leash frequently for bathroom breaks. Eventually, you’ll know the signs when she has to go outside. Don’t get upset when she makes mistakes, or you’ll frighten her and it’ll take even longer for her to feel comfortable.

Create a Routine

One of the best things to do when you are helping your new Yorkie get accustomed to their new home is to create a routine. This includes a time for walks, eating, and going out for the bathroom. Getting her on a schedule as soon as possible will be good for both of you.
It might take some time once you’ve adopted a Yorkie for her to get used to your home. That’s okay, and it’s natural. You just need to continue being patient, and she will soon be just as happy in your home as she’s ever been. 

You can get rid of cat allergies if you have mild to moderate symptoms by reducing allergens in your home, reducing allergens on your pet, and, if necessary, taking over-the-counter or prescription medication.

Living With Cat Allergies 

First, make an appointment with an allergist to make sure you’re dealing with a cat allergy. Some blame hay fever or a reaction to mold on the cat. The only way to know for sure is to be tested by an allergist.

Once it’s confirmed, there are some steps you can take to minimize the symptoms:

• Bathe your cat once a week. If your cat is upset by bathing in water, try one of the over-the-counter cat-allergen-reducing dry shampoo products that are toweled on the cat and then brushed out.
• Vacuum daily with a HEPA vacuum cleaner.
• Install an air cleaner onto your HVAC system.
• Use HEPA filters for your HVAC system.

The goal with the above is to minimize the amount of dander you’ll come in contact with, which will help to reduce your symptoms.

Additionally, you can alleviate the symptoms, such as congestion, itchy eyes, and sneezing, with medication.

Choosing A Cat 

If you don’t yet have a cat, there is another way to minimize the symptoms: get a cat that produces less dander. While no cat is 100% hypoallergenic, some breeds are a smart choice for people with mild to moderate allergies. These include:

• Sphynx
• Cornish Rex
• Oriental
• Devon Rex
• Russian Blue
• Siberian
• Bengal 

Many people with cat allergies still share their homes with cats. As long as your symptoms aren’t severe, you can, too! 

Coffee grounds are toxic to dogs and can lead to serious symptoms and even death. How badly the caffeine in coffee grounds will affect your pet depends on the size of the dog and how much caffeine was consumed. Do not allow your dog to consume any amount of caffeine, and keep caffeinated beverages and coffee grounds out of his reach.

Caffeine Toxicity 

When you drink too much coffee, you may become jittery or notice your heart is racing. The same thing happens to dogs. Depending on their size, it takes much less caffeine to evoke that sensation for a dog than it might for you. That’s why it’s so dangerous when your pet consumes caffeine.

How Much is Too Much? 

Negative signs will start to show when your pet has consumed 14 mg of caffeine per pound of body weight.

Signs of Caffeine Toxicity 

If you suspect your dog has ingested caffeine, watch for these signs:

• Restlessness
• Hyperactivity
• Vomiting
• Excessive Panting

Following those early signs, the pet may also experience tremors or seizures. 

What to Do If Your Pet Consumes Caffeine 

If you suspect your pet has ingested coffee grounds, go to the vet as soon as possible. If you get him there quickly enough, the vet may be able to stop the progression of the toxicity by inducing vomiting. If that doesn’t work, the vet may push IV fluids in order to help flush the caffeine from your dog’s body.

Coffee grounds, coffee, tea, and even soda are very dangerous to your pet. Do what you can to prevent your dog from ingesting any amount of caffeine. If he does, get to your vet as soon as possible in order to try to avoid the most serious consequences.