Does your dog bark when you turn on the TV? Does your dog get excited when they hear or see an animal on TV? It's a common problem. I thought it was my dog being weird.
In the last couple of years, I've received quite a number of emails asking for assistance on this subject. Guess what? Today, we're going to talk about how you can stop your dog from lunging and barking at the television.
Prior to Laika, none of my dogs showed any interest in what I watched or listened to. Laika is no different.
She'll react to anything, whether it's the sound of a dog on TV or a picture of a fox in the snow hunting. She doesn't just bark, but she also whines and grumbles. And she gets up to investigate. She will not only bark, but she will also jump up to investigate.
Her yelling and lunging towards the TV made realize that 1. I had to find a solution to keep her calm. I watch more animal-themed TV shows than I thought. I still watch my animal shows but I've figured out a way to stop my dog from getting upset. How I stopped my dog barking at TV.
Why do dogs bark at TVs?
Dogs are all different and this is true for what, where and when they bark, as well as why. This includes the television. Dogs are drawn to moving objects, so seeing animals on TV is appealing to many.
Why do certain dogs bark at TV, while others ignore it. Some dogs will bark at the television out of excitement. Others may do so as a response to certain sights or sounds.
Laika was affected by a combination. Without my intervention, the episodes became more frequent and intense. Her excitement for anything moving on television turned to frustration. She could see all the animals in her living room having fun, doing exciting things and yet she was unable to join in. As soon as she became so upset, I knew I needed to do something to stop her.
Laika is a dog who likes to nudge and bark at any mammal on television that moves.
How to stop your dog from barking at the television
You'll first need a collection of videos to get your dog to stop barking at TV. These Paul dinning videos were used for this. These videos are great for this technique (so long as your dog reacts well to birds and squirrels), because they're straight-forward and high-quality.
You don't need to watch commercials or a nature documentary crew setting up their equipment before you get a response from the dog. After you've hit play on the videos, it's time to go.
You'll also need a lot of tasty treats. They will keep your dog interested when the crazy TV shows start.
It's time to get started. Start playing the video with your dog while you sit down in front of the television. Start with a video that I think will only get a mild reaction from your dog. The bird videos were the first I tried. They are interesting enough for my dog to get up and investigate but don't instantly set her intensity at 100%.
Watch your dog's reaction as the video plays. Do they seem interested in the birds? Are they excited? Are they barking? Your dog has already started to lunge at the television after jumping off the couch. You can predict their reaction by observing how they react.
You now know how your dog will react, so it's important to intervene before the reaction occurs. Tell them to calm down and give them a reward before they become too excited. Give your dog a treat while watching television to let them know they are making the right choice. Repeating this behavior will reinforce it.
You may think it's a simple thing to do, but you are teaching your dog that watching TV calmly is a good experience that will make them feel happy.
When Laika started to get excited while watching a video, I would tell her to “leave” it and give her a sweet treat. When Laika started complaining about the TV, I would tell her to be quiet and give her a reward. She began to react less to what she saw on TV, and she eventually became able to remain calm.
It's important to start with a video which only elicits a mild response from your dog. If you choose one that makes them jump up and down, it will be difficult to calm them down. When dogs are that excited, they can't learn much.
It's now time to teach your dog how to stay calm and quiet while watching video number two. Repeat the same technique you used with video number one (rewarding your dog for staying calm and quiet, before they become too excited), as many times as you need until your dog is confident.
It's important to gradually increase their tolerance of all the crazy things they see on TV, without making them so agitated that they can't listen or learn. Once your dog learns to stay calm when watching birds, it will be easier to keep him calm while you watch squirrels or cats.
TLDR Version
It's a lot of words to describe a very basic idea, I know. I know I tend to explain things too much. Here's a short version if you just want to stop your dog barking at TV.
- Watch videos to make your dog bark
- Grab some treats
- Watch the videos with your dog
- Treat your dog before it starts barking
- Rinse and Repeat
You can reward your dog for calm behavior by giving him treats.
Start with videos that are mildly exciting for your dog, and work your way up to the ones that drive them insane. After your dog learns to control their urge to bark at any moving object on the screen, it will be easier to find videos that excite them.
Does your dog bark at the television?
What makes your dog react to the TV? What kind of videos make them bark? Do you believe your dog is doing it because of frustration or excitement? How have you managed to calm your dog down while he watches TV?
Resources and Recommended Reading
It is counter conditioning and desensitization that I used to stop the barking of my dog at the television. This method is very effective for many issues with dogs, from separation anxiety to reactivity. This is the process to change your dog's emotional reaction to a specific stimulus or stressor. In this case, the TV.
This is a concept that all dog owners should understand, as it can be applied in a variety of different situations.