Dear Tiffani,

My neighbor recently informed me that my dog barks when I’m gone during the day. Summer is coming and I don’t want to keep her inside all day, but I also don’t want to upset my neighbors. Any suggestions?

Call Me Baffled

Dear Baffled,

First, I commend your neighbors for coming to you with their concern. Do let them know you are going to work on the barking issue, and you may even ask for their help. This will show them you want to be a good neighbor, which obviously you do.

As with any animal behavior issue, in order to solve the problem, you first have to discover the source. There are many reasons a dog may bark in the yard when left alone: boredom, frustration, loneliness, fear, insecurity, protectiveness or excess energy. To figure it out, pretend you are leaving, hide in your house and watch her. Ask your neighbors, mail carrier and delivery people if she barks when they approach. Have friends walk by and observe your dog’s response.

Once you have a sense of why your dog is barking, you can begin preventive measures. Make sure she gets plenty of “people time,” such as sleeping in your room at night so she doesn’t feel lonely. If the barking is based on insecurity or fear, have a safe place for her to go, like a doghouse or access to the house via a dog door. Playing music can mask noises and calm a pet. 

Spend time with your dog in the yard; make it a fun place so she associates good things with it and looks forward to going there. Get a baby pool if she likes water, sandbox if she likes to dig, and plenty of toys. Make sure she gets enough exercise; walks are great for both of you. When you are gone, you could have a friend come by with their dog for playtime, or hire someone responsible to walk or play with your dog.

Place interactive toys filled with treats to keep her busy, such as Buster Cubes and Kong toys. Another good plan is to work on training with your dog – two 10 minute sessions a day can make a big difference – the mental stimulation is great for a bored dog. 

A sign of protectiveness may be barking at delivery people, strangers, or other animals. If a dog barks when the mail carrier comes and then she sees him go away; she’s just been rewarded for barking. Supply the mail carrier with treats and she may look forward to seeing them. Another suggestion is to construct a fence she can not see pedestrians through.

Optimistically, with patience and time, you, your neighbors, and your pup will live happily and quietly together.

Truly, Tiffani 

Dear Tiffani,

I `ve always had cats and would love to get another one especially since we have mice. My husband does not like inside cats because he believes they mark on everything. I want our new kitty to be able to come in the house. What can I say?

The Wife

Dear Wife,

I’m afraid if he has made up his mind, you have your work cut out for you, but you can show him this article. I believe if people do not like cats, it’s because they have not met the right one yet. I recommend you do validate your husband’s concerns because cats do "mark" or urinate outside the litter box for various reasons. There are, however, steps you can take to prevent this from happening.

First of all, spaying or neutering is half the battle. Altered cats are less likely to mark territory with urine than their unaltered counterparts. They remain healthier, less prone to diseases, and urine of neutered males is much less offensive smelling. 

Cats are very territorial and may also mark if they feel threatened (by another cat, dog, human, or outside environment). A careful introduction into a household can prevent most unpleasant litter box issues. A slow acclimation into a home will minimize the stress of being in a new environment. Start them out in a smaller room, gradually letting them out to spend more time in the rest of the house. You may need to block their view to outside areas if the cat is stressed by wildlife or other roaming animals they see. 

I am confident that you can find a wonderful feline companion to fit into your home by following these steps. Perhaps you can discuss a trial period with your husband assuring him the cat would be returned if it didn’t work out, and let him pick out the cat he likes. At the Stafford Animal Shelter, all animals are adopted with an initial ‘Test Drive’ period where people get to know the pet for a week before finalizing their adoption. Perhaps the two of you can talk to friends with cats who can verify that “not all cats mark.” You are always welcome to contact me, regardless of where you get your cat, at behavioradvice@imt.net or phone 406/222-1312 to discuss problematic animal behavior. Sometimes, getting outside opinions can help.

Good luck, and remember, it takes two – and in your case hopefully three – to make a good relationship work.

Best of Luck, Tiffani

Tiffani Zimmerman is the Behavior Specialist at the Stafford Animal Shelter, Humane Society of Park County. Email questions to her at behavioradvice@imt.net or call 222-1312.