Guide to Information Resources on Dog Barking
Database Approach to a Search

Discussion

First determining which "barking category" might best describe a particular dog and his barking problem is essential when considering a treatment. Consideration of this functional category, as well as some measure of barking frequency, duration, and/or intensity would also be valuable and insightful. The general term "reactivity" is not sufficiently discriminating; the preferred term is "problem barking", which reflects the fact that the problem is defined according to the tolerance level and context of the owner, as well as the dog.

Differential categories permit some discrimination of the extent of problem barking. Of particular concern is that aversive treatments not be used for treating fearful or anxious dogs, for whom such treatments would be likely to escalate the problem.  This is a case where the differential categories are very important.

For example, a standard list of differentials in behavior practice might include:

separation anxiety
territorial aggression (including alarm barking)
fear-related aggression (phobias)
social facilitation
attention-seeking (including boredom)
compulsive disorder
cognitive dysfunction
medical problems

Keep in mind the reason behind the barking when reading material on problem barking and its control. Relevant and reliable scientifically-based information may be found by using a variety of bibliographic databases. Some databases, like PubMed and Agricola, are freely available to the general public. Other proprietary databases, like PsycInfo and Biosis, are available by subscription and may be found at most academic institutions. Dependent on individual availability, the following databases and suggested searches may be helpful when searching for information on problem barking.

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FREE Databases

AGRICOLA

Pubmed

GoogleScholar

PROPRIETARY Databases

BIOSIS

CAB

ISI

PsycInfo

 

SUGGESTED SEARCHES

Database	Embedded Searches & Keywords
AGRICOLA National Agricultural Library click on links to initiate current search ›	barking prevention and control welfare issues collars Robert Hubrecht articles Deborah Wells articles
PubMed National Library of Medicine click on links to initiate current search ›	barking prevention and control welfare issues attention seeking fear/reactivity response social/territorial response separation anxiety response predatory behavior collars
GoogleScholar click on links to initiate current search ›	barking control barking due to separation anxiety territorial or alarm barking barking due to fear or aggression barking due to boredom or for attention barking related to disorder or dysfunction Robert Hubrecht citations Deborah Wells citations
BIOSIS Life sciences and biology copy & paste keywords into BIOSIS search box ›	barking dog* barking AND dog* AND (control* OR treat* OR prevent*) barking AND dog* AND welfare
CAB Veterinary medicine, nutrition, agriculture, rural development copy & paste keywords into CAB search box ›	dog* and bark* and (control* or treat* or prevent*) dog* and (fear* or aggress*) and bark*
ISI Web of Science Sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities copy & paste keywords into ISI search box ›	barking dog* barking AND dog* AND (prevention* OR control* OR treatment*) barking AND dog* AND welfare
PsycInfo psychology and related disciplines copy & paste keywords into PsycInfo search box ›	kw=dogs AND kw=barking kw=dogs AND kw=vocalizations kw=dogs AND kw=barking AND kw=welfare kw=dogs AND kw=barking AND (kw=control OR kw=prevention OR kw=treatment)

Related Resources

The Barking Dog (pdf)

American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior
American College of Veterinary Behaviorists

Companion Animal Behavior Program, UCD
University of Saskatchewan, Canada

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Partial support for page development provided by
Radio Systems Corporation

Review of the Literature
Final Report
Summary
List of Citations

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Selected Referenced Journal Articles and Citations

Adams GJ, Johnson KG. Guard dogs: sleep, work and the behavioural responses to people and other stimuli. Applied Animal Behavior Science. Amsterdam ; New York : Elsevier, 1984-. Dec 1995. v. 46 (1/2) p. 103-115.

Adams GJ, Johnson KG. Behavioural responses to barking and other auditory stimuli during night-time sleeping and waking in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris). Applied Animal Behavior Science. Amsterdam ; New York : Elsevier, 1984-. Feb 1994. v. 39 (2) p. 151-162.

Campbell WE. Problem behavior in dogs. Excessive barking. Modern Veterinary Practice. 1973 Oct;54(11):73. PMID: 4795805

Juarbe-Diaz SV. Assessment and treatment of excessive barking in the domestic dog. Veterinary Clinics of North America Small Animal Practice. 1997 May;27(3):515-32. PMID: 9170633

Juarbe-Diaz SV, Houpt KA. Comparison of two antibarking collars for treatment of nuisance barking. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Assoc. 1996 May-Jun;32(3):231-5. PMID: 8731137

Lewin JD. Barking dog noise in veterinary hospitals. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Assoc. Mar/Apr 1974, 10 (2): 183-186.

Mertens, Petra A, Unshelm J. Effects of group and individual housing on the behavior of kennelled dogs in animal sheltersAnthrozoos. Vol 9(1), 1996, pp. 40-51.

Miller M, Lago D. Observed pet-owner in-home interactions: Species differences and association with the Pet Relationship Scale. Anthrozoos. Vol 4(1), Sum 1990, pp. 49-54.

Moffat KS, Landsberg GM, Beaudet R. Effectiveness and comparison of citronella and scentless spray bark collars for the control of barking in a veterinary hospital setting. Journal of American Animal Hospitals Assoc. 2003 Jul-Aug;39(4):343-8. PMID: 12873023

Sales G, Hubrecht R, et. al. Noise in dog kennelling: is barking a welfare problem for dogs. Applied Animal Behavior Science. Amsterdam ; New York : Elsevier, 1984-. Apr 1997. v. 52 (3/4) p. 321-329.

Senn CL, Lewin JD. Barking dogs as an environmental problem. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Assoc. 1975 Jun 1;166(11):1065-8. PMID: 1133065

Wells DL. The effectiveness of a citronella spray collar in reducing certain forms of barking in dogs. Applied Animal Behavior Science. 2001 Aug 27;73(4):299-309.

Yin S. A new perspective on barking in dogs (Canis familiaris). J Comp Psychol. 2002 Jun;116(2):189-93. PMID: 12083615

 

for further information, please see
Companion Animal Behavior Program

for any questions, please contact
Mary W. Wood MLS, Librarian
web liaison

8/20/10