Barking is one method that dogs use to communicate with each other, and with us. Where, when and the frequency and duration of barking will depend on a number of factors, including breed, age and the environment.

Dogs may bark for a variety of reasons such as, frustration, attention-seeking, anxiety or nervousness, stress and boredom.

The key to tackling barking is to identify the trigger. For example: if your dog barks at you while you are playing with it, or if you restrict its access to something, the motivation for the behaviour could be either frustration or attention seeking and barking will increase the more it is rewarded (this can include talking to your dog, scolding or even eye contact).

When your dog barks for attention, it should be ignored at all times. Any attempts to reprimand the dog will only reinforce the behaviour. Therefore, ignore it and turn away. It is important to be consistent with this, and everyone in the family, as well as visitors, must do the same.

The behaviour will not stop immediately, but should gradually decrease over a number of weeks. If your dog is barking for other than to get your attention, a more in-depth consultation should be carried out by a suitably qualified person.

Puppies need to chew in order to relieve the pressure on their gums as their new teeth start to grow.

The provision of chewable toys such as kongs and nylabones may be useful to discourage chewing of other household items.

If you catch your dog chewing something it shouldn’t, distract it with a sudden loud noise, such as a clap and then give it one of it’s own toys. Eventually your dog should learn what it can and cannot chew.

As well as teething being a cause, dogs may also chew due to boredom or frustration. Dogs require both mental and physical stimulation. Adult dogs need at least 40 minutes off-lead exercise per day, however this will vary depending on the age and breed of dog. Mental stimulation can be provided by carrying out some basic obedience training daily. Learning tricks can be a good way to increase the bond between owner and dog, as well as being great fun and very impressive!

Dog crates are specially designed enclosures that provide a secure den where puppies and dogs can feel safe and comfortable. They can be used in the home and also for travelling.

The crate should be big enough to allow your puppy/dog to lie down fully stretched out, and also to be able to stand up and turn around easily.

The crate should be a welcoming exiting place for you dog to go. Encourage use of the crate by feeding each meal in it. Also ensure that a comfortable bed and toys are placed in the crate to make it fun for the dog to be in it.

The crate should ideally be placed in a location where the dog/puppy can still feel involved with the family. Isolating it in another room may cause frustration.

The crate should be slowly introduced using the following technique:

For the first few days, allow your dog to explore the crate on its own. Never force it to enter. Ensure positive associations are made with the crate, such as feeding.

Once your dog is confident and relaxed with the crate, you can begin to close the door, starting with very short periods of no more that one minute and then gradually increasing the time.

Never use the crate as a form of punishment. The puppy should always be able to associate it with positive experiences in order to ensure that he/she continues to be relaxed in it.

When introducing children to a dog for the first time(or vice versa), it is important that clear boundaries are set for both the dog and the child from the very beginning.

Some basic ground rules include the following:

Children and dogs should be supervised at all times, children can be just as unpredictable as dogs!

Children should be taught that a dog is not a toy. They should not pick the puppy up and try to cuddle it. Most puppies will feel very insecure if picked up which could result in it trying to bite.

The puppy/dog should not be disturbed while it is sleeping. Children should be taught that all dogs must be left alone if they are in their own bed or sleeping area.

Try and avoid situations which may over excite a puppy. Encourage children to interact calmly. Dogs and puppies need to be taught that children are not there to play bite and be boisterous with. The easiest way to teach children to stay calm if a dog becomes over exited, is to show them how to stand still, with their arms folded and looking upwards. They should also be taught to call an adult, who can then distract the puppy away from the child.

Rough and tumble, tuggy games and chasing should be avoided at all times. This will encourage puppies and dogs to bite and jump. Suitable games include Frisbee and fetch, which will promote a much more respectful relationship between dog and child.

Sickness, drooling, whining and barking are common in dogs when travelling in the car.

It is important to get your dog used to travelling from an early age. You should ensure that nice associations are made with being in the car though the provision of toys and treats.

To get your dog used to being in the car, simply start the training by placing it in the car and praising calm behaviour. Do not move the car, do not even start the engine, until your dog is relaxed and calm in an unmoving vehicle.

The next step is to turn on the engine – but still not move the car. This helps your dog to get used to the strange noises.

Once your dog is comfortable being in the car with the engine running, you can proceed to making very short, yet frequent trips. Ensure you always praise any calm behaviour.

If your dog barks or whines, it should be ignored. If you tell it off, you will either make it more nervous or you will reinforce unwanted behaviour.

A crate can be used to confine the dog, not only can this make the dog feel more secure, but you can be more confident that both dog and people in the car are safe. If your dog persistently barks, covering the crate with a blanket can be helpful.

Biting during play is normal puppy behaviour and should not be treated as aggression. However it is not acceptable for dogs to bite people. Puppies will play with each other by biting ears, tails and legs, this will be tolerated until the pressure becomes too hard in which case the ‘victim’ will yelp and stop playing.

When training your puppy not to bite, consistency is important, every time your puppy mouths you or your clothes:

Yelp loudly, or use a command such as ‘NO’

Immediately turn away and ignore the puppy for 10-20 seconds

The biting behaviour will not stop immediately, but should become less frequent over a period of weeks. It is important that rough and tumble and tug-of-war games are not played with puppies as this will only encourage the puppy to bite and mouth.

For puppies or dogs that have learned to bite in order to get attention, the training may be more difficult or take longer to be successful. If yelping or saying NO and ignoring your dog does not work, then calmly remove your dog from the room and place into a smaller room and isolate for several minutes. It is important that this room is not exciting for the dog, otherwise will see this as a reward. A downstairs cloakroom is often ideal. Ensure that there are no toys to play with and leave the dog alone. This is often the worst form of punishment for a puppy as they hate not receiving any attention and because of this, they should learn quickly that biting is unacceptable. Once the isolation period has ended, the dog can be allowed out of the room. It is important that the door is only opened when the dog is quiet and not trying to get your attention. Ignore the dog for several minutes before interacting with it again.