Expert: Jill Connor, Ph.D. - 10/4/2008

Question
Hello,  I have a  4 beagle that  we have had since a puppy and a 4 year old Australian Cattle Dog that we rescued 2.5 years ago.  We have worked hard with our ACD on problems with being skittish, scared of men, climbing our backyard fence, heel biting, and being overly aggressive with the  beagle. He is now the amazing dog we thought he would be. I have two kids, 1 and 3, and am home a lot. We walk the dogs everyday around the neighborhood or down on the boardwalk at the beach. They are allowed in the house when we are home,  but not when we are gone because they get into food or diapers or something. I just can't dog proof well-enough, so they stay in our backyard, fenced with wire leaners to keep the ACD in. My problem is whenever  I leave without the dogs, I am greeted by a sharp, piercing bark by the ACD and howling, barking from  the beagle. As you can imagine, emptying the car of two kids and our stuff can take some time and the dogs bark at me the whole time. They are quiet and happy the rest of the time, but I really wish I could stop this barking because I don't want to bother the neighbors. I really feel like they get enough attention and I should be able to go to the grocery store! Any suggestions? Also, we are looking to move and I was wondering if we got a backyard where they could not see the driveway, would they  bark less? Thank you.

Answer
Your dogs are vocalizing to greet you.  This is normal canine behavior.  Even if the dogs cannot see the driveway, they will be able to hear your car coming (dogs learn to recognize the unique sound of the family automobile.)  How you are reacting to this greeting is most likely prolonging it.  Paying attention to a howling or barking dog will set that behavior and cause it to continue.  If the dogs are already outside when you pull up, I assume they continue this barking/howling while you empty the car?  Yelling at them is only joining in, so far as they're concerned.  You might consider letting them indoors immediately without actually making eye contact, touching them, or giving them overt attention.  Delay your greeting them until you are fully indoors with children and other things you unload from the car.  No matter how long this takes for each trip, the dogs will learn that they are greeted when everyone is indoors.  If you examine whatever response you presently offer, you may see a connection between that and their behavior.  But even if you are inadvertently rewarding this behavior, it's natural for dogs to be excited with the owner returns home.