A dog barks at a child - reasons, what to do

If your dog barks at children, rest assured you are not alone. Many dogs bark at children, so it's important to address the issue rather than assuming that it's just a phase that your dog will get over with time, or that it's a fairly innocent behavior considering all dogs bark to some degree.

Many dogs bark at children, but their barking problem is never resolved or is only resolved late when the barking progresses to more alarming behavior such as growling and teeth snapping. This may be due to ignorance, lack of time, resources or money to solve the problem. If your dog barks at children, don't risk it and seek professional help.

The problem of poor socialization

Most puppy owners welcome their new puppies into their homes between 8 and 10 weeks of age. At this point, most puppies have received at least two rounds of booster shots and likely have two more to go.

Veterinarians often emphasize the importance of protecting puppies during these vulnerable periods by not exposing them to other dogs (or taking them to areas where other dogs frequent) until they are fully vaccinated. This often results in puppy owners keeping their puppies secluded in their homes.

Coincidentally, during this critical time, puppies go through a sensitive period during which they become more comfortable with all people, animals, and situations.

If you miss the opportunity to interact with your puppy during this window of opportunity (which closes at around 12-14 weeks of puppyhood), your puppy will be well past this optimal socialization period and fear/mistrust of people and other dogs may have already set in.

Lack of proper socialization during the puppy's critical socialization period can therefore cause fear-driven behavior towards children, which can lead to barking, growling and even biting.

Modern means and devices to prevent barking

Currently, there are many means to stop a dog from barking.

Anti-bark collar

There are two types of such collars - with electric shock, and with a special liquid. A shock collar has a special battery built into it that delivers a small current to the dog as soon as it starts barking. This collar is equipped with a safety lock that regulates the power of the shock.

A collar with liquid is more humane than the first. As soon as your four-legged dog begins to bark, special lemon water splashes out, which is absolutely harmless to the pet, but has an unpleasant odor. The dog falls silent in surprise. And every time, as soon as he starts his “conversation,” water constantly splashes on him. The dog analyzes and begins to understand the reason for such an unpleasant smell, and gradually stops barking.

Ultrasonic device

The next invention is a special device that emits ultrasound, which is unpleasant for the hearing of a four-legged animal. This is a small box that can be installed both at home and outdoors.

Muzzle

This is the simplest and at the same time the most effective method, preventing the dog from freely eating and drinking, but at the same time preventing it from barking in vain.

Medications

These are all kinds of tablets, herbal infusions and decoctions that soothe and balance the emotional state of the pet.

Ligament surgery

And finally, the last and most inhumane method is cutting the vocal cords. This procedure completely deprives the animal of its voice.

For example, I am not at all a supporter of all of the above methods for preventing barking. I believe that they are very dangerous, cruel and unacceptable. All these remedies are for those who do not love their animals and do not want to devote time to teaching them correct behavior. All these devices make the four-legged animal not trust its owner and be even more afraid. But I wrote about them because they exist.

For me, the best way to stop a dog from barking is constant training with your pet. Yes, you will have to “sweat a little.” But this will be direct communication that evokes emotions. Your four-legged dog will try to bring you joy, and you, in turn, will praise him for his success. What could be better?

Of course, the most effective training occurs in very young puppies, at the age of 2-3 months. It is much easier to train a puppy to stop barking than an adult dog. But difficult does not mean impossible.

Negative experience

While it's true that exposing puppies to children during their critical socialization period can help "prepare" them, it's important to understand that negative experiences can undo all your hard work.

Therefore, it is important to protect your dog from any negative encounters. Avoid children teasing your dog when he is behind a fence, and avoid putting him in a situation where your neighbor's noisy children are chasing him and your dog is forced to hide under the table to avoid them.

Also, keep in mind that even innocent behavior from children can be perceived as intimidating by dogs. For example, consider that many dogs may not like being hugged and kissed by children, or may not like children being so close to them.

Many dogs also don't like having children around when they are sleeping, eating, playing with a toy, or not feeling well.

Thus, barking is a distance-increasing behavior that tells the child something like, “I feel uncomfortable when you do this or come so close, please leave me alone.”

Therefore, you should be your dog's advocate, paying close attention to what children do with your dog, and ideally intervening before your dog has a chance to show clear signs that he is becoming uncomfortable, such as barking.

So it's important to learn to spot the subtlest signs of fear, stress, and dogs (e.g., lip licking, yawning) so you can intervene quickly.

Did you know? Bites are most often inflicted on children the dog knows, and boys are more likely to be bitten than girls, with the most common victims being children aged 5 to 9 years, and bites to the head and neck being more common. Dogs that spend a lot of time alone in the backyard or chained are more likely to bite.

Diagnosis of barking cough in a child without fever

To diagnose the cause of the cough, a full examination is carried out, the neck and lymph nodes are palpated, and the baby’s temperature is measured. First, parents need to contact an otorhinolaryngologist, and he, in turn, can refer the child for examination to a nutritionist, allergist, TB specialist, as well as a pulmonologist or infectious disease specialist.

To make a diagnosis, blood tests are taken from the patient, as well as stool and urine.

Instrumental diagnostics

It is possible to conduct an instrumental examination: x-ray of the sternum, respiratory function testing, tuberculin diagnostics, and in addition scintigraphy and CT.

A question of disappointment

As mentioned, dogs have barks and growls. Some dogs bark to increase distance because they are uncomfortable with certain people, dogs or children, others bark instead because they want to be closer but can't.

In this case, the dog's barking at children may be caused by a disorder. A dog may want to join a child who is running or may be playing with a ball, but if he cannot because he is indoors, on a leash, or behind a barrier, he may bark to express his frustration.

In general, these frustrated dogs are friendly and happy to interact with children when they are off-leash and free to interact. These dogs associate being with children with fun and are eager to join them.

However, not all dogs are created equal, so they aren't always meant to be fun. Some dogs may bark because they are overly excited or perhaps want to steal a child's ball.

In some herding breeds, watching children running around can trigger their herding instincts, causing them to bark if they are unable to chase them and control their movements. Once off the leash, these dogs may chase and even try to hit children.

Is it possible to remove a dog's vocal cords?

*Removing a dog's vocal cords is a very controversial topic and many consider it inhumane. It does not address the root cause of barking.

This is a surgical procedure that removes folds of tissue on either side of the dog's larynx or voice box, leaving the dog with a raspy bark instead of a full bark.

Complications are common and can be life-threatening, including difficulty breathing, increased choking, and ongoing pain. Dogs are also known to regain their voice after surgery. The procedure does not stop the barking, but only makes it sound different.

Follow the context

Barking is a dog's way of expressing itself. Indeed, dogs have many different types of barks. So dogs can bark for many reasons, and it is often helpful to look at the context in which the barking occurs to better understand them.

Does your dog bark at children if they approach her while she is eating or playing with a toy? In this case, your dog may be guarding resources and telling your child to move away. Caution should be exercised with these dogs as their barking may be a warning of an impending bite.

Does your dog bark at children when they pass by your house or yard? In this case, there may be an element of territoriality/fear and your dog may bark to drive them away. However, it could also be a sign of frustration with the barrier preventing him from meeting them.

Does your dog bark at your children when they are running and playing? In this case, your dog may be uncomfortable with them playing so noisily, or his herding instincts may kick in. Be careful.

Some dogs may bark at children, other people, or dogs when they get close to a person the dog considers valuable. This form of defensive behavior can pose a danger to those approaching.

Your dog has never barked at children, but now he barks out of the blue? In this case, you may have to think about changes in your life. Perhaps the COVID19 isolation played a role on his socialization skills, or perhaps a recent move or some life changes made him more reactive. He may also be feeling unwell, which can reduce the dog's tolerance to certain things.

Signs of aggression and how to stop it

Inexperienced owners find it difficult to recognize the warning signs that indicate a dog's displeasure that precedes a bite.

What indicates aggression:

tense neck;
eyes slanted towards the object;
collapsed ears;
twitching lips exposing teeth.

Having noticed that the dog is warning about a possible attack, you need to act. Your task is to let her understand that the child is always right. Regardless of what the child does with the pet, the latter should not touch it. Therefore, strictly tell the dog “No”, with a force corresponding to its size, kick it in the hip, press it to the ground and throw it out of the room. Experts recommend teaching the dog and the child separately. When the child is left in the room, explain to him that he should not bother the animal.

What to do

As you can see, dogs can bark at children for various reasons. The main reason is not always as clear as we would like. Since there are several possible causes at play, and barking can be a warning of the possibility of a future bite, it is best to consult a dog behaviorist for direct guidance. In the meantime, here are some general tips for dogs that bark at children.

Make a list of circumstances that have caused your dog to bark at children in the past. Think through each event carefully and highlight the circumstances that could lead to the barking. Did the child run and play? Was your dog in the car? Was there barking when the child got too close to her?
Prevent rehearsal of problem behavior through guidance. Management therefore involves preventing unwanted behavior from your dog. Thus, if you notice a tendency for your dog to bark, do not expose your dog to the same situation in the future. For example, if your dog barks at children playing in front of your house, keep windows and doors away so your dog doesn't feel obligated to bark. Out of sight, out of mind.
Consult a dog behavior specialist for unlimited behavior modification for safety and proper execution. Describe the triggers you notice. The professional will suggest a plan based on the circumstances that are causing your dog to bark. For example, if your dog barks at the sight of children on a walk due to fear or lack of socialization, a “look at this” exercise applied to children in context may be helpful. The goal is to create positive associations in children.
It also helps to eventually teach some type of "response substitution" where you ask the dog to perform an alternative behavior, such as sitting and looking at you when a child approaches, which triggers a fear response followed by a treat. This encourages your dog to look to you for instructions rather than react, and also creates a positive association.
Use a basket muzzle if you are afraid that the dog may harm children. Children can jump out of nowhere and sometimes come up behind your dog and pet it, this can be a recipe for a bite. A muzzle can cover you.
Finally, never leave children alone with a dog, even for a moment. Make sure you teach children to be respectful of your dog's space, and make sure your dog has a safe place to be alone. When you cannot actively supervise, keep the dog in an area where there is a physical barrier, such as a gate, between the dog and children (make sure children do not stick their hands or fingers through!)

Article Author: Adrienne Farricelli Adrienne is a certified dog trainer and behavior consultant, former veterinarian assistant, and author of Brain Training for Dogs.

Healthy foods

Egg mixture is an ancient and effective way to treat barking cough. It is prepared as follows:

Bring 220 ml milk to a boil.
Beat the yolk.
Add 15 g of butter and liquid honey to the milk.
Stir, add 1 g of soda, remove the mixture from the heat.
Add the yolk.

Take 15 ml of medication 5 times a day.

Onion decoction is the safest way to treat cough, which is suitable for allergy sufferers. Add 180 g of sugar to 1 liter of boiling water and add 2 large unpeeled onions. Simmer the mixture over low heat for 1 hour, remove the onions. Take the medicine 15 ml 4 times a day.

For better coughing, you can prepare onion syrup. Chop a small onion, squeeze out the juice, add 25 g of sugar. Infuse the mixture for a day in a dark place.

The combination of onion and garlic helps with severe and frequent coughing attacks. Pour 500 ml of milk into 1 large head of garlic and 2 onions, cook the mixture over low heat for a quarter of an hour. Grind the vegetables into puree directly in milk. Add 20 ml of honey to the warm medicine. Drink 5 ml 4 times a day.

In the absence of allergies, cough in children can be treated with honey. Mix 100 g of homemade butter and liquid honey, add 5 g of vanillin. Take the medicine 5 g 3 times a day.

Gogol-mogol is a delicious medicine from a fairy tale. Grind the yolk with 30 g of sugar or honey, add 10 g of butter. Children over 5 years old can add ginger and cinnamon to the mixture. Take 10 ml of medication 4 times a day 30 minutes before meals.

A tasty medicine can be prepared from burnt sugar. Melt 50 g of sugar in a small frying pan - it should turn brown. Cool the mixture slightly, add 10 ml of honey and 5 ml of lemon juice. Divide the mixture into molds and let them harden. Give to the child after the end of the coughing attack.

For better sputum removal, you can prepare an alkaline solution. Mix warm milk and Borjomi mineral water in equal parts, add 5 g of butter and honey, and a pinch of soda. Drink the solution warm, 3 sips every 15 minutes.

Barking cough in a child - treatment

Cough is very common in children, as it is a symptom and consequence of many diseases, so there are several types of it. The most unpleasant and dangerous is a dry barking cough; its treatment depends on the disease of which it is a symptom.

In this article we will look at how to treat a barking cough in a child and how to alleviate the condition during attacks.

Pharmacological treatment for barking cough in a child

Since the occurrence of such a cough is associated with various diseases, there is no single drug treatment for dry barking cough in children, so it is better not to self-medicate and immediately consult a doctor. After examining and determining the disease, he will prescribe what medications your baby needs to drink for a barking cough.

Depending on the disease, there are general treatment recommendations:

Pharyngitis - drugs that reduce the sensitivity of the larynx to irritants and have antibacterial properties (Vokara, Decathylene, sprays such as Ingalipt), and at night - antitussive drugs (Mukaltin, Sinekod, Codelac Fito) and necessarily inhalations with herbs or medications.
Tracheitis and bronchitis - the first three days - mucolytic drugs, for example: lazolvan, ambrobene, bromhexine, ACC, ambroxol, broncholitin. Then, after 2-3 days, expectorants - Gedelix, Doctor MOM, Mucaltin, licorice root or marshmallow. After the start of expectoration of sputum, taking any medications is not recommended.
Allergies - antihistamines tolerated by the child, dosage in accordance with his age (suprastin, clemastine, claritin, zyrtec, cetrin, kestine (ebastine).
Whooping cough is a complex of antibiotics (for example, erythromycin) with antibacterial and antitussive drugs, and sometimes antihistamines are added.

Treatment of barking cough with folk remedies

There are many folk recipes for treating dry barking cough in children:

milk with a little baking soda;
black radish juice with honey or sugar;
syrup made from licorice root;
tinctures of breast mixtures consisting of thyme, coltsfoot, plantain and other herbs;
tea or drink made from ginger root - ginger juice is mixed with lemon (orange) juice and honey, poured with boiling water and the healing tea will be ready in 20 minutes;
decoctions of oats or rose hips;
take baths with sea salt;
tea with jam from fir cones, with viburnum or cranberry juice;
warming rubbing (badger or goat fat, camphor oil);
warming flatbreads (honey, potato, mustard).

It is better to use all these traditional methods of treatment simultaneously with taking medications prescribed by a doctor, then the cough will go away much faster.

How to relieve a child’s condition with a barking cough?

Before prescribing treatment for a barking cough in a child and during it, it is recommended to carry out the following procedures:

fill a basin or even a bathtub with hot water and let the steam breathe;
regularly ventilate the room;
if you have a humidifier, then use it to increase the level of air humidity in the room;
take baths with warm water for your feet and hands;
drink warm drinks in large quantities;
do steam inhalations by adding soda, herbs (sage, chamomile) and sunflower oil to boiling water.

A very good way to both treat and alleviate a child’s condition with a dry barking cough is inhalation using a nebulizer. For them, you can simply take mineral water (preferably Borjomi) or saline solution.

It is very important not to delay the treatment of a dry barking cough, because this can lead to the development of such a dangerous disease as croup in the child.