The last thing you want during a phone call is to have the conversation drowned out by your dog barking at you, especially if it’s a work call. It’s equally frustrating if your dog whines or paws at you. But dogs don’t understand you’re talking to somebody else at the end of the line. They simply want you to pay attention to them instead of that handheld device.
So is there anything you can do to ensure peaceful phone chats? Absolutely! With some prevention and training, your dog can learn to chill while you’re on the phone.
Why Dogs Bark When You’re on the Phone
Dogs are clever creatures. But when you hold a phone to your ear or stare at the screen, your dog doesn’t know you’re engaging with another person. They only know that you aren’t engaging with them, and for most dogs, that’s disappointing. They want to be the center of your world. On top of that, although dogs may understand the meaning of words, your dog hears you speaking, but none of the words are directed at them. That’s frustrating. So dogs bark, whine, and paw to bring your attention back to where they think it belongs: centered on them.
To make matters worse, many people inadvertently teach their dog to disrupt their phone calls. In a desperate effort to get some peace and quiet, owners may give their dog any treat they can think of to stop the barking, whining, and pawing. That might mean tossing a toy, playing fetch, or patting the dog. Because dogs repeat behaviors that get them what they want, this action from the owner simply reinforces the unwanted behavior. Even negative responses are reinforcing to some dogs. Hearing you yell, “Be quiet!” is better than getting no attention at all.
Never Reinforce Your Dog’s Barking, Whining, and Pawing
Never reward your dog for behavior you don’t want to see repeated. Whether they’re pawing at you or barking, your dog shouldn’t get what they want unless they behave appropriately. So if your dog does whine or act up when the phone rings, resist the urge to give in just to get some quiet. You’ll only strengthen the unwanted behavior in the future.
Instead, you can move to another room or place your dog outside while you complete your call. However, that isn’t a long-term solution, and it isn’t fair to your dog. It’s your responsibility to teach your dog that waiting patiently while you chat is to their advantage. Rather than bothering you, if they relax or play on their own, good things will come their way.
Teach Your Dog an Alternative Behavior
Teach your dog that performing a behavior other than pawing, barking, or whining while you’re on the phone will result in rewards. Choose something solitary that won’t disturb you like playing with a puzzle toy, searching for food in a snuffle mat, or resting in their dog bed. Consider behaviors that are incompatible with the behavior you’re trying to stop. For example, if your dog is in their crate, they can’t reach your leg to paw at you. Or if your dog is chewing a chew toy, they can’t bark at the same time.
In the beginning, reward your dog periodically during your call. Simply offer some quiet praise and drop a treat at their feet. It might be every few seconds in the beginning, but you can gradually build the time between rewards until you’re only rewarding your dog at the end of your call. By rewarding these incompatible behaviors, you’re not only preventing the problem behavior but teaching your dog to voluntarily perform the new actions for a chance to earn rewards.
Be Proactive to Prevent Barking
It’s also helpful to think proactively about your phone calls. If you know you have an important work call, walk your dog about an hour before, so they’re tired and ready to rest while you talk. Exercise and play sessions are great ways to help your dog relax. Feed your dog before the call if it’s near their mealtime and make sure they have had a potty break before you start. These tips also work well for preventing barking during video meetings.
Of course, you don’t always know when your phone will ring. That means you need to be prepared at all times with ways to keep your dog occupied. That might mean keeping a store of bully sticks in your office or a stash of frozen food-stuffed chew toys in your freezer. If you’re ready with activities your dog can do alone, you can help prevent interruptions while you talk.
It’s also helpful to train your dog to go to their place on cue. That could be a mat, dog bed, or crate—anywhere your dog can chill out and wait for your call to be over. A quiet cue is another valuable tool to teach your dog. If your dog understands how to stop barking when asked, you can nip disruptions in the bud.
How to Stop Your Dog’s Barking, Whining, or Pawing Habit
If your dog’s bad phone habits are already well established, you will need to teach them a new way of reacting to the phone. You want them to learn that staying quiet pays off. Start small and slowly build up to real-life phone calls. The following steps will help teach your dog a new way of responding to the phone:
- Lift your phone to your face then put it down again and immediately reward your dog if they stayed calm and quiet.
- Lift your phone then say “Hello” before putting the phone down and immediately rewarding your dog for staying calm and quiet.
- Repeat the step above but say two or three words before putting down the phone.
- Continue to add more time and more words before putting down the phone and rewarding your dog. If your dog begins to act up, take a few steps backwards and build time more slowly.
Do two or three short training sessions a day and try to work with your dog when they are already calm and quiet. As you increase the length of time you talk and focus on the phone instead of your dog, they will learn to wait patiently for the treat they know is coming afterwards. Soon, you’ll be able to make phone calls without interruption from your dog.
The post Why Do Dogs Bark When You’re on the Phone and What To Do About It appeared first on American Kennel Club.