Most people, who have dogs at home, consider them to be a part of their family. Dogs communicate with their owners by barking or by making gestures that owners can understand. When your dog barks don't assume that it is a problem. Your dog may bark to warn you of some imminent danger or to warn off intruders. However, loud and persistent barking can annoy and upset people who are exposed to this noise. Most people are not aware of the health impact of dog barking.
Health Impact of exposure to dog barking noise:
There are certain organs of the body that cannot be consciously controlled by human beings. These organs together with the cells that control and connect them are called the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS).
When you hear a dog barking loudly, it gives a little jump and you start feeling tense. This reaction is because the ANS is making changes in the inner working of the body. When the barking does not stop, the neurons continue to react, and your body becomes increasingly tense.
When dogs bark they create sound waves. These sound waves are physical entities that have positive or negative physical effect on the body. Even though we cannot see these sound waves, they are real entities that carry the sound of barking dogs to our ears. The sensory hair cells that are present in the ears carry the sound of barking dogs to our brains, which stimulates the automatic nervous system and makes you feel tense.
Hormones are chemical compounds that are made by our body. There are several glands in the body that release hormones in the blood stream. Hormones are responsible for regulating are desires, metabolism and senses. When you are in close proximity to barking dogs, there is a reaction in the endocrine system which can make you feel anxious. This reaction in the endocrine system is because it is regulated by primitive part of the brain that responds to messages of desperation and primitive threats that are inherent in the voice of barking dogs.
To understand the health impact of dog barking on the endocrine system and ANS, we must take into account the time required by the body, to return to normal state after the dog releases sudden and loud burst of barking. If the dog barks only once, your body may return to the normal state in a few seconds. However, when the barking continues for a prolonged period, the body gets fired-up quickly, and it takes longer to return to normal. If this happens frequently, your body will be tense forever, and you will never be able to relax in your home.
This prolonged dog barking can cause stress and affect the nervous system. The health impact of dog barking over extended periods of time can start with hypertension. From there the stress caused by dog barking can affect the nervous system in a way than keeps the body in a constant state of alert. This means the body does not get enough rest, resulting in a number of stress related health problems affecting heart rate, blood pressure and more.
How to stop your dog from Barking:
There are several steps that you can take to stop excessive and loud barking of your pet. You can start my finding out the reason of barking. Some dogs bark because they are frustrated and alone. If you buy them new toys and spend time with them, they will stop feeling frustrated and angry. You can also stop your pet from barking by changing their surroundings. You can build them a new home or take them for a walk. If your dog is barking to get your attention, you can do things that will stop them from barking. For example, you can give them food if you find that your dog is barking to get your attention.
