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Constant Barking Drives Dogs Nuts, Too

By Sara Goudarzi, LiveScience Staff Writer
posted: 25 July 2006

Continuous snarling of multiple dogs in an animal shelter can create
a disastrous symphonic recipe for the health of the animals, reports
a new study.

In many animal shelters, dogs are often placed in gated kennels
along the perimeter of a large room. When they see the other
animals, they become restless.

"Dogs are a very social species," said Crista Coppola, an adjunct
instructor in the department of veterinary medicine at the University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. "They want to be around other
dogs. When they see other dogs, but can't get to them, you hear
a lot of frustration barking back and forth."

Earsplitting sound

The noise levels of many shelters often exceed those of a jackhammer—
which is around 110 decibels—and can place unnecessary stress on
the animals, leading to negative physiological responses, the
researchers say.

"Noise levels regularly exceeded the measuring capacity of our
noise dosimeter, which was 118.9 decibels," Coppola said. "The
Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends
hearing protection be worn at noise levels above 90 decibels."

Unfortunately, the dogs don't have that option. But there may be
improved ways to plan shelter layout.

Peaceful blueprint

A better design places dogs in individual rooms surrounding a
common play area, Coppola said. Each room has two doors. One
leads into the play area and the other—in the opposite wall—is used
by shelter staff to access the room.

"Two or more dogs could be admitted to the play area at a time,"
Coppola said. "This is a wonderful way to exercise the dogs and let
them receive the social interaction they want and need."

Another solution could be for the dogs to live together in the same
area. Dogs housed in social groups vocalize less, sleep more and
show fewer abnormal behaviors. Canine cohabitation has worked
well in Germany and Japan, but has been slow to catch on in the
United States, Coppola explained.

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