Ask Dr. Paola- Help! My Dog Keeps Barking at the TV! (March 30, 2026)

Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” collection, the place each Monday we convey professional recommendation straight from Dr. Paola Cuevas (MVZ) to assist our readers higher perceive their canine’s well being and well-being.

Whether or not you’re a brand new pet dad or mum or a seasoned canine lover, Dr. Paola is right here to supply solutions to your most urgent questions. From vitamin suggestions and preventive care to troubleshooting widespread behavioral points, Dr. Paola is able to provide insights that can preserve your furry pal completely satisfied and wholesome. Keep tuned for professional steerage on a variety of matters that matter most to you and your canine, so you may make knowledgeable selections and supply the very best care in your canine companion. ‎Have‎ a ‎question? Send it in here!

Assist! My Canine Retains Barking on the TV!

“Marci is a 3 yr outdated goldendoodle. She is 70% poodle and 30% golden retriever. She infrequently barks. She’s going to solely bark when anyone is on the door and when a canine comes on TV. Is there something I can do about barking at television? She will get alongside properly with different canines. Thanks, “ – Luis

Hello Luis,

Canines don’t absolutely perceive that the pictures on a display screen should not actual animals. Marci’s response to dogs on television is sort of widespread and often displays a standard alert response slightly than a conduct drawback. Canines usually acknowledge the motion, posture, and vocalizations of different canines on a display screen, even when they can’t absolutely interpret the context. Consider it like listening to a distant canine bark by a window. The sound and movement set off an instinctive “somebody is right here” response. The truth that she not often barks in day by day life and socializes properly with different canines suggests she has a secure temperament, which is a really optimistic signal.

The best strategy is mild conduct modification utilizing positive reinforcement. When a canine seems on tv and Marci notices it however stays quiet, calmly reward her with a small deal with or reward. Over time, she begins to affiliate the presence of dogs on the screen with staying relaxed slightly than reacting. If she begins to bark, keep away from scolding, as a result of consideration can unintentionally reinforce the conduct. As an alternative, calmly redirect her to a different exercise, similar to going to a mat, enjoying with a toy, or practicing a simple cue like “sit.” Progressively, the tv turns into background noise slightly than a set off.

One other useful technique is managed publicity. Hold the amount decrease at first and permit her to look at whereas she is relaxed beside you. Pairing the sight of canines on the display screen with calm moments, treats, or a meals puzzle can shift her emotional response. Over time, this works very like serving to an individual turn into snug with a innocent sound they initially discovered startling. Since Marci is already well-balanced and quiet general, these small changes often cut back tv barking fairly successfully. Good luck!

Dr. Paola

In order for you actual time solutions to your questions, you’ll be able to speak to one in all our veterinarians on-line. Click on on the picture or button under:

Assist! My Canine Doesn’t Wish to Eat Her Meals!

“I’ve a 16 month outdated Yorkie, Bailey, who likes to chew which is ok with me as her enamel are very clear. Nonetheless, after simply 2 quick periods with a collagen stick she didn’t wish to eat her meals and as an alternative was looking out in all places the place I had put the collagen stick up out of sight. Ideas on collagen sticks versus bully sticks and dependancy? Thanks! Love this website!“ – Diene

Thanks for loving Dogster, Diene!

Chewing is a really pure conduct for a younger canine like Bailey, particularly at 16 months of age, when many canines nonetheless have a powerful intuition to gnaw and discover with their mouths. Chewing works nearly like a chilled exercise for the canine mind. It releases soothing neurochemicals and satisfies an intuition that wild canids use when consuming prey. Due to this, canines usually turn into very motivated to proceed chewing gadgets which are flavorful and long-lasting. When Bailey searched the home for the collagen stick, she was almost definitely following the scent and remembering the rewarding expertise she had earlier. This enthusiasm can look intense, however it isn’t thought-about an dependancy. Canines don’t develop food addiction within the medical sense, though extremely palatable chews can briefly turn into very thrilling to them.

Collagen sticks and bully sticks are each animal-derived chews and customarily thought-about safer alternate options to conventional rawhide merchandise. Collagen sticks come from the dermal layer of beef pores and skin and are wealthy in structural proteins like collagen and elastin. As a canine chews, the fabric slowly softens and breaks down. Bully sticks are made from dried bull pizzle, which is the penile muscle tissue of cattle, and they’re naturally excessive in protein. This wealthy protein content material and pure aroma make them very interesting to many canines. One benefit of each choices is that they’re sometimes processed with out preservatives or chemical therapies, in contrast to many rawhide chews that will bear heavy processing and bleaching. This less complicated processing tends to make collagen and bully sticks simpler for the digestive system to deal with when they’re given in acceptable parts. As a result of bully sticks are dense and really palatable, it’s best to supply them sparsely and all the time underneath supervision. Because the chew turns into smaller, there’s a potential choking danger if a canine makes an attempt to swallow the ultimate piece, so eradicating the final portion is a wise precaution.

The response you observed with Bailey not wanting her meal probably displays anticipation slightly than an issue with the chew itself. When a canine experiences one thing very tasty, the mind can briefly prioritize that reward over routine meals, very like a baby who all of the sudden loses curiosity in dinner after discovering dessert. A useful technique is to supply chews after Bailey finishes her common meal so her regular vitamin stays the precedence. Limiting chew periods to a brief, supervised interval additionally helps preserve the merchandise particular with out permitting it to overshadow her day by day eating regimen. When used this manner, pure chews like collagen or bully sticks can help dental health by mechanically decreasing plaque whereas additionally offering wholesome psychological enrichment for an energetic younger canine. So simply be smart about how they’re provided and supervised. I hope this helps.

Dr. Paola

Assist! I Want the Most Reasonably priced Flea Treatment!

“Expensive Dr. Paola,

I’m making an attempt to determine on the very best flea and warmth guard for my canine Jozee. Additionally probably the most
cheap. I considered shopping for a seresto collar and coronary heart guard. I’ve for a while purchased Semparica plus, however it appears it simply retains going up in worth. “ – Linda

Hello Linda,You’re asking a really sensible query, as a result of parasite prevention can turn into costly over time, and plenty of pet dad and mom are looking for a steadiness between safety and price. Merchandise like Simparica Trio for Canines are common as a result of they mix a number of protections in a single month-to-month chew. They shield in opposition to fleas, ticks, heartworm illness, and a few intestinal parasites on the identical time. That broad protection is handy and really efficient, which is why veterinarians usually advocate it. Research and veterinary critiques notice that these oral preventives can start killing fleas inside hours and supply safety for a full month.

If price is turning into a priority, the mix you talked about is usually a cheap various. The Seresto Flea and Tick Collar for Canines offers flea and tick safety that may last as long as about eight months, slowly releasing energetic elements throughout the pores and skin and coat. Once you divide the worth throughout these months, many households discover it cheaper than month-to-month flea and tick tablets. You’d nonetheless want a separate heartworm preventive similar to Heartgard Plus Chewables for Canines, which protects in opposition to heartworm and sure intestinal worms. This two-product strategy usually finally ends up costing much less monthly than an all-in-one chew.

From a medical perspective, crucial level is that Jozee stays protected in opposition to heartworm illness year-round. Heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes, and prevention is much safer and more cost effective than therapy. The Seresto plus Heartgard mixture is usually a wise and economical plan for a lot of canines, supplied the collar suits correctly, and your canine doesn’t chew or harm it. Consider parasite prevention like an insurance coverage coverage in your canine’s well being. The aim is just not essentially the most recent product, however constant safety you could comfortably preserve month after month.

Finest needs,

Dr. Paola

This text is part of our weekly Ask Dr. Paola collection

Trending Merchandise