Dog is upset at new item in yard

July 1, 2011 2:28 PM

We just had a large tree cut down in our yard. We decided to leave a large portion of the trunk lying horizontally on the ground in an area where we generally throw leaves and prunings. One of our dogs is now barking nonstop at this large trunk. He's obviously scared and upset. Any suggestions on how to calm him down?
posted by SallyHitMeOntheHead to Pets & Animals (11 answers total)

One thing we do with our cats is we put a can of tuna on the trunk and then tell the kitty there is tuna on there. They kind of do the sideways-walk with their back legs until they're sure it's tuna and not JUST a trunk. I think with animals the gradual accustomization is the key here.
posted by circular at 2:44 PM on July 1, 2011

Could there be a skunk or something living under it now?
posted by bottlebrushtree at 2:45 PM on July 1, 2011 [2 favorites]

How long has he been barking? Is it in the minutes-to-hours range, or, like, days? Because if it's the former, I suspect that when the trunk continues to not eat him, he will eventually chill out about it. (Or eventually the critter underneath it will come out and your dog will get to chase it - either way.)
posted by restless_nomad at 2:47 PM on July 1, 2011

Response by poster: Thanks for your answers!
The tree was just cut down today. He was barking for about an hour nonstop.
Maybe I will smear some peanut butter on it.
posted by SallyHitMeOntheHead at 2:49 PM on July 1, 2011

Have you introduced the dog to the trunk? Put the dog on a leash and go sit on it. You don't have to be excited or anything, just give the dog treats sitting there. Wash, rinse, repeat as needed.
posted by DarlingBri at 2:56 PM on July 1, 2011 [7 favorites]

I would try the Bri's idea. I walk a lot of dogs and they are sometimes freaked out by new things in their paths or area, or how all the garbage cans suddenly appear at the curb at once. Sometimes when they realize it isn't going to move anymore (probably), they calm down.
posted by katinka-katinka at 3:17 PM on July 1, 2011

One thing I have learned about dog barking so far: do not yell at the dog, as they interpret that as you barking along. Whatever you do say, do it in a calm quiet voice. Our command is "quiet," said in a very measured tone. Works much better.
posted by Gilbert at 3:17 PM on July 1, 2011

I would bed that there is something in the trunk that is driving him nuts. Check for critters or insects - I knew a dog that barked at a tree for days non-stop and it ended up that there was a hive of bees there.
posted by tryniti at 4:09 PM on July 1, 2011 [1 favorite]

One of my dogs did something similar to this recently. I nailed a little birdhouse to the fence, and she was very freaked out by it and barking furiously. I walked over to the house, touched it, told her it was ok... after a minute or so of telling her this thing on the fence was our friend, she calmed down.

DarlingBri's wording fits very well -- "introduce" your dog to the stump like you would a new person.

Dogs are weird.
posted by waitangi at 6:44 PM on July 1, 2011

Try conquering the tree. While your dog is watching, growl and stand (or sit) on it.

That worked with my dog and a cousin's big garden statue.

Dogs are indeed weird.
posted by dws at 10:12 PM on July 1, 2011 [4 favorites]

My dog was afraid of the bathtub until I put treats all over it.
posted by Foam Pants at 1:28 AM on July 3, 2011