Windows provide a barrier to the outside world, and this barrier can turn calm, observant dogs into pent-up, frustrated barkers. Although the outside world is stimulating, dogs can feel frustrated or anxious when they discover that they aren’t able to get outside and play. Watching other dogs go for walks or seeing another animal outside can be extremely frustrating for dogs that are stuck behind the glass window. This feeling is referred to as barrier frustration. Though it may start from something as innocent as looking through the window, the frustration of not being able to play with something outside could build up until your dog constantly feels angry and becomes aggressive.
Once barrier frustration has become ingrained in your dog’s character, training it out of them could prove difficult. Depending on how the behavior has caused barrier frustration, you may spend weeks or months teaching your dog not to be frustrated at external stimuli. Reward your dog for remaining calm and not barking at passing strangers. If you notice that your dog is staring out the window in a tense and unrelaxed manner, try calming him down and then rewarding him for finding another activity to engage in. Over time, you will begin to undo the long-term effects of barrier frustration and show your dog that there is no need to be frustrated.
Barrier frustration is not limited to dogs who sit by windows. Another common manifestation of this phenomenon is “chain rage,” which happens to dogs who are chained to a leash outside all day. You may even see this behavior in dogs who are outside and surrounded by a chain-link fence. They can see you, but they are unable to interact with you. In all of these cases, the desire to play and interact with objects out of their reach leads to frustration, and eventually, rage. This behavior can complicate other behavioral issues, as well. Dogs who suffer from barrier frustration tend to experience an overwhelming amount of stress and may start to act out in other ways in order to dispel their stress.
Dogs that sit in the window do not originally do so out of aggression, nor is it likely that they do it as a display of dominance, as some people believe. There are several theories about why dogs sit in the window, and most of them have to do with the simple fact that looking out the window is stimulating. Though dogs do not rely on their sight as their primary sense, they can still see fairly clearly at distances of up to 20 feet. They can see other animals, pedestrians, cars, and anything going on right outside the window. All of these different happenings are exciting for your dog, and oftentimes, other behaviors arise as a result of this basic desire to interact with external stimuli.
You and your dog might both enjoy staring out the window. Just remember that your dog might be getting a little too into it, at times. Try not to give your dog the window seat when he will be left alone, unsupervised for long stretches of time. You are the most interesting and exciting part of their day, so make sure that you set them up for a healthy and engaging day even when you aren’t able to be there.
Ruth created to look at the whole dog for a successful and custom training program. Ruth has been in the dog professional career for eight-plus years and has experience with small and large breeds, behavioral, reactivity, and aggression cases. Ruth loves dogs and is a dog mom to three good doggos. Oakley is a 6yr old Akita and Cattle Dog Mix that she adopted. Zena is a Husky/ Pitt mix that Ruth took in as an unruly puppy. Last but not least is Bean, the five-pound chihuahua that they rescued as well. We love empowering owners and their dogs to enjoy a stress-free life together.
Chad Culp: Certified Dog Trainer
The dog was constantly looking out the window. The owner was surprised when she found out the reason
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Let’s face it: we are bombarded with s of dogs enjoying the wind in their fur as they ride down the highway with their head out the window. We all see the joy that dogs get in sticking their head out the window of a moving car so it’s a natural question as to whether it’s a good idea or not.
The short answer: it is NOT good to allow your dog to put his head out the window of your car.
For all the pleasure he may get out of it, you’re endangering his life by allowing him to put his head out the window of the moving car.
But there are safe alternatives to let your dog enjoy the sensation of fresh air and scents while keeping him safe as you travel together on day trips or errands.