"Exactly Why Do Dogs Bark?"Loading
"Why do dogs bark?" "Why is my dog barking?" "My dog's barking all the time - how can I get him to stop?" "How do you stop dogs barking?" My dog's barking is driving me mad! What can I do? Why Do Dogs Bark? We're often asked questions like these, so we thought it might be useful for our visitors if we answered them here, in an article about excessive dog barking. A Dog will bark for many reasons; he'll bark if he's uncomfortable, bored, lonely, frightened, provoked - the list is almost endless! By listening carefully to your dogs barking, you may learn that he has several different types of bark, depending on what the 'problem' is, and you may be able to identify what's wrong simply by the sound of his bark. For example, some barks sound light and non-threatening, (come play with me) and others can sound throaty and quite threatening, as in the case of fear, or where an intruder may be present. Before you can begin to train your dog to stop barking, you will need to identify why he's barking. Why do dogs bark? A dog may bark excessively for the following reasons:
Question: Why Do Dogs Bark? Answer: Barking May Be Caused By Boredom It's cruel and unfair to leave a dog on its own all day but, unfortunately, some dogs are left alone for long periods at a time. Confined dogs may become bored, or lonely, causing them to bark excessively to relieve the boredom, or to release their pent-up energy. The postman delivering mail may trigger a bout of barking, and once your dog begins to bark he may continue barking simply for something to do - he may even shred the mail! Boredom or loneliness can also lead to destructive habits in dogs. Solution: If you can't be home for at least 4 hours during the day, or have a 'sitter' for a few hours each day, or, at the very least, have someone to walk your dog for an hour during the day, we strongly recommend you reconsider owning a dog until you have more time available. If you do need to leave your dog on his own for a little longer than usual, take him for a long walk before you leave, to tire him out. Alternatively, arrange a play or training session to ensure he gets plenty of physical and mental stimulation. That way he's more likely to relax quietly while you're out.
Don't forget to leave your dog plenty of fresh water, and a couple of his favourite toys, and make sure he has comfortable bedding within reach. Leaving the radio switched on to a light music or documentary channel may also help your dog to relax as the voices on the radio may make him feel he's not on his own. Please note that buying a puppy as a companion for a bored or lonely dog is not always a guarantee that he'll stop barking - you may end up with two dogs barking! Question: Why Do Dogs Bark? Answer: Your Dog May Be Undersocialized Being nervous, frightened, stressed, or anxious - especially if he's not been properly socialized - can cause your dog to bark unnecessarily. Solution: If your puppy, or dog, has a nervous disposition and is easily startled into barking, follow the advice given in our puppy socialization article. It will help your puppy (or dog) to feel more confident about his surroundings and may help to calm him down. Question: Why Do Dogs Bark? Answer: He May Be Barking To Get Attention! Dogs will often bark to get your attention. For example, does your dog lie down with his front paws out-stretched, his bottom in the air, his tail wagging? Does he bark playfully? If he does this, it's likely that he's asking you to play with him but, don't forget as pack leader, you control his playtime - not the other way around. See our article on 'Playing With Your Dog' for further information.
Solution: Dogs seek attention in many ways and barking is just one of them. If you know your dogs barking is attention seeking, you must ignore him, otherwise he will learn that he can easily command your attention.....all he has to do is bark! Follow the link to learn more about attention seeking in dogs. Question: Why Do Dogs Bark? Answer: He May Be Suffering From Separation Anxiety Separation anxiety in dogs is where your pet becomes anxious or distressed in your absence. If your dog suffers from separation anxiety he may bark excessively while you're out - he may also howl or whimper loudly. Excessive barking and howling can be a real problem for your neighbours, especially if they're at home all day. You may have such a problem and not even be aware of it - how could you, if you're not there to hear your dog barking? If you're in any doubt about whether or not your dog barks while you're out, the responsible thing to do would be to check with your neighbours before it really does become a problem.
Solution: Work on your dog's separation anxiety. To remedy your dog's separation anxiety or your puppy), practice leaving him for short periods at a time (you don't have to go out, you can simply leave the room). Each time you leave him, make sure he's comfortable and warm, and has bedding, water, and a toy to chew on. Leave the radio on if you like, but don't make a fuss when you leave him, or when you return. Read more about how to manage your dog's separation anxiety and how best to manage it. Question: Why Do Dogs Bark? Answer: He May Be Uncomfortable Your dog may bark to let you know, for example, that he's too hot, too cold, wet, hungry, or locked outside, unprotected, in poor weather conditions. Solution: If your dog's comfortable, he's less likely to have a reason for barking - make him comfortable! Question:Why Do Dogs Bark? Answer: Some Breeds Bark More Than Others It's a fact that excessive dog barking may be genetic; breeding can have much to do with how often your dog barks. Solution: If you don't want a dog that barks a lot, it's important that you find out which dogs bark most when choosing your breed, and avoid them. Question: Why Do Dogs Bark? Answer: Medical Condition There may be an underlying medical condition causing your dog to bark. Solution: Ensure he's free from any worm or flea infestations, and check for any obvious signs of harm or injury. If, after observing your dog's behaviour, you can't determine the cause of his barking, it may be that his barking has become habitual. Habitual barking can be triggered by almost anything and, once your dog begins to bark, he won't stop! If he's become a habitual barker, it's important that you teach your dog to stop barking as soon as possible. However, we recommend that you consult your vet first to eliminate any potential medical condition that may be causing your dog to bark.
More titles in the "Stop Barking" series: Let's face it - dogs bark! Dog barking is natural canine behaviour. One of the reasons they bark is to communicate, and a bark can mean anything from 'Let's play!' to 'Danger - beware!'... We are often asked the question, 'Why Do Dogs Bark?' so we thought it might be useful for our visitors if we answered them here in an article entitled,'Exactly Why Do Dogs Bark'? There are several methods that may be used to stop your dog barking. However, not all methods may be suitable for your dog; what works for one dog may not work for another. We've listed as many different ways to stop your dog barking here.... How To Stop Dog Barking With The "Be Quiet" Command One of the easiest ways to stop dogs barking is to train the dog to respond to the "Be Quiet" command. It sounds contradictory, but the aim is to train your dog to bark and then teach him to stop barking...! How To Stop Your Puppy Barking The mother would stop her puppy from barking by gently, but firmly, holding her puppy's muzzle in her mouth whilst giving off a low, throaty growl... How To Stop Dogs Barking At Visitors Does your dog growl and bark at visitors when they come to the door? If he does, that's good barking and can deter burglars! However, we don't want our dogs barking to continue after we've answered the door... Does your dog turn into a barking demon when he's let out into the garden? Does he bark, constantly, at the sound of people and other dogs passing by, outside your house or garden? Then this helpful article, on how to stop dogs barking in the garden, is for you... Is your Dog Barking For Attention? Is your dog driving you mad with his attention-seeking antics? Attention-seeking behaviour in dogs can manifest itself in many different ways - barking while you're on the telephone, jumping up at you when you're trying to get through the door, pawing you when you're trying to read...does any of this sound familiar? Follow the above link to find out how to stop dogs barking for attention... You can easily stop dogs barking by using a barking correction collar. It's a device which fits onto your dog's collar and, depending on which type of correction device you buy, can emit either a noise, a mild electric shock... A Water Pistol Is An Effective Barking Deterrent You can use an ordinary water gun or spray bottle to stop dogs barking, just fill it with water, lemon juice or a combination of both and follow these simple steps...
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