There is nothing more annoying or frustrating than a constantly barking dog. There is just no need for it. It’s not good for the dog, and it’s not good for neighborly relations.
Therefore in this post, I will ambitiously try to cover everything you need to know about dogs and barking.
I will attempt to answer the following most commonly asked questions about barking dogs:
- How do I get my dog to stop barking at everything?
- My dog barks at everything that passes by, why?
- How to stop territorial barking
- How to stop my dog from barking at strangers
- What triggers dog barking?
- Why is my dog barking at nothing all of a sudden
- Can you do anything about a dog barking?
- How do you understand what your dog is barking at?
In this video, you will learn five emotional control exercises to calm your dog down and control his/her barking.
Unfortunately for our beloved canines, they lack the power of speech. So, if they feel something and want to convey something to us, they can’t put it into words. All we can do is decipher how they’re feeling by keenly observing their behavior for any change or anything out of the ordinary.
Loud and sometimes incessant barking can be an absolute nightmare and might even want to make you want to pull your hair out because of frustration. There’s no need to despair, however, because there is something you can do to address barking problems. The first step is to understand the reasons for barking and the kinds of barking.
What Are the Different Kinds of Barking?
Believe it or not, there are different kinds of barking, each with a distinct meaning. It’s important to know your dog’s reasons for barking because knowing the reasons for the action will help you manage Fido better. It will also enable you to train your dog to be quiet when needed.
Territorial Barking
Territorial barking is when your dog responds to the presence of something or someone near their home. This barking intends to protect their area and make “intruders” leave the vicinity. Territorial barking lasts until the perceived threat is gone and it’s referred to as self-reinforcing because it usually makes the thing your dog is busy barking at to go away.
Alert Barking
Alert barking is your dog’s way of saying that he sees something. Most of the time dogs hear another dog down the street that barks first and they respond by doing the same thing. This also happens when someone is approaching the door and your dog would like to alert you to it. However, some dogs bark at anything and everything, and this can be annoying at times.
Play and Excitement Barking
Canines can also bark out of excitement when playing. Compared to other barks, play and excitement barking is more high-pitched. This is something you shouldn’t worry about as long as it’s not a nuisance to other dogs and doesn’t result in complaints by neighbors.
Demand Barking
Sometimes dogs bark to get something and this usually happens when it’s worked for them in the past. Sometimes they bark to get your attention and other times it could be because they want you to play with them.
Boredom Barking
When your dog is bored or when under-stimulated, there’s a big chance that it will start barking. This kind of barking is repetitive and has an even tone and pitch throughout. Dogs engaged in boredom barking can last for hours if not addressed.
Reactive and Fear Barking
When something worries or scares them, it’s only natural for some dogs to start barking. This is also referred to as aggressive barking and is generally a response to fear. This type of barking is a result of a traumatic experience but can also be because of a lack of socialization as a puppy.
Barking Due to Old Age
As your beloved canine’s age advances, you may notice barking without any apparent reason. This could be due to your dog’s declining cognitive functions. The colloquial term for this is “doggie dementia”, a neurobehavioral disorder that is common to older pets. It can be likened to Alzheimer’s for dogs.
Barking Due to Separation Anxiety
Canine separation anxiety can result in whining, howling, and barking. It is a condition when your dog becomes distressed when separated from a person or people. In more severe cases, a dog might also injure itself. Keep in mind that dogs with separation anxiety are not “acting out” on purpose.
Getting Your Dog to Stop Barking
Now that you know and understand the many reasons for barking, it’s time to find out what you can do to stop Fido from barking too much.
Remove the Motivation
Dogs get some kind of reward when they bark, otherwise, they wouldn’t continue the behavior. Find out what makes them bark and remove it. For example, if your dog barks because it sees people or animals passing by from the window, close the curtains or put Fido in another room.
Get Your Dog Accustomed to the Stimulus
If your dog barks at other dogs or other people, you can start at a distance and slowly get other dogs or people to move closer to your dog. Feed your dog treats at the same time. You want your dog to associate the appearance of the stimulus to good things, in this case, treats!
Ensure That Your Dog Has Adequate Physical and Mental Exercise
Depending on your dog’s breed, age, and health, dogs require daily walks, as well as playing fetch and playing with other interactive toys. A dog that has sufficient exercise won’t suddenly engage in barking and a dog that has toys to keep him entertained won’t bark even if left alone for some time.
Take Your Dog to the Veterinarian
If your dog is a little advanced when it comes to age, it is a must to take him to the veterinarian so that Fido can be checked thoroughly for any ailments and given appropriate medicines for whatever condition your dog may be suffering from.
Contact a Certified Professional Dog Trainer
If the previous tips we have given are proving unsuccessful for you or if you don’t have the capability or time to train your dog to stop barking, consider reaching out to a certified professional dog trainer for much-needed help.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
Sometimes the barking can get so annoying and frustrating that you are tempted to take actions that are detrimental to your dog’s behavior and wellbeing. Even if you have an overly barky dog, you should never do the following:
- Do not yell at your dog. This will not extinguish the behavior and it may only stimulate your dog to increase and intensify its barking.
- Don’t let your dog bark constantly when outside, whatever the reason may be. It doesn’t help at all and will only turn your neighbors against you and your dog.
- Do not hit your dog or use devices such as shock collars. This is not only unkind and painful, but some dogs might just learn to test them and figure out how to work around them.
Quick Links
The Ultimate Dog Calming Code for over-excited puppies AND dogs
Pet Naturals Calming Chews for Dogs
Update: 27 February 2022
How Long Can a Dog Bark Legally
I received several messages about this post, from a mix of dog owners and neighbors of dogs, asking questions along the lines of: how long can a dog bark before calling the authorities?
Great question and one that isn’t easy to ask because it depends on where you live. For example, I understand that in Los Angeles dogs can bark for ten consecutive minutes before a neighbor can lay a complaint.
If there is a dog in your neighborhood that is continuously barking during the day, try to contact the owner to let them know, because they may not be aware that their dog is barking while they are at work.
If you know that the dog owner is at home and makes no attempt to stop the dog from barking and you have talked to them without resolving the issue then I think you are more than entitled to contact Environmental Health Department in your area.
One other issue to be aware of, is that if the dog is new to the home, the barking will usually stop after a day or two. So please keep this in mind as there is no point in upsetting neighbors for a short-term issue.
Additionally, record dates and times that the dog barks so that if and when you call animal control or the Environmental Health Department they can call at a time the dog is most likely barking.
Related website:
How Animal Control Authorities Can Help a Barking Dog Problem
So there we are, Everything You Need to Know About Dogs and Barking!