Does your dog's barking bother you? Tips to reduce barking
Learn how to identify the causes and correct your barking dog
WHY DOES MY DOG BARK?
Approximate reading time: 10 minutes
Barking is a natural way for dogs to communicate with us and with other dogs. When a dog barks they can be expressing any number of emotions (joy, excitement, anger, frustration, fear, anxiety, alertness, territoriality), but there is no doubt that they want to tell us something very specific. It is perfectly normal for your dog to bark from time to time, but if the barking is excessive, intense and accompanied by a restless mood, it is a sign that something is wrong.
Many dog owners, desperate because of their pet's constant barking (which undoubtedly causes many problems in the home and can lead to conflicts with neighbours), approach the problem incorrectly, focusing only on the symptom. But to stop a dog from barking so much, it is essential to address the cause.
Table of contents
1- What can I do to stop my dog barking?
4- When is it normal for my dog to bark?
What can I do to stop my dog barking?
As we said, there are many different emotions that cause your dog to ‘talk’. To find out what your pet is trying to tell you with their vocalisations, we recommend paying close attention to the context and their body language. If you detect a tense posture and a hostile attitude, your dog is probably feeling angry, frustrated or defensive. A tail between the legs and floppy ears indicate fear, while a playful demeanour is simply an expression of excitement. Let's look at some typical situations in which certain dogs may bark non-stop.
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My dog barks at people
If your pet has the habit of barking insistently at people passing in the street, other dogs, bicycles or objects that you come across during your walks, this is probably a case of poor socialisation. It is very important to socialise dogs from puppyhood, subjecting them to different stimuli to make them more flexible and calm. A dog that ‘has no world’ will feel threatened and insecure in any new or different situation where they do not recognise smells, sounds or things they see. If your dog is an adult, you may need the help of a canine ethologist to eliminate this habit, although you can work on your own by gradually exposing them to different environments and situations, controlling their anxiety level and instilling calm and security with your own behaviour. Remember to positively reinforce your pet when they are calm.
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My dog barks at the door to go out
Does your dog often hang out by the door and even bark non-stop while staring at it? In this case,they are more than likely asking for more freedom. A dog needs to go outside a minimum of 3 times, with one of these walks being long and relaxed enough for the animal to run, sniff at their own pace and socialise with other dogs. If your pet does not get out enough, they may bark more than usual, as they will be anxious and frustrated at their lack of freedom. As they know exactly where you go out for walks, it makes sense for them to stand by the door so that you can understand what they want to say.
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My dog barks for food
Any bad behaviour on the part of a dog is a reflection of an incorrect education on our part. If your dog asks for food at the table by barking non-stop, take a look back: I'm sure this strategy worked for them at one time or another. If you give in to your dog's demands as a way of getting them to shut up, you are making a big mistake, as the animal will learn that to achieve their goal they only have to bark and bark non-stop. The same applies to barking for toys, food, to open a door... Sometimes, dogs bark to demand things, something that we have undoubtedly encouraged with our involuntary reinforcement. To correct this bad habit, it is vital that you teach your dog that their strategy is no longer going to work and that you stand firm. Sometimes this is enough for the dog to get tired and bored, but sometimes it is necessary to undertake training and counter-conditioning techniques for which we recommend you have a professional dog behaviourist.
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My dog barks when they are left alone
When a dog spends too many hours alone they begin to feel anxious, depressed and insecure. An adult dog should not spend more than 6-8 hours unaccompanied, otherwise they may experience disorders such as separation anxiety. This is characterised by constant barking and object-destructive behaviour, and some dogs may even relieve themselves at home. If you have to spend a lot of time away from home for work, you can ask a neighbour or family member to spend some time greeting and playing with your dog so that they don't feel so lonely. You can also try leaving them a kong toy, which is very entertaining for them because they have to get the prizes out of it. Another idea that often works is the use of synthetic pheromones, which relax your pet while you are away (don't worry, they don't sedate them they just make them feel better).
It would also be good to leave the radio or television on so that they feel there is activity going on around them. But most importantly, never allow your dog to spend too many hours alone, let alone confined to a small space. Create a comfortable environment for them where they have everything they need (bed, food, drink and a toy they like) and avoid spending too much time away from home. Also, don't say goodbye when you leave so that they don't anticipate your departure and become anxious, and don't greet them warmly when you return if they are too nervous. Wait until they calm down and greet them calmly.
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My dog barks when someone goes near their things
Some dogs can develop what we call resource guarding, which is an obsessive, possessive relationship with certain items in their environment that are valuable to them, such as their food, toys or territory. If your pet barks or growls when you approach their food or confronts strangers who enter the house in this way, they are trying to defend and protect what they consider their property. In these cases, try to progressively accustom them to you being near their food by offering them tasty treats each time you approach.
If it is their toy that they are protecting, exchange it for another while you show them the ‘release’ signal. If they are defending the house or one of their owners, it is best to adopt a calm attitude. Your dog is watching you all the time to gauge what emotions you are feeling and how they should react to it. Socialise them sufficiently and act normally and calmly with strangers so that they understand there is nothing to fear.
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My dog barks for no apparent reason
If your dog barks too much but you can't establish a cause, think about their general lifestyle: Do they get enough exercise, is their food adequate and of good quality, and do they get enough stimulation in their daily life? Some dogs bark out of boredom or stress due to deficiencies in their daily habits. On the other hand, if your dog barks in a high-pitched tone and intermittently whines, don't let it go, there could be a health problem behind it. Take them to the vet to rule out any pathology or acute process.
Tips to reduce dog barking
Although in order to reduce your dog's barking you have to find out what they are trying to tell you, there are some general recommendations that can help. First and foremost, it is important that you provide your pet with a pleasant and healthy lifestyle with exercise, good nutrition, socialisation, physical and mental games... In addition, try these tricks:
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Distract his attention: if you need to redirect your dog's anxious behaviour, try to distract them by using attractive but pleasant sounds or by giving them a toy that they like, such as the kong-type toys we mentioned earlier.
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Ignore them: when your dog barks excitedly, do not tell them to shut up, do not pet them and, of course, do not give them any reward or give in to what they ask for, as you will be reinforcing this barking behaviour. On the contrary, you should reward them when they are calm so that they understands that this is the right attitude for them.
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Don't scold them: we know that it can be very annoying to listen to a dog bark for a long time, but if you shout or scold your dog you will only be adding to their tension and reinforcing their behaviour with your reaction. Try to instil calm and control in your pet, it will work much better.
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Walk them: Exercise is very important for your dog, as it keeps them motivated and relaxed. Make sure your dog gets enough physical activity, especially before those times when barking tends to occur (when they are left alone, for example), so they will be calmer.
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Training. The advantages of training your dog are innumerable. Through exercises such as teaching them the words ‘stay’, ‘sit’ or ‘let go’, you can make your dog more balanced and more confident, as they will know what you need from them at all times. When they start to bark, you can practice these exercises with them to calm them down.
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Do not use bark collars. They can be a solution for a very specific moment, but they do not solve the barking problem in the long term, as the cause will still be there and if we do not allow the dog to express themself through their voice, they will find another way to do so, such as destructive behaviour, for example. These collars, which work by ultrasound or vibration, should not be the easy way out: we have to go to the cause of the problem.
When is it normal for my dog to bark?
As long as they do it occasionally and without much anxiety, it is normal for your dog to bark and you should allow them to express themself in the way that is natural for them. A dog is generally not a silent pet, but emits different sounds to communicate, which is completely necessary and healthy. Also, keep in mind that some breeds, due to their genetics, are more ‘talkative’, such as Chihuahuas or huskies. Find out about the characteristics of your puppy according to their breed, as in these cases it is its personality that makes they ‘talk’ too much and you should accept them as they are.. On the other hand, some breeds are quieter, such as bulldogs or Australian Cobberdogs, which are not very barky dogs. Of course, they communicate with their barking from time to time, but they do not tend to ‘talk’ too much on a day-to-day basis.
All in all, try to ensure your furry friend has a pleasant life with healthy habits to keep them happy and balanced. You'll see how much less barking they'll do and how much better you'll get along with each other. And if the problem persists or you have any doubts, be sure to take them to a trainer or ethologist to assess their specific case and help them. Remember: if your dog barks, they are talking to you, and your responsibility as a guide and carer is to listen to them, understand them and solve any problems they may have.