Every dog owner knows the situation when their pet simply can’t keep their mouth shut at the wrong moment.
Read on to find out what barking is all about! From why dogs bark to whether you can stop them from making so much noise.
Why do dogs bark?
Dogs have to bark – it’s part of their nature! Dogs bark to communicate their thoughts and feelings, to get our attention, to let us know someone is at the door, to encourage us to play or to warn us to stay away. Barking works because it’s hard to ignore and it usually elicits a response that makes it worth doing again!
Barking alone does not necessarily say anything about a dog’s mood, the rest of his body language is also important and shows whether he is excited and playful or threatened and anxious. If your dog starts barking, you need to quickly assess why he feels the need, acknowledge the alarm and then change the subject. We shouldn’t try to stop our dogs barking completely, but we should be able to keep it from getting out of hand!
What do the different bell types mean?
Excitement – High pitched and tail wagging, maybe even excited foot stomping and spinning in circles and jumping up!
Attention – When a dog wants your attention he will bark at you, often with a long series of single barks with pauses in between – pet me, feed me, take me for a walk! Be careful here – if you always give him what he wants when he has barked at you, you have rewarded him and taught him that barking works! Dogs are amazing manipulators, able to watch their owners and figure out how to get what they want!
Fear, anxiety, or defensive – This barking is triggered by either a visual or auditory stimulus, such as a stranger approaching the house, another dog nearby, or even a frightening noise. This type of barking often sounds deeper, is continuous, incessant and can be accompanied by a growl. It is a “What is that? Go away! Don’t come any closer!”, a warning to everyone.
The dog’s body language may be stiffer, the hackles may be raised while the tail and head are lowered. In a dog’s mind, barking works in this case. They are worried enough to bark at the sudden intrusion of the letter carrier, then the letter carrier goes away and they suddenly feel less worried!
Barking at other dogs on a walk is a little more difficult as barking doesn’t always work and your dog may feel the need to transition from noises to actions such as barking or snapping.
How can I stop my dog from barking?
Offer a distraction – The longer you let him bark, the more he will bark. So always try to interrupt him with a “thank you” or an “OK, I heard you!”. Don’t bark commands or shout at them to shut up – you’ve just joined in! Try to distract the animal by, for example, asking them some behaviors you know they can do and then rewarding them with treats to sniff out and find.
Reduce access to the problem – Reducing your dog’s access to the stimulus can be helpful in making your dog feel calmer during the day, allowing them to rest better and reducing the likelihood of barking occurring. Place “platform chairs” away from windows, tape blackouts in windows, play brown noise (deeper than white noise and helps with relaxation) to mask outside noise, and place a lockable mailbox near your front door.
Do you offer a workout – Do you fully meet your dog’s needs? Have they exercised mentally as well as physically? If you only rely on a short daily walk to keep your dog entertained, you may find that barking occurs more frequently. With a mixture of physical and mental training, your dog may calm down better.
Think about your reaction – Think about how you react to your dog’s needy barking. Do you look at him, talk to him, reward him by petting him or engage with him in some way? While we want to make sure our dogs feel comfortable and supported in their emotions, we also need to make sure we are not reinforcing the behavior unintentionally!
You may be able to temporarily stop the barking with “tools” such as collars that emit sounds or spray air or citronella, but if you use these tools, you are punishing your dog, making him feel worse than he already does, and escalating the situation! Your dog is doing what comes naturally to him and what he thinks is a good reason. Being punished by something that causes him pain or discomfort is very confusing and harmful.
Talk to a behavioral therapist or trainer and work positively to find an alternative, positive way to reduce your dog’s barking and likely restlessness, anxiety, boredom and/or frustration!
Is it to do with the fact that you are leaving?
Does the barking or stress signals (panting, running, scratching at the door, yawning) start immediately when you leave or only after a few minutes? If so, the barking could be an indication of separation anxiety that requires the assistance of a behaviorist.
