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Dog barking at some level is to be expected - it is, after all, how our pups communicate with us and the world around them. A dog’s bark can tell us if our canine companion is happy, distressed, bored, giving a warning or an invitation, looking for attention or simply chatting with us.
While the occasional barking episode is a standard occurrence for any dog owner, excessive barking can become difficult to manage, and can have a negative effect on both household and pooch.
We are going to take a look at why your dog is barking, what to do if your dog is barking excessively, as well as further training and preventative tips to assist you in keeping your pup calm and quiet.
Barking is how dogs vocally communicate with humans and other animals, and is often characterized as a loud and sometimes repetitive ‘woof’ exclamation.
A little bit of barking is part and parcel of owning a dog, however if barking becomes more constant and uncontrollable, it can be distressing and antisocial.
Here are some of the main reasons why dogs bark and what they are trying to communicate through these vocalizations:
Dogs will often bark as a sign that they are feeling a certain emotion and want to express this to those around them. Barking can be caused by both positive and negative feelings; for example, a dog may bark because they are excited or happy to see you. Essentially, it can be a sign of joy and contentment.
It can also be an indicator that your dog is upset or feeling anxious or distressed - loud, aggressive or incessant barking can be your dog’s way of telling you that they feel threatened or unsafe.
Your dog’s barking habits could also be their way of trying to get something good to happen, be it dinner time, treats or just general affection. If a dog becomes too expectant of certain things, for example they are always fed scraps from the table, always get treats at a certain time of day or are used to having constant fuss and affection, they can become demanding when they don’t receive it for whatever reason.
One of the most common times that a dog will bark is when they are left home alone or confined to a part of the house away from other people or animals. The barking can be a sign of boredom, however more often it is an indicator that your dog is anxious or stressed when they are by themselves.
This can progress into a more severe case of separation anxiety if not given the proper attention, and so it is worth making note of whether your dog continues to bark when you leave them home alone, or whether they are able to settle themselves after a few minutes of nervous woofing.
Barking is also a dog’s built-in alarm which they will sound freely if they feel they, those they love or their territory is threatened by someone or something. They use their bark as a warning to alert their ‘pack’ that something is amiss and could be dangerous.
Particularly excitable or anxious dogs may be more prone to this behavior, and may require more training and reassurance to get them out of this habit.
When it comes to preventing your dog from barking, it is important to remember that each dog will have their own reasons for displaying this behavior, and so it is vital to get to the bottom of why your pup may be being more vocal than they should.
Here are just some of the things you can introduce into your training routine to stop a dog from barking:
First and foremost, do not tell off or shout at your dog if they won’t stop barking. This will only rile and confuse them further, particularly if they are already feeling anxious. Dogs do not try to be ‘bad’, they use their behavior to try and tell us something important, and so it is our job as pet parents to pay attention and decipher their meaning.
Trying to catch the behavior before it begins will help to stop your dog from realizing that they can use barking excessively in the first place. This will be easier if your dog is a puppy as you can easily implement this into their daily training, however if your dog is older or more anxious dogs, prevention will likely focus more on trigger management.
Ensuring your dog has had plenty of exercise during the day, especially if you intend on leaving them on their own for an extended period of time, will help reduce the risk of boredom barking. If your pup is all tuckered out, they are more likely to settle down and snooze while you’re out and have less energy to bark the house down.
Socializing your dog is super important to get them used to unfamiliar sights and sounds, and to get them more confident around other people and animals. Gentle walks, puppy play groups or just meeting a friend in the park or a coffee shop with your dog teaches them that not everything that passes them by is a threat.
Another way to keep your dog stimulated and distracted is with dog toys and puzzles. Treat toys and trays have become a favorite amongst pet parents to keep their pets occupied for more than a few minutes, drawing their attention and drawing their focus towards something positive rather than outside stimulus that may provoke barking.
While we will never be able to completely control our surroundings, knowing the things that trigger your dog to bark will allow you to remove and minimize the risks as much as possible.
Not only this, you can easily create a calm and soothing environment for your dog by controlling the temperature, making sure they have enough light, food, water and blankets to keep them comfy and cozy, and if you find it works for your dog you may want to use soothing music or pheromone plug ins for an extra boost of chill.
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Teaching your dog to be responsive to a ‘quiet’ command can come in super handy, as it gives you a way of gently controlling unwanted behaviors if they rear their head. Positive reinforcement training is extremely effective when it comes to teaching your dog to be ‘quiet’, and being able to do this on command helps maintain a sense of calm for both you and your dog.
If it becomes evident that your dog’s barking is simply a way of them just trying to get your attention or to get you to give them a treat, the best thing to do is to ignore it. Giving into begging or attention-seeking behaviors will teach their dog that they will eventually get their way if they just keep shouting - if you ignore their barking and reward them only for desired behaviors, they will soon learn what does and doesn’t get them attention.
Still struggling? If you are finding that your dog’s barking is particularly excessive or if they continue to become more anxious or aggressive, it might be worth seeking the guidance of a professional. Your vet will be able to rule out any underlying causes for your dog’s behavior, as well as offer some advice on how to manage your dog at home.
It may also be beneficial to contact a professional dog trainer or behavioral expert who would likely have some extra tricks up their sleep to handle particularly noisy pups.
It is important to remember that our dogs’ behavior is only ever trying to communicate something to us, and so if they seem to be ‘acting out’, it is more than likely they are trying to tell us they are having some big feelings.
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