To prevent our dog from becoming an inveterate barker or to eliminate excessive barking from a barking dog, we must first understand why dogs barkDogs can bark for endless reasons, some external, such as stimuli that trigger territorial behaviour, and others internal, such as fear, frustration or boredom. In any case, letting the dog continue barking without paying attention to the reason that leads him to do so is always a serious mistake.
Those dogs that do not stop barking when they are alone at home, when they want to get something or have a he alth problem, require that we pay attention to the change in their behavior to put a solution as soon as possible and offer you the best possible quality of life. Keep reading and discover from our site the main reasons that explain why dogs bark
Stress barking
Apparently barking helps dogs, among other things, to relieve stress Although it is very difficult to determine when a dog is becomes a barker due to stress, it is common to find barking dogs in situations that, without a doubt, are very stressful for them.
Dogs that are subjected to extreme training conditions or harsh living conditions can develop the habit of barking. Dogs that spend a lot of time isolated can bark from the stress of loneliness, as well as from boredom and frustration.
Excited barking
Some dogs get so excited about certain things that they can't help but bark. This enthusiasm is a form of stress that we can teach to channel by promoting tranquility and relaxation.
On the other hand, this type of barking is also seen in some dogs when they play or when they do some activity that stimulates them excessively. Many canine agility and freestyle dogs bark throughout the test and during training, simply because they are highly stimulated In these activities this behavior is not a problem, however, in other sports such as the schutzhund, performing an obedience routine by barking is a penalized practice.
Barking out of boredom
Many dogs bark out of boredom. They just have nothing else to do and they are not destructive dogs, so they bark or howl. These are dogs that usually spend a lot of time alone, without any kind of toys or company. Likewise, barkers can be dogs that spend most of their lives isolated in a garden or patio, or dogs that are left alone all day while their owners go to work.
This situation is usually very difficult to remedy because the owners are not present when the dog barks, and because the barking behavior is often positively self-reinforcing. In addition, the behavior can worsen if many dogs in the neighborhood are in similar conditions and the barking "infects" each other. To try to solve it, it is best to leave the animal with toys such as the kong, which provide entertainment while the owner is away from home. In the same way, try to dedicate a little more time to the dog and avoid spending so much time alone is always advisable. It should be noted that the boredom of spending long hours alone at home can trigger anxiety if the appropriate solution is not established.
Barking in frustration
Many dogs bark because they want something they can't get and the barking is the response to their frustration. A clear example of this is the game with laser-type lights. If you are used to using a laser light to make your dog chase it and try to catch it, and you notice that it begins to bark when it cannot reach it, stop practicing this "game". The fact of not being able to catch his target (laser light) causes him a huge frustration that triggers a series of barks.
On the other hand, frustration is also a frequent cause of barking in dogs that are left alone for a long time and in a small space, since they have no way of controlling their environment or feeling free. In other words, dogs that bark out of frustration do so because without their owners present, they are completely vulnerable and incapable within the home.
External stimuli that we do not perceive
Many times dogs bark because they notice things that we don't perceive, or that we overlook. Animals that the dog sees through the window, such as cats or squirrels, people walking by the other side of the door, objects that move with the wind creating strange images and other things can be the triggers of the barking of the dogs. dogs. Sometimes they are easy to detect stimuli, but other times we are not able to notice them. The same happens when our dog starts barking non-stop when we take him for a walk, it is likely that something we have overlooked has caught his attention.
household moves and major changes within the home can also trigger a dog's barking. Particularly important may be the absences of other people or pets that previously lived in the home, whether due to death or relocation.
Unconscious training
One of the most common reasons dogs bark is unconscious training. Many dog owners teach their dogs to bark without realizing what they are doing. Thus, many dogs come to this practice to demand food, ask that the street door be opened for them, get attention, etc.
Every time the dog barks because his water bowl is empty, for example, and we haven't realized it, we must wait for it to stop to fill it. Otherwise, the dog interprets that every time he barks we will respond to his demand. In this way, we reward his behavior instead of correcting it
By inheritance
Genetics also play a role in how barking a dog is. Although the influence of the environment can modify this behavior to some degree, some dogs have a greater need to bark. In fact, there are breeds that bark more than others, and that is because barking behavior has been fixed by selection in certain breeds. For example, hunting dogs that follow tracks, such as bloodhounds, tend to be very barking, while molossoids tend to be little barkers.
It is practically impossible to eliminate a behavior that has a strong genetic component without affecting other aspects of the animal's behavior. Therefore, if you have a dog of a barking breed, the best thing you can do is channel that behavior into appropriate situations. If you try to eliminate it, you will most likely fail, but if you succeed, it is more than certain that you will cause some new behavior problem in your dog.
He alth problems
In some cases dogs bark because they have a he alth problem. For example, elderly dogs may have reduced vision or hearing, which leads them to be more easily surprised and bark in reaction to fright. For this reason, it is always advisable to go to the vet if we see that our elderly dog is barking more frequently so that we can examine him, determine if his he alth is being affected and explain to us why the dog barks so much.
How do I stop my dog from barking
Now that you know the most common reasons that answer the question why dogs bark, we encourage you to consult our article on the one that we detail how to prevent a dog from barking, always through positive reinforcement, promoting tranquility and dedicating time to our furry companion.
