Dogs use barking and vocalisations to communicate a variety of messages and emotions. While barking is normal dog behaviour, excessive barking can become a frustrating issue for pet owners. This guide will explore the common reasons dogs bark, differentiate between normal and problematic barking, and provide actionable methods to prevent and address excessive barking in dogs.
Whether your dog barks out of boredom, anxiety, or simply to get attention, it’s important to understand dog behaviour to identify the root cause and find an effective solution. Together, we can create a harmonious living environment for both you and your beloved pet.
Understanding Dog Barking
Barking is a completely natural way for dogs to express themselves and interact with their environment. From an evolutionary standpoint, dogs developed barking and vocal cues as part of their complex social structure and communication. Today, the average dog can understand over 165 words and gestures. Dogs may bark when excited, fearful, anxious, bored, or to get attention. While occasional barking is normal, excessive barking can indicate an underlying issue.
Differentiating Normal and Excessive Barking
While occasional woofing is completely normal, excessive barking can negatively impact the quality of life for both dogs and their owners. But what constitutes excessive or nuisance barking?
- Duration: Barking that continues unabated for extended periods is problematic. However, even short bursts of barking can be disruptive if very frequent.
- Context: Frequent barking without an obvious trigger or for minor reasons can be excessive. For example, a dog that barks at every passing car or leaf that falls in the yard.
- Pack behaviour: Some dogs “bark together” and egg each other on. This mob mentality can escalate nuisance barking.
- Stress signals: Prolonged barking accompanied by whining, pacing, or destructive behaviour may indicate anxiety.
- Complaints: Neighbour complaints are a clear sign a dog’s barking has become excessive and disruptive.
Causes of Excessive Barking
Understanding the context and trigger for your dog’s barking provides insight into their internal state and needs.
Emotional Expressions
- Excitement: Dogs often let out short, sharp barks when anticipating a walk, car ride, or encountering a new person or animal. Tail wagging and play bows typically accompany excitement barking.
- Frustration: Whining or repetitive barking may indicate your dog is frustrated by an unmet need such as hunger or a desire for playtime or attention.
- Boredom: Dogs left alone for extended periods may bark out of boredom or loneliness. Boredom barking often has a repetitive quality.
- Fear: Dogs may bark at unfamiliar sights, sounds, people, or animals. Fearful barking is often accompanied by a tucked tail, raised hackles, and a tense body posture.
Communication
As pack animals, dogs use barks and vocal cues to communicate with humans and other dogs. Barking allows dogs to convey a wide range of messages, from a desire to play to announcing a visitor’s arrival.
Attention-Seeking
Dogs are highly social and may bark to get attention from their owners. Demand barking typically involves loud, repetitive barks often directed at the owner. The dog may bark persistently until receiving the desired attention or reward.
Environmental Factors
External triggers in a dog’s environment often prompt bouts of barking. Common environmental causes include:
- Greeting: Dogs may bark excitedly when owners return home or visitors arrive.
- Loneliness: Dogs left alone for long periods frequently bark due to stress and isolation.
- Territorial barking: Unfamiliar people or animals near the home often trigger protective, territorial barks.
Anxiety and Fear
Dogs bark when frightened by loud noises, unfamiliar objects or situations, or perceived threats.
- Separation anxiety: Dogs with separation anxiety often bark excessively when left alone.
- Unknown triggers: Phobias or anxiety may lead to barking at seemingly random triggers such as shadows or shapes.
Methods to Reduce Excessive Barking
If your dog engages in excessive barking, there are several approaches to help diminish unwanted vocalisations while also addressing the root cause.
Training and Socialization
- Positive Reinforcement: Proper training can help minimise nuisance barking. Always use positive reinforcement methods. Reward your dog for quiet behaviour instead of barking. Teach commands like “quiet” or “enough” to signal your dog to be quiet. Consistent practice and reinforcement of these commands can help your dog learn.
- Consult a Professional: If barking becomes unmanageable, consult a professional dog trainer for guidance. Customised training programs can help resolve demand barking and other issues.
Environmental Enrichment
Providing proper enrichment tailored to your dog’s needs can help reduce boredom, loneliness, and anxiety—common triggers for nuisance barking.
- Rotate new dog toys to beat boredom. Food puzzle toys provide mental stimulation.
- Ensure your dog gets adequate daily exercise based on their age and breed.
- Use dog-appeasing pheromones for calming treats to ease anxiety.
- Provide activities for dogs left alone using food puzzles and stuffed chew toys.
Utilising Tools and Aids
- Bark Collars and Devices: Bark collars, ultrasonic devices, and citronella sprays can help curb excessive barking by emitting deterrents or correcting signals when the dog barks inappropriately. Consult with a certified professional dog trainer when selecting a collar or device to manage excessive barking. The suitability of the tool for your dog’s specific temperament and behaviour should be carefully considered.
- Natural Remedies: Natural remedies such as chamomile or supplements like CBD oil can have calming effects on dogs and help reduce anxiety-related barking. Always consult with a veterinarian before introducing any new supplements to your dog’s routine.
Identifying Underlying Causes
Getting to the root of why your dog is barking excessively is key to addressing the problem.
- Veterinary Exam: Rule out potential medical issues causing behaviour changes.
- Environmental Triggers: Consider whether the barking occurs in certain locations or situations. This pinpoints environmental triggers.
- Life Changes: Note if barking begins around major life changes for household pets or members. Changes in routine can induce stress.
- Recent Alterations: Identify any recent alterations to surroundings, schedule, diet, or family members/pets. Change can be difficult for dogs.
Reducing Anxiety and Fear
If anxiety or fear underlies nuisance barking, take steps to overcome the root cause. Useful approaches include:
- Desensitisation: Gradually expose your dog to triggers like strangers or loud noises while pairing positive reinforcement to change their emotional response.
- Create a Calm Environment: Use calming essential oils, stuffed Kongs, or background noise to muffle outside sounds.
- Exercise Before Exposure: Exercise before exposure to stressors leaves dogs better equipped to cope.
- Anxiety Wraps and Pheromone Collars: Anxiety wraps and appeasing pheromone collars can lessen nervousness.
- Professional Help: For severe cases, consult your veterinarian about anti-anxiety medication or referral to a veterinary behaviourist.
Creating a Supportive Home Environment
The home environment and daily routines significantly impact a dog’s behaviour, including their barking tendencies.
Set Up an Enriching Environment
Provide a comfortable and enriching environment for your dog, including a designated resting area, interactive toys, and appropriate outlets for physical and mental activity. This can help reduce stress and excessive barking.
Exercise and Routine
Regular exercise and adherence to a consistent daily routine are crucial in promoting physical and mental well-being in dogs. A well-exercised and stimulated dog is less likely to resort to excessive barking out of frustration or pent-up energy.
Manage Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety can often manifest as excessive barking when a dog is left alone. Gradual desensitisation to being alone, coupled with comforting measures and engaging distractions, can help alleviate separation anxiety and reduce barking in such scenarios.
Conclusion
In summary, barking allows dogs to express a wide range of emotions while communicating their needs. Though barking is normal, excessive barking can become problematic and disruptive. Keys to addressing nuisance barking include identifying triggers, providing proper enrichment, implementing positive training, and treating any underlying anxiety or medical issues.
While barking can’t be fully eliminated, following these guidelines can help manage excessive vocalisations to maintain the bond between dogs and owners. Remember, every dog is unique, and what works for one might not work for another. It’s essential to create a supportive home environment, offer regular exercise, and address any behavioural issues. Through these strategies, not only can you achieve a more peaceful household, but you also strengthen the bond with your canine companion.
