Four Main Reasons Why Dogs Bark

Learn How To Stop Dogs Barking (4 Part Series on Why Dogs Bark) With Positive Training Techniques.

Is there anything worse than the incessant barking of a dog? Some would say yes but most would agree that it ranks highly on the scale of annoyance and yet there seem to be so many more barking dogs around our suburbs these days. So why are dogs becoming more vocal? Read on to discover the four main reasons dogs bark, and how to curb their need to do so with positive training techniques.

Similar to humans, dogs become vocal to communicate. Unlike humans, we can’t hold a conversation with our furry friends to find out the exact nature of their concerns.
First, we need to find out why dogs are barking by observing their body language and taking note of what has occurred to start them becoming so vocal.

Fear, boredom, excitement and territoriality are the main four reasons why dogs bark, each of which will be covered below, then expanded out into their own article to help you understand the nature of the issue, with training solutions to stop your dog from barking.

Dogs Barking From Fear

The majority of negative behaviours shown by pet dogs is predominantly fear driven. So what does that mean, it could be as obvious as the dog has, at some stage of its life, experienced a situation which has triggered a fear response, and that response has now lead to the dog being fearful of a given situation or of a particular stimuli, but similarly it could be that the dog in question is fearful of losing something it currently has and wants to protect it in any way it possibly can.

Fear related barking tends to develop earlier in life, in dogs who are not as confident (See our articles on personality types in puppies and Developmental fear impact periods for more details). This behaviour could begin when they are separated from their litter, or through the early training period of a young dog’s life. Regardless of when and how it begins, the only remedy for a fear barker is to create environments in which the dog has no perceivable threats, therefore removing the need to bark.

Read about solving this cause with » How To Stop Dogs Barking Due To Fear

Dogs Barking Due To Boredom

Boredom is another very common reason why dogs bark. If a dog is left in an environment which doesn’t provide stimulation and enrichment, it is much more likely that they will develop negative behaviours, such as barking, digging and destructive behaviours. Curing the bored barker may be as simple as providing environmental enrichment, breaking up the periods of time without stimulation, or providing company.

Read more about problem solving this dilemma » How To Stop Dogs Barking Due To Boredom

Dogs Barking From Sheer Excitement

Excitement is another very common reason for vocal outbursts. My owner has just arrived home! My dinner is ready! I see my favourite playmate in the dog park! Dogs are, by default, the most energetic and enthusiastic creatures, so, as with young children, sometimes holding in all of that excitement and exuberance is really, really hard. If you have an excited barker, you’ll find some handy hints and tips in our ‘impulse control’ article which will be coming soon.

Read how to control excitement in your dog with » How To Stop Dogs Barking Due To Excitement

Dogs Barking To Protect Their Territory

Lastly in this brief overview, a reason why dogs bark is territoriality. Now again, this is one which could be linked straight back into the fear category, as territorial behaviour tends to be born of a desire to protect resources within a given space – or territory. Barking to ensure that no-one enters our space and steals our resources, is a sure-fire way to protect what is ours, however, a confident dog can also bark to guard and protect what is theirs. Preventing barking in a territorial dog can be a little more difficult but ensuring that they feel secure in their space is a massive first step.

Read more about problem solving this often-unnecessary behaviour » How To Stop Dogs Barking Protecting Their Territory

A dog’s breed may also have an impact on how likely they are to be, or to become, a barker. Some dog breeds have been bred specifically to ‘bay’ such as the adorable and ever popular Basset Hound, where others have been bred over thousands of years for their guarding instincts. The breed history should always be thoroughly investigated and understood when trying to address any behavioural issues, as the innate character of the breed may be a contributing factor.

Summary

As you can see, the reasons why dogs bark is not straight forward, so how do you know which way to turn?
Here’s the 5 steps I would recommend anyone with a barking dog take.

1. As with any ongoing behavioural issues, get a vet check to ensure that there are no underlying health issues or concerns.
2. Make a list of the times and or situations in which your dog barks, ensuring you note the details, is it a specific location on a walk, time of day, or stimuli which triggers the barking? Get your neighbours to help if needed.
3. Using the brief outline above, try to ascertain if the behaviour is fear, excitement, boredom or territorial in nature.
4. Use the hints and tips given in our following articles relating to that specific type of barking.
5. If you’re not achieving results, consult with a qualified and accredited ‘force free’ or ‘positive reinforcement’ behavioural trainer.

Although having an ongoing negative behaviour can be incredibly frustrating, always try to remember the following:

• You are not alone! Look to your PetsBook community for support if you feel a little lost.
• Shouting or raising your voice will not prevent or cure the behaviour, in fact that can often make the problem worse.
• All training should be based on the positive reinforcement methodology.
• Anti bark devices are not positive and have proven to make the situation worse in some scenarios.
• A good pet behaviourist can help you fully assess the situation if you feel you need some professional assistance.
• All training sessions should be short, no more than 10 minutes, relatively intensive and should always end on a positive note, even if you have to stop training what you’re trying to achieve.

Good training takes patience, time and dedication to your fur baby, but I can guarantee that the rewards for your efforts will be rewarding.

If you have a questions, or would like to make a comment, please feel to do so below.

Bec (Pet Behaviourist)

BSc (Applied Animal Behaviour & Training), Post Graduate Certificate in Education.
National Diploma Animal Management.
Aset Care of Animals Award & CENTRA Award in Animal Care.