Tip of the Month: Dog Barking

Why Does My Dog Bark so Much? And What Can I Do About It?

It’s a good thing for your dog to bark! A dog bark is a way for your furry friends to communicate and it’s a completely normal behavior. There are many reasons for barking behavior in dogs such as hearing odd noises or seeing strangers approaching your house. This is something we should appreciate in them as it alerts us of anything out of the ordinary. However, there are occasions when dogs bark for all the wrong reasons.

According to a study of dog owners, about 1/3 of them noted their dogs barked too much. This can be annoying for you and even worse for your neighbor who might just complain about the noise being made by your pet. In order to control the excessive barking of your dog, you have to know why they are barking.

Reasons a dog barks

Here are the common reasons for barking behavior in dogs:

• To alert or warn – done to alert the presence of danger or a suspicious stranger.
• To seek attention – usually done by puppies to get you to pay attention to them.
• Being excited – happens when a dog becomes too excited when playing a game; controlling excitement could be as simple as taking a break from play.
• For self-identification – done as a response to other dogs barking in the neighborhood.
• Being bored – barking is an outlet for their energy; make sure they get enough exercise to curb this behavior.
• Being lonely or anxious – done when dogs are experiencing separation anxiety.
• Being startled – response to something unfamiliar or sudden movement.

Tips to stop dog barking

Understanding the reasons why your dog is barking is very important in their early stages with being able to control your dog. Here are tips on curbing your dog’s barking when it becomes a nuisance:

Remain calm as you tell your dog to stop barking. You being frustrated won’t help you correct your dog’s behavior as they will just mirror your energy.

Challenge your dog both mentally and physically. Releasing pent-up energy is one of the reasons for excessive barking in dogs. Make sure they get daily walks and while you’re at it, why not make it more mentally stimulating for them? Rather than walk a straight path, why not hike on a hill? If not, try obedience games with them.

Dog barking is natural and encouraged but it can be annoying when done in excess. When you’ve done all you can do to get your dog to stop barking but they still won’t listen, it’s time to ask help from a professional. A dog makes a wonderful companion and as such, you should be committed to providing the care they need. Don’t hesitate to seek professional help to correct behavior problems.