All dogs bark, and they bark for many different reasons. But what if your dog just won’t stop barking? They’re likely trying to tell you something, and it’s up to you to figure out what that is.
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“Barking is driven by a whole bunch of things,” says Dr. Kristina Spaulding, PhD, CAAB. “And while some dogs don’t bark much, they’ll sometimes find other ways to show their emotions or signal that they want something—like pawing at you, jumping, mouthing, stealing things, or finding other ways to get into trouble.”
If your dog is being overly vocal or barking excessively, here are some of the common reasons for the behavior.
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Demand barking, Spaulding says, occurs when a dog wants attention of some kind. Maybe that’s to go on a walk or just to be pet. It could also signify that your dog wants food.
Unlike other types of barking, demand barking has a specific and identifiable cadence to it, Spaulding says.
“Demand barking tends to be shorter—a single bark or a few in quick succession,” she says. “There are more pauses in between, and the dog is usually looking at you or the thing they want. It’s much more controlled.”
The million-dollar question with this type of barking is whether you should respond to it.
“I tend to ignore it or actively get up and walk away if a dog demand barks at me,” Spaulding says. That’s because caving and giving dogs what they want can reinforce the behavior and encourage them to demand bark more in the future.
If you decide you want to give in, Spaulding says it’s best to do that after the first or second bark, if you can. Waiting teaches your dog that they have to bark a lot to get what they want, and they may become problematic in the future.
Does your dog bark when the doorbell rings? That’s alarm barking.
“Alarm barking is associated with something catching the dog’s attention,” says Sandra Sawchuk, DVM, primary care clinical instructor at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.
If you want this type of barking to stop, the most important thing is to not yell at the dog. That just tends to rile them up even more. Instead, divert the dog’s attention as quickly as possible by taking them outside or giving them a favorite toy—something they can chew on will work especially well to get them to stop barking.
Consider training your dog to go to a spot away from the door whenever the bell rings. This might be something you can do yourself, or you may have to hire a certified professional trainer in your area to assist you.
The emotion behind anxious barking is similar to alarm barking, but the context can be very different.
Anxious barking may occur when you’re leaving the house for the day. You might also see it on walks when a stranger or another dog is approaching. This type of barking often gets confused for aggression.
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“Typically, if a dog is barking in an aggressive context, it’s actually fear-based,” Spaulding says. “People are often confused by that because if dogs lunge and bark at the same time, that must mean they’re aggressive. But often, it seems to just be a display to keep them away from something they find scary.”
During walks, a dog may let out an excited bark if they see another pup along the way, Spaulding says. “You’ll also see excitable barking when dogs are doing something they enjoy, like chasing or for agility dogs when they run a course.”
The fine line between fearful and excited can be especially difficult when you’re dealing with on-leash reactivity, and Spaulding says leash-reactive dogs should probably be evaluated by a certified professional.
In most other situations of excitable barking, however, the context is usually pretty clear.
Context means so much when you’re trying to discern why your dog is barking, but Spaulding says it can sometimes be entirely unclear to you what your dog wants, assuming they want anything at all.
“Often, a dog’s bark means they’re bored or frustrated, and they want us to fix it,” she says. “In situations where you’re not sure what the cause of the barking is, it’s fair to assume your dog would like to interact with you.”
Have you ever wondered if dog training is worth it? It can be a big time commitment and it takes plenty of patience, but whether you and your dog are new to training or you already know a few tips and tricks, training can be a huge benefit for dogs of all ages!
Training classes can help your dog learn some new skills, but there’s more to it than that. It’s also a great way to enrich your dog’s daily life, build you into a more confident pet parent, and set both you and your four-legged friend up for success at home and in your community.
In honor of January’s National Train Your Dog Month, let’s look at some of the benefits of working with a dog trainer.
1: It can build a stronger bond between you and your dog! Spending time together in these classes can increase your level of trust with each other.
2: It makes life easier and less stressful at home when certain behaviors are under control. Do you spend a lot of time cleaning up your dog’s destructive messes? Or do you find yourself apologizing to friends and family when your excited dog jumps up to greet them? Training can help address those behaviors.
3: It improves communication with your dog. Training classes give you the opportunity to learn more about their individual personality and how to best understand them.
4: Dog training isn’t one size fits all. It can be focused on improving specific behaviors, or it could be teaching you about your dog’s specific breed and their needs. For instance, if you have a dog who is bred to dig, your trainer may help you find an outlet for digging at home – like a sandbox in the yard.
5: Training can even be helpful before you adopt a dog. If you’re thinking of welcoming a new animal into your home, check out a local training class. It can be a great educational resource to help you better prepare for becoming a pet parent.
There are two options to choose from when enrolling in dog training classes: group classes, where you work with other humans and their dogs on a set curriculum, or private one-on-one sessions if you or your dog need more individualized attention.
Private sessions are usually reserved for dogs who display aggressive behaviors towards humans or other animals, separation anxiety, resource guarding, fearful behavior, or more severe behavior concerns.
No matter what you hope to get out of training classes, it’s important to remember that modifying a dog’s behavior isn’t linear. There will be ups and downs, and your dog may need to revisit some lessons down the road. But patience is key, and the hard work will be worth it for you and your best friend!
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