Your Cart is Empty
Why is my dog barking? Owners will often ask themselves this question, sometimes pulling their hair out at the same time. Whether it’s an interest in dog psychology or a behavioral issue you are trying to figure out, understanding why your dog is barking is an incredibly useful piece of knowledge. As well as being a healthy, natural behavior for most dogs, barking can sometimes become excessive too.
In this post, we’ll lay out the common causes for the different types of dog barks, as well as the solutions to dog barking that’s become excessive or disruptive. For a happy dog and a peaceful household too!
One of the primary tools for communication used by dogs is barking, a multifaceted language employed by our canine friends. As emotional and social animals, their pitch, tone and pacing can all equate to different expressions of how they are feeling. So what does your dog’s barking mean?
Let’s break down the different barking types, and their individual meanings.
If your dog wants you to play with them, they might make growling yaps, huffy breaths or high wines. Accompanied by playful bows and general silliness, this is your dog's way of goofing around.
One of the primary tools for communication used by dogs is barking,a multifaceted language employed by our canine friends. As emotional and social animals, their pitch, tone and pacing can all equate to different expressions of how they are feeling. So what does your dog’s barking mean?
Let’s break down the different barking types, and their individual meanings.
If your dog wants you to play with them, they might make growling yaps, huffy breaths or high wines. Accompanied by playful bows and general silliness, this is your dog's way of goofing around.
Excited barking is usually high in pitch and fairly rapid.Accompanied with alert and positive body language, like a wagging tail and bright eyes,it’s a dog feeling the surge of happiness about something they love. They may be greeting a long-lost friend, catching sight of their favorite beach, or welcoming you home from work.
If you hear a high-pitched yelp, your dog might have just got a nasty surprise. A mix of surprise and pain, you might have accidentally stepped on their paw or they might have taken playtime a little too far!
If your dog is whining or making high-pitched noises for prolonged periods of time, they might be in pain from an injury or have hurt themselves seriously - so it’s worth speaking to your vet.
Excited barking is usually high in pitch and fairly rapid.Accompanied with alert and positive body language, like a wagging tail and bright eyes,it’s a dog feeling the surge of happiness about something they love. They may be greeting a long-lost friend, catching sight of their favorite beach, or welcoming you home from work.
If you hear a high-pitched yelp, your dog might have just got a nasty surprise. A mix of surprise and pain, you might have accidentally stepped on their paw or they might have taken playtime a little too far!
If your dog is whining or making high-pitched noises for prolonged periods of time, they might be in pain from an injury or have hurt themselves seriously - so it’s worth speaking to your vet.
Usually associated with the mailman approaching, short and repetitive barks usually means your pooch is trying to alert you to something. They may be standing at the window, with their eyes on the possible intruder or new arrival. Alert ears and a pinned gaze will accompany these vocalizations.
If a dog is loudly repeating a strong, harsh-sounding bark,they may be feeling like they need some space. Whether it’s a new dog approaching or someone getting too close for comfort, sensitive dogs may react this way when they feel crowded. Usually, their body language will reflect this, either by slinking away or standing firm,ultimately to ward off the perceived threat.
Usually associated with the mailman approaching, short and repetitive barks usually means your pooch is trying to alert you to something. They may be standing at the window, with their eyes on the possible intruder or new arrival. Alert ears and a pinned gaze will accompany these vocalizations.
If a dog is loudly repeating a strong, harsh-sounding bark,they may be feeling like they need some space. Whether it’s a new dog approaching or someone getting too close for comfort, sensitive dogs may react this way when they feel crowded. Usually, their body language will reflect this, either by slinking away or standing firm,ultimately to ward off the perceived threat.
This is the longer, more drawn-out woofing sound, almost like a “bow wow” sound your dog makes when a knock at the door comes. A startled reaction to change or another larger disturbance, they may bark like this while running towards the source of the noise, or away from it depending on their comfort level.
Dogs that are bored or lonely sometimes bark to just entertain themselves,or see if anyone is listening. Sometimes they bark because it’s less boring than doing nothing at all! Lonely dogs may also whine, shiver or shake, which can all be signs of separation anxiety.
If your dog makes a single, sharp interrupting sound(usually to a young puppy!) it’s a warning. Usually low in pitch and quick, it’s a serious sound. Often because of prolonged annoyance or frustration, this sound tells others your dog wants to be left alone.
Frustration barking is usually high in pitch and demanding in nature. They might be sitting and staring at the treat in your hand, or trying to get you to
Dogs that are bored or lonely sometimes bark to just entertain themselves, or see if anyone is listening. Sometimes they bark because it’s less boring than doing nothing at all! Lonely dogs may also whine, shiver or shake, which can all be signs of separation anxiety.
If your dog makes a single, sharp interrupting sound(usually to a young puppy!) it’s a warning. Usually low in pitch and quick, it’s a serious sound. Often because of prolonged annoyance or frustration, this sound tells others your dog wants to be left alone.
Frustration barking is usually high in pitch and demanding in nature. They might be sitting and staring at the treat in your hand, or trying to get you to
look at them while making these noises. Often repetitive, loud and insistent this is a hard habit for some dogs to break. Usually, because dogs can quickly learn that this barking makes humans give them what they want!
As you can see, it’s natural for dogs to feel an array of emotions and express them vocally. But there are times when we need to get a handle on our dog’s noise level,especially if the barking has become a destructive habit or behavioral issue. Knowing the cause, by identifying the sound,can help you pick the best course of action.
If your dog barks when left alone, they may be bored, lonely or anxious. Dogs are intelligent, active and social animals. So they need lots of activity and interaction to keep them entertained, or else they might entertain themselves by a few hours of woofing! You can try and enrich your dog's environmentto help keep them stimulated while you are out, or invest in some doggy daycare to keep them company. If they struggle being separated from you, try using counter conditioning (something pleasurable like food) in combination with increased exposure (leaving them for short periods of time and building their tolerance gradually.)
As you can see, it’s natural for dogs to feel an array of emotions and express them vocally. But there are times when we need to get a handle on our dog’s noise level,especially if the barking has become a destructive habit or behavioral issue. Knowing the cause, by identifying the sound,can help you pick the best course of action.
If your dog barks when left alone, they may be bored, lonely or anxious. Dogs are intelligent, active and social animals. So they need lots of activity and interaction to keep them entertained, or else they might entertain themselves by a few hours of woofing! You can try and enrich your dog's environmentto help keep them stimulated while you are out, or invest in some doggy daycare to keep them company. If they struggle being separated from you, try using counter conditioning (something pleasurable like food) in combination with increased exposure (leaving them for short periods of time and building their tolerance gradually.)
If your dog is an alert-barker-extraordinaire, thinking you need to know about every passer-by, you can try to keep their vision of busy streets blocked with curtains. Or, try to distract your dog with a treat or a command, to show them the behavior you’d like instead of the barking.
Frustration or demand barking requires training your dog out of the behavior, again by showing them what you prefer. Withholding attention or treats until they offer moments of quiet will slowly build an understanding between you and your dog about what gets them the thing they crave. For expert help, you can always contact a qualified dog behaviorist who will be able to put a treatment plan together for you and your dog.
For dog barking controlwhen you need it most, if you have neighbors you want to protect or a child sleeping for example, a barking control device is another option. The TrueBark™️ emits ultrasonic sound waves that momentarily attract your dog’s attention. A useful way to break a habitual pattern, it’s easy to use, portable and a humane solution to problem barking. Often, simply being able to divert your dog away from their barking means you can regain control of the situation and your volume levels!
Finally, if your usually quiet dog has started barking a lot more than usual, it might be a good idea to see your vet to check that there isn’t a medical reasonfor this change. Excessive barking can sometimes be the result of a change in your dog, for example, an older dog might start to experience problems with their hearing and bark more frequently.
Frustration or demand barking requires training your dog out of the behavior, again by showing them what you prefer. Withholding attention or treats until they offer moments of quiet will slowly build an understanding between you and your dog about what gets them the thing they crave. For expert help, you can always contact a qualified dog behaviorist who will be able to put a treatment plan together for you and your dog.
For dog barking control when you need it most, if you have neighbors you want to protect or a child sleeping for example, a barking control device is another option. The TrueBark emits ultrasonic sound waves that momentarily attract your dog’s attention. A useful way to break a habitual pattern, it’s easy to use, portable and a humane solution to problem barking. Often, simply being able to divert your dog away from their barking means you can regain control of the situation and your volume levels!
Finally, if your usually quiet dog has started barking a lot more than usual, it might be a good idea to see your vet to check that there isn’t a medical reasonfor this change. Excessive barking can sometimes be the result of a change in your dog, for example, an older dog might start to experience problems with their hearing and bark more frequently.
Whatever they are trying to say, we hope you’ll be able to decode your dog’s barking behaviorwith the help of these guidelines and find a little peace - and enjoy lots of excitement too! Woof!
Great news, TrueBark Ultrasonic Anti-Bark & Dog Training Device is still on sale! We are extending our Memorial Day 25% discount due to extremely high demand.
TrueBark - A 100% humane, lightweight handheld device that not only prevents your dog from unnecessary barking but can also be used as a reliable training device.
Please note that this exclusive price won't last much longer as we are almost sold out.
Click Here To Check out our Exclusive Deal...
P.S Use code MEMORIAL25 at checkout and get a further 25% discount.
TrueBark™️ - A 100% humane, lightweight handheld device that not only prevents your dog from unnecessary barking but can also be used as a reliable training device.
Please note that this exclusive price won't last much longer as we are almost sold out.
Click Here To Check out our Exclusive Deal...
P.S Use code MEMORIAL25 at checkout and get a further 25% discount.