My Dog Won’t Shut Up, What Can I Do?

August 2, 2012

Owning a dog can be a great experience but the experience certainly may come with a unique set of challenges.

These might include the puppy habits of chewing your shoes, peeing anywhere and everywhere and whimpering when lonely or in the dark. One of the more common annoyances pet owners have to deal with is a dog that won't stop barking.

So Why Does Your Dog Bark?

Surprisingly, dogs usually don't bark simply to annoy their owners. Certain breeds bark more than others, in fact some types of dogs were bred to bark. Most dogs bark because they have a reason to do so and may include the following:

Boredom

This is one of the most common reasons why dogs bark. When they bark, they are asking the owner to take them out for a walk or to play catch with them. In a bored state they use barking as a way to release built up excess energy from inactivity and if they are alone, they bark because they are lonely.

Scared/Nervous

A scared or nervous dog will bark as it is a self-soothing process that helps them calm down. Dogs can become afraid for many reasons including thunder and lightning, a loud piece of machinery such as a lawn mower or a vacuum cleaner or even the alarm clock in the morning.

Excitement

When pet owners come home from work, the dog can get very excited to see them. This is especially common if the dog is attached to the owner. They also often bark if they are playing with other dogs. If a dog anticipates that they are about to go out to play, or go out for a walk, they may bark with excitement.

Warning

When dogs sense that there is a threat, their first response is to bark. Pet owners usually notice this when someone knocks on the door. Dogs can also sense when someone or something they are not familiar with passes by the house. This barking could be in response to a squirrel or even leaves falling from a tree.

So How Can You Stop Your Dog From Barking?

The first thing to do is to identify the reason for the barking. Once you identify the issue you can work on a solution. For example, if you notice that your dog barks when there is no one in the house, hire a pet sitter. If you realize that your dog barks when you mow the lawn, have someone take the dog for a walk when you are mowing the lawn.

If you have tried everything and nothing seems to be working, we suggest that you consult a vet to have a better insight into why your dog is behaving this way.