When Dogs Bark Too Much
Hardly anything makes dog owners sweat more than a barking dog. And for good reason: Barking is loud, socially unacceptable, and often causes trouble in the neighbourhood. It's no wonder, then, that many people want to stop their dogs from barking quickly and safely. The problem: Barking is a natural part of dogs' expressive behaviour and a form of communication.
Why dogs bark
Most barking alerts dog owners to a lack of well-being and expresses a need for attention. Dogs bark to communicate. And that's precisely why they bark more than wolves. Articulating their needs is part of the evolution and domestication process; it's seen as one of the consequences of living with humans.
Barking is more energy-efficient than howling, but it also travels a shorter distance. Wolves rarely bark and usually direct their barking at neighbouring animals; it's part of their threatening behaviour.
Presumably as a consequence of living with humans, dogs have developed a variety of barking sounds that can convey information about their well-being, needs, and moods. In many dog breeds, barking has even been deliberately selected as a means of transmitting information.
However, this doesn't mean we're helpless against barking or have to accept it all the time. Those who take the time to examine dog barking more closely and recognize the underlying needs can train other communication strategies with their dog.
How dogs bark:
When barking, it's not just the pitch that counts, but also the rhythm and direction of gaze. High-pitched tones are more likely to be emitted in response to anxiety or fear. Low-pitched tones indicate a need to scare away the dog. Mid-pitched and very consistent sounds indicate frustration or conflict that is, conflicting emotions. If a dog looks directly at another dog while barking, the other dog may assume that the bark is also directed at it.
A dog that stares into space while barking is often in a state of conflict. Another sign is when a small amount of white is visible in the dog's eye.
With these types of barking, it is not only essential to train the actual causes, but it is also a good idea to train relaxing rituals and signals for difficult moments to support the dog.
Barking relaxes.
Barking itself can have a rewarding effect: exhaling forcefully can be a relaxing experience. If the dog uses barking to vent and let off steam, this can become its default release valve. Relaxation training utilizes other release valves, ensuring that we can engage and guide the dog effectively.
The point is not to forbid the dog from communicating and increase the pressure so that it no longer dares to express its needs, but rather to make alternative methods more attractive to the dog and, at the same time, to remove as much reinforcement from barking as possible.
Conclusion:
Every bark has a reason – if it bothers us, we should look for the causes. Of course, some breeds are considered prone to barking, but there are specific reasons for every bark that arise from the situation and the dog's emotional state.
Not every bark indicates discontent or a lack of well-being; sometimes, dogs are simply trying to tell us something. In these cases, their voices are softer and their tones more melodic.
The latter is not only generally perceived as significantly less unpleasant by humans, but it can also usually be interrupted by a short conversation and pleasant social interaction without neglecting the dog's needs.
People with dogs that bark a lot can do themselves a favour by not only teaching them relaxation but also linking barking and the cessation of barking with a cue. This way, they can not only tell the dog that barking is okay now, but also stop it without pressure if it barks at inappropriate times. These are nothing more than fun tricks that can be practised in small activity sessions and are usefully used in everyday situations.