WHAT TO DO WITH A CONSTANTLY BARKING DOG? THESE ARE POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS

Barking is one of the canine communication tools. But when your neighbors start texting you to "do something about that noisy dog", the communication is too much. The first step is to find out why the dog is barking excessively, then you will choose a solution accordingly and your neighborly relations will be in harmony again.

Possible reasons for excessive barking:

1. Boredom

Most dogs were bred for specific work in the past. By nature, it is their nature to be constantly in a sled. Therefore, one of the simplest explanations for why your furry friend is constantly barking at home is boredom. In short, he doesn't know how to entertain himself and barking seems like a good idea to pass the time. Try making your walks longer, play with your dog longer or get him dog puzzles.

2. Demanding attention

Now think about how you react when your dog just starts barking? Do you yell at him to be quiet? Do you do it like this every time and the dog won't stop? In fact, you have been rewarding him with your attention the whole time, thus getting the dog used to the fact that barking is correct. Try to ignore the barking for a while and not react to it. Then when the furry one is quiet for a while, that's the right moment for the reward.

3. Enthusiasm

Some furries express their joy by barking. You go for a leash and the dog starts barking excitedly that morning? Are you making him a meal and he's cracking up all over the place? Such a loud expression of joy is harder to unlearn because it is a reaction to routine activities. As in the previous case, reward the dog only when he calms down. For example, if you take the leash and he barks that morning, put the leash down again. This will let him know that if he barks, he will not go on the desired walk. The moment you reach for the leash again and the dog suddenly becomes quiet, you can go outside.

4. Anxiety/fear

Constant barking can unfortunately also have more serious reasons. Many dogs are vocal all the time when they are home alone. It is usually a symptom of separation anxiety, which should not be underestimated. You can contact a dog trainer with this problem or read our tips on how to help a dog with anxiety to get started.

5. Sounds and smells

Sometimes it may seem like your dog is just barking at nothing. A dog's senses, especially hearing and smell, are much more sensitive than a human's. Therefore, they can feel or hear something that humans are unable to perceive. It may therefore happen that the dog wants to alert you to something similar by barking.

6. Change in health status

If you notice that the barking is accompanied by other behavioral changes, it may be a sign of a more serious health problem. For example, aging dogs sometimes react this way to impaired hearing or vision.

Once you figure out why the dog keeps barking, it's important to adjust the training accordingly. For example, if you have found that this is how your furry friend wants attention, one method of unlearning it is to ignore it. On the other hand, if a furry dog ​​is barking because he has a health problem, you need to start solving it as soon as possible.