What makes dogs bark

They bark when they are frightened, lonely, surprised, irritated, and more. That means there are different barks for different moods, as well.

In terms of pitch, the lower the bark, the more serious the dog. For example, a dog enjoying playtime will tend to have a higher-pitched bark than one that is warning off intruders or disciplining a rude companion. Consider the barks your dog makes when a stranger is coming up the front walk compared to those he makes when you walk in the door.

A lonely dog will also make higher-pitched barks to request companionship, sometimes rising in tone to sound almost like a plaintive yelp. In addition, the more barks in a row, the more aroused the dog is. Your dog may not be able to distinguish between welcome visitors, people strolling past your home and intruders. With time your dog may begin to associate a person passing the house with something good rather than someone to protect you from.

If your dog barks at your neighbours when they are in their garden it is probably also because they are protecting your territory. Again, make sure you have some tasty treats at hand so that your dog associates your neighbours with the food only give the treat when your dog is calm and not barking.

You may also consider asking your friendly neighbours to treat your dog and supply them with their own stockpile — this is preferable to having them yell at your dog in frustration — yelling at a barking dog will only tend to reinforce the barking and protective behaviour. Barking is also reinforced when owners yell or scold their own barking dog and should be avoided. You can modify attention seeking barking by ignoring unwanted behaviour and rewarding good behaviour.

When your dog barks for attention he should be completely ignored — avoid eye contact, even leave the room. Praise and pat your dog when he is calm and quiet so he realises that this is the behaviour required to secure your attention.

Anti-barking collars constitute a form of punishment and are unreliable — they do not address the underlying cause of the problem and are easy to abuse.

Your dog will be punished for every bark, some of which will be appropriate, and he will not learn an alternative, acceptable behaviour. RSPCA Australia is opposed to the use of any electronically activated or other devices which deliver electric shocks, such as anti-barking collars and invisible boundaries.

Such devices are inhumane as they inflict pain, involve punishment and can be used to abuse animals. RSPCA Australia is also opposed to the use of collars that deliver aversive stimuli such as sound or scent, including citronella collars and high-pitched sound-emitting devices.

Often, their body language is less energetic and relaxed. However, be careful with this type of barking. If they are barking to get treats, for example, and they get what they want when they bark, it teaches them that their barking is effective. Then your dog might bark all the time to get treats. If a dog is not mentally and physically stimulated as he should be, destructive behaviors may develop. Daily walks, dog puzzles, quality time, and doggy day care can help prevent boredom.

Some clever dogs will bring an object as an obvious hint, such as a ball or a leash. They are typically lower and happen singularly. Similar to attention-seeking behavior, the body posture can include having their ears drawn back with their tail straight out, or they could display neutral positioning. In some cases, a dog may lower themselves into a play bow front legs down with their bottom in the air to signify they are ready to play.

Defensive barking is often heard when there is a clear stimulus—such as a strange person approaching the home, another dog being nearby, or being trapped in a position with no clear escape route. These barks will usually be deeper and may have a growl associated with them. They will also be fairly continuous and incessant. We need to be at the ready for a problem.

A dog may also long for human company and not just another dog's company. A bored dog or one that isn't getting enough stimulation both mental and physical , can also bark excessively. A greeting bark is usually a friendly bark. It can become a lot when the greeting is given to everyone the dog meets. Excessive barking can signal the dog is hungry, needs to go out, or just wants some attention. Dogs that do not like to be left alone could be suffering from separation anxiety.

In addition to repeated barking, dogs with this condition will usually exhibit other compulsive behaviors such as chewing or scratching furniture, walls, and doors. The best way to prevent barking in the first place is to try and remove any potential sources of the behavior. You should also avoid inadvertently encouraging the barking and give your dog better things to do.

To be a good canine citizen, your dog needs to know when to bark and when to be quiet. Part of your job as a dog owner means teaching this to your canine. Start working on problem barking as soon as you can. The longer you wait, the harder it gets to curb the behavior. The goal of these commands is to teach your dog to bark on command and to be quiet on command. It may take weeks for some dogs, so continue the training or work with an expert for extra help.

If your dog has been trained and continues to bark too much at certain times, you'll need to understand the cause of this behavior. If the excessive barking behavior is new for your dog, consult your veterinarian to address any health conditions. They will rule out any medical conditions or injuries that could be causing the barking and help you develop an action plan based on your dog's needs.

An aging dog that is displaying excessive barking will have different medical needs and an action plan than a young dog. For aging dogs, try to find out the source of the barking. To help stop excessive barking that can be caused by fear, territorialism, loneliness, or attention-seeking, try to pinpoint the exact trigger.

If possible, remove that trigger from your dog's life and work on behavior modification training.