Why does a dog bark at other dogs?

Barking is a dog's way of communicating with its owner and other animals. In some cases, it can be warning or threatening, which can serve the pet and its owner well.

But if the dog constantly barks at every passerby he meets or barks frequently while at home, you need to take action, since such restless behavior causes discomfort both to the owner of the four-legged friend and to those around him.

Why does the dog bark?

There are a number of reasons that cause anxiety in a pet, and it begins to bark, attracting attention to itself. These include:

a game where the pet expresses joy with loud yapping;
fear - occurs most often when the animal remains in a confined space or completely alone;
anxiety - can be caused by suspicious sounds, the presence of strangers or other dogs, uninvited guests and other reasons in response to which such a loud reaction occurs;
boredom - the pet may become bored, but he has little choice of entertainment: chew on some of the owner’s things or bark loudly, attracting attention to himself;
aggression is a way to show negative emotions (anger, dissatisfaction) in response to stimuli, similar to a human scream;
frustration - occurs in many pets when parting with the owner, so if they behave noisily when you leave the house, this is a manifestation of resentment;
jealousy - appears when the owner shows more care and attention towards other inhabitants of the house;
need - the pet needs something and communicates this with its loud behavior.

The easiest way to wean off barking is to observe and find out in what situations barking begins and try to eliminate these irritating factors.

For example, some dogs often respond with loud barks to the sharp sound of a telephone or doorbell. To wean them off the sound of calls, it will be enough to turn it down or turn off the sound.

Of course, in this way it is impossible to completely get rid of the problem, but you can significantly reduce the number of such loud attacks.

Weaning off excessive barking at home

This issue is especially relevant for pets, which can create unnecessary noise late at night or while a child is sleeping. First of all, it is important to understand that if it is unacceptable for a dog to bark at home, then this should not be done under any circumstances. For example, you can’t praise him for being smart about his neighbor going up the stairs, but at the same time scold him for reacting loudly to the doorbell.

One simple way to wean it is to touch the ears or lightly squeeze the auricle with your thumb and forefinger. First, you need to try such stroking at moments when the animal is completely calm. If the reaction is positive, then you can confidently use this method when barking occurs for no reason.

Another way is to teach the command “Hush!”, which is given at moments of barking. If your pet becomes silent, you should praise him, pet him and reward him with a treat. After regular repetition, he will eventually understand that after the word “quiet” he needs to be silent.

These are quite working methods, but they do not provide a 100% guarantee of results, especially when it comes to adult animals rather than puppies. But if they don’t work, you should not give up, but look for other options.

If the problem needs to be solved here and now, for example, to get rid of causeless night yapping, you can use a spray bottle with water. As soon as the dog starts making noise, sprinkle water in its face.

Before this, you need to make a warning command “Quiet”.

How to stop barking at passers-by

By barking at oncoming dogs and passers-by, the dog tries to demonstrate fearlessness and scare suspicious subjects.

When a stranger passes by without paying any attention to the barking beast, he gets the impression that the “enemy” is really scared.

As a result, a kind of conditioned reflex is formed when strangers approach, and barking becomes more confident and louder over time, sometimes even accompanied by aggressive behavior.

To wean a dog from barking at everyone, a distraction method is used. The main task in this case is to switch attention to a more important and interesting object.

This could be a toy or treat that you can use to entice your pet.

For example, you can twirl a treat in front of your nose, make the dog jump or run after it, so that the desired object occupies all the animal’s thoughts and it doesn’t care about passers-by.

The treat should be given before a “noisy reaction” to the stranger appears. If you do this afterwards, your pet will be convinced that this is a reward for loud behavior and will try even harder next time.

Special devices

There are special devices that can also help stop your dog from barking.

If an animal is difficult to train and continues to bark at everyone for no reason, you can use these devices as an addition to the methods listed above, or as an independent tool. Not all novice dog breeders know about such accessories, but they are one of the effective ways to solve the problem.

Ultrasonic collar

Anti-barking devices come in several types:

With electric shock - they look like a regular collar, but when barking starts, special sensors transmit a small amount of current. Many dog owners may be frightened by this action, but when activated, a minimal current charge occurs, which pulls the animal back, but does not cause a dangerous effect.
With a special liquid - in case of barking, the device hisses and splashes out a small portion of a spray with a lemon smell, which is unpleasant to the dog, it gets scared and stops making noise. Over time, the animal understands that her barking is the cause of the strong lemon smell.
With ultrasound - they emit special signals at ultrasonic frequencies, inaudible to the human ear, which irritate the animal and force it to shut up, but there is a chance that with frequent use the pet will get used to the signal and stop paying attention to it.

An ultrasonic collar is not suitable for animals with hearing problems, as they simply will not be able to hear the sound vibrations.

In most situations, anti-bark collars actually make the dog silent, but with prolonged use it becomes addictive, so you have to increase the intensity of the effect to get the desired effect.

From an educational point of view, such a device does not help, but rather harms. It simply stops unwanted actions, but at the same time the barking animal does not receive arguments and explanations why this should not be done.

A device that limits barking can also include a muzzle - it will fix the mouth, preventing the animal from barking, but at the same time it will not interfere with breathing. You can put a muzzle on before going for a walk to prevent your dog from barking at everyone.

Useful tips

Owners of particularly noisy pets will benefit from the following helpful tips:

It is advisable to wean from unreasonable barking from an early age; you should not allow the puppy to whine;
situations that provoke barking should be avoided, especially in the first stages of training;
It is not advisable to praise the dog when it loudly “welcomes” the appearance of the owner. If praise occurs during the period of weaning from barking, then this negates all efforts;
you should not shout, as the dog may begin to “snarl” in response;
perhaps the dog is experiencing attention deficit and if you often exercise, play and go for walks with him, he will behave much calmer;
if the pupil becomes simply uncontrollable and refuses to obey, you can use the services of a professional trainer who will help identify the reasons for such noisy behavior and teach the animal to restrain its emotions;
In case of excessively restless behavior, you can contact your veterinarian to prescribe a sedative.

Each of the chosen methods requires significant participation from the owner, so you need to have enough patience and time to get rid of the problem of causeless barking. But it’s worth remembering that barking is a dog’s means of communicating with the outside world, so you don’t need to take radical measures to eliminate it, but confidently correct the dog’s behavior and the conditions in which it is kept.

The main causes of dog barking

Unlike human language, dog barking is a unique language that is understood by all packs and breeds. Animals have no problems understanding their relatives. Having understood the reasons for the appearance of barking, you can learn how to properly wean an animal from barking at its relatives.

First of all, it is worth remembering that barking is not an obvious manifestation of aggressiveness towards its relatives, but a means of exchanging information.

Without training the dog from puppyhood, the problem can get worse, causing a lot of problems for its owner.

The main reasons for barking at their relatives are:

Game moment - a pet, like any animal, can experience various emotions, especially joyful ones. Seeing a fellow dog on the playground or on the street, the dog tries to invite another individual to play, using his voice for this. At the same time, the dog does not show aggression at all, but on the contrary, shows friendliness and wags its tail.

Feeling of fear - when an animal does not feel protected, in most cases it begins to bark. It may seem to a person that this is an attack of aggression or discontent, but in fact the dog is simply scared. Animals try to avoid fights and it is through barking that they communicate their intentions. If another dog somehow begins to lay claim to territory or a potential mate, the dog tries to scare away its possible rival by barking.

Expression of anxiety - unfamiliar sounds or objects cause a feeling of uncertainty.

How to stop a dog from barking at home and on the street: training secrets and methods

HomeEducationBehavior

Barking for a dog is a means of communication with the owner, with the outside world, with dogs and other animals. But such communication, of course, must fit into the living conditions next to the person - no one will be happy about barking at 4 a.m. or howling at the moon at midnight. How to deal with an overly sociable dog? First you need to find out the reasons for barking.

Reasons for a dog's constant barking

There can be many reasons for a dog barking - the range of emotions and feelings in a dog is extensive:

The dog may bark out of fear. A large dog will not bark in vain at a stranger; it will tolerate the stranger’s antics until the last moment, without betraying its emotions in any way. But a small dog barks loudly at the first appearance of an unknown creature - this is how fear manifests itself. This is a normal reaction to an unclear stimulus: in this way the dog warns that it is serious and it is better not to touch it. This is where tactics work to prevent an attack.
A dog, an adult or a puppy, can bark out of resentment - when the owner leaves, the pet communicates that he feels bad and that he is waiting and offended.
Barking as a manifestation of restless behavior. Unknown sounds, objects or creatures arouse not only interest in the dog, but also concern for the safety of itself and the owner.
When a dog is left alone, barking can be triggered by boredom. If a person, left alone, can occupy himself, then the dog has nothing left but barking or damaging pieces of furniture and shoes.
The cause of excitement can be not only stress , but also joy - for example, the joy of meeting the owner or any other object or person pleasant to the dog.
The reason for barking is often aggression - before attacking, the dog warns by barking or growling.
A dog, as a highly social creature , may experience a feeling of jealousy when the owner shows excessive, from the pet’s point of view, attention to another animal.
Growling or howling may be a result of painful sensations. A dog may growl, whine or howl when a painful part of the body is touched or simply feels painful.

It happens that a dog may bark for no reason. This way the pet can signal that it wants to go to the toilet or that the water in the bowl has run out and the dog is thirsty.

Dog barks at home

Before you begin to correct the dog's behavior, you need to determine the cause of the excitement.

Training with a dog should begin from the first day it arrives in the house.

Raising, training or correcting a dog’s already established behavior must be systematic: you cannot first prohibit some behavior and then allow it.

If you scold a dog for barking when an intercom or telephone rings, but praise and reward it for barking at any sounds outside the door, the dog will not understand what they want from it and the behavior may worsen.

To train a dog to stop barking and jumping for joy at the sight of a person, you need to:

Show calm and not react to your pet’s violent reaction. If this does not help, you need to gently push the dog away from you or go into another room.
When your pet calms down, you can call him or approach him and pet him . If the dog starts barking and jumping excitedly again, suddenly stop petting or playing with the pet. The main thing here is to be systematic so that the dog understands that only if it is calm will it receive affection or play from a person.

What to do if your dog barks when left alone

Here you will have to show a little more patience and endurance. So, the actions of the dog owner should be as follows:

Leave the room, leaving the dog alone in the room, note the time when the dog begins to show anxiety and bark (let this be approximately 15 minutes). A little later, repeat again - go out and leave the dog alone in the room. But go inside 10-20 seconds before the dog starts barking (i.e. 20 seconds before 15 minutes have passed). Carry out all these maneuvers until the dog sits quietly for an hour or more.
Train the dog in exactly the same way, only this time leaving the apartment on the playground, leaving the dog alone in the apartment.
When the dog has mastered the staircase stage well, you need to leave the entrance - the fact is that the pet very well senses the presence of the owner even in the entrance.

Of course, these trainings must be constant and after 3-5 weeks the dog will get used to being alone. You need to remember that the dog needs a good walk - if the dog is tired from a walk, he is unlikely to be interested in the activity outside the door.

If your dog is barking out of boredom when leaving home, be sure to leave a toy for the dog to have something to do while he waits for his owner.

What to do if your dog barks at everyone

First of all, you need to remember that there is no need to scold, hiss or shout at a dog when it barks excitedly - such behavior can only be achieved by exciting the dog even more.

You can teach your dog to follow the command “Quiet!” When the dog starts barking, calmly and loudly say “Quiet!”, offering a toy. When the dog stops barking and is distracted by the game, you can additionally reward it with a treat. In general, the game is a reinforcement of correct behavior, but it is better that the team is associated with maximum pleasure.

It happens that the dog does not respond to games, then you can act more harshly - when the dog starts barking, after the command “Quiet!” Squeeze your jaw slightly until the dog calms down. As soon as the dog is silent, immediately praise and give a treat. Over time, following the command will become a reflex, and the dog will obediently remain silent.

A good way to stop barking is to use a distraction - switch your pet's attention to a toy or treat.

Another method to stop unwanted behavior is to, at a moment of extreme excitement, grab the dog by the base of the ears, lightly squeeze and “rub.” When the dog stops barking, praise and offer a treat.

Dog breeders' opinion

Small dogs tend to live in houses and sleep on their owner's bed; they are clever manipulators, and this is reflected in their behavior. Dog breeders are also trying to understand this issue and have already put forward a theory about the existence of an unusual pathology. In their opinion, small dog syndrome is just a defensive reaction. Those who have pets have long noticed that the smaller the dog, the more aggression it shows towards others. While walking, he will not give up trying to attack his larger brothers. If it weren't for the owner's short leash, he would definitely have bitten someone. It's probably not a matter of anger. It’s just that these little creatures feel the injustice of nature towards themselves. They strive to immediately loudly declare themselves so that no one has a reason to offend them.

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How to stop a dog from barking at everyone: passers-by, neighbors and cats

With the help of barking, a dog expresses its emotions and communicates with its relatives. She can bark joyfully, menacingly or scared. A dog never barks for no reason, there is always a reason. Therefore, before punishing your pet, you need to figure out why this happens. The reasons for constant barking may be:

The dog is bored. This happens when the owner goes to work for the whole day, while the four-legged friend is left alone. If a dog is on a leash in a private house, it also becomes bored, and it begins not only to bark, but also howl.
Barking can also be a dog's expression of protest. She does not agree that she was locked alone in a separate room or cage. The sound of such barking is demanding, ringing. The dog can sit at the door for a long time, raising its head up, protesting loudly.
A four-legged friend may bark at another animal that he cannot reach. For example, this happens when a cat or another dog is walking outside the window. If the irritant is constantly in front of the dog, the barking will not stop until the desired object disappears from sight.
Monotonous barking at night indicates that the dog is scared. She may be frightened by night sounds or afraid to be alone.

Reasons for dog “concerts”

A pet's warning "tirade" when meeting another dog, barking at a stranger knocking on your gate - this is an integral part of the behavior of a four-legged pet.

But if a dog barks at everyone, you should wonder what happened to it.

Perhaps someone greatly frightened your pet, and she began to assert herself by barking? Or was the dog poisoned by spoiled food and is now not happy about anything? Let's name the most common reasons for dog barking:

Features of the breed. Some dogs (poodles, spitz) tend to bark often just like that - out of love for the process.
The young puppy's longing for its owner. For a young dog that has not yet become a disciplined member of the “pack,” any separation from its owner is a drama that must be “barked out.” This problem is easy to fix. You should go for walks with your four-legged friend more often, and do not suddenly leave the apartment. And, of course, train a cute puppy.
Disease. If a well-balanced dog suddenly begins to bark both within the walls of its home and on the street, you should take your pet to the veterinarian.
The dog's fearful disposition. Fearful pets try to cheer themselves up by barking, and at the same time show other dogs that they are ready for a fight (which is not true).
Joyful excitement. If the dog vocalizes before a walk, there is no need to worry.
Manipulative behavior. A dog barks at its owner to achieve something (delicious food, an opportunity to play).

The most sociable breeds

When you decide to buy a puppy, pay attention to the breed. Some pets are overly “social” by nature. To raise such dogs, you need to put in a lot of effort. The table will tell you which breeds are the loudest.

Table - Classification of dog breeds according to their tendency to bark

The loudest	They bark in moderation and to the point	Silent people
— Bloodhound; - Sheltie; - Brussels Griffon; - dachshund; - Border Collie; - chow-chow; - drathaar; - Shih Tzu; - Yorkshire Terrier; - miniature schnauzer; - Weimaraner; - fox terrier; - Cocker Spaniel; - chihuahua; - collie; - fox terrier; - Maltese; - Samoyed dog; - Pekingese; - miniature poodle; - miniature pinscher; - shorthaired pointer; - Newfoundland; - toy poodle; - Pomeranian Spitz	- Alabai; - Boerboel; - Afghan hound; - Scotch Terrier; - Dogue de Bordeaux; — Giant Schnauzer; - Boston Terrier; - German dog; - briar; - Rottweiler; - bulldog; - Rhodesian Ridgeback; - bobtail; - pointer; - bull terrier; - Labrador Retriever; - Staffordshire Terrier; - royal poodle; - Dalmatian; - German Shepherd; - Doberman; - Airedale Terrier; - Irish wolfhound; - Golden retriever	— Irish Setter; - Staffordshire bull terrier; - Shar Pei; - Akita Inu; - English Mastiff; — basset hound; - Japanese chin; - Bichon Frize; - Cane Corso; — pug; - boxer; - bullmastiff; - Shiba Inu; - Basenji; - English bulldog; - Bernese Mountain Dog; - Papillon; - St. Bernard; - Chinese Crested Dog

Weaning off excessive barking at home

If the problem needs to be solved here and now, for example, to get rid of causeless night yapping, you can use a spray bottle with water. As soon as the dog starts making noise, sprinkle water in its face.

Before this, you need to make a warning command “Quiet”.

Briefly about the main thing

Dog barking is your pet’s natural reaction to the reality around him.
The frequency and intensity of barking does not depend in any way on the size of the dog.
The reasons for barking can be both physiological factors (fear, reaction to pain, excess energy) and psycho-emotional moments (an attempt to attract attention, the desire to protect territory, joy, etc.).
Without correctly identifying the cause of barking, it is pointless to start training.
Any training should be based on patience and care. The use of intimidation or brute force is strongly discouraged. The correct actions of the pet must be encouraged.
The most effective way to combat barking is to switch the dog’s attention. To perform already known commands, a favorite toy, etc.
The use of additional measures - medications, collars - is permissible only if all other methods have proven ineffective.
Surgical intervention is an extreme and undesirable measure that poses a serious threat to the life and health of the pet.

Each dog is a four-legged individual with its own character, habits, level of adaptation, etc. The recommendations presented in the article are general in nature. Each individual case may have its own nuances. Send your questions and advice to x. Perhaps your life experience will help someone find the right solution to a problem.