Excessive noise can pose a problem. Knowing this, most dog owners are sensitive to how long their dogs have been barking. After all, barking can disrupt neighbors, loss of sleep, broken concentration, and possibly even a costly citation issued for a noise violation. However, maybe you have no idea why your dog is barking up a storm in the first place. Diving deeper into the reason your dog is barking may be the first step toward a solution.
1. Separation Anxiety
If your dog becomes noisy when they are left home alone, the culprit may be separation anxiety. This may also be accompanied by destructive behaviors, inappropriate toileting inside, and visible depression may be other signs that this is the case. Anyone suspecting that their dog is suffering from separation anxiety--or general anxiety, for that matter--should first seek the advice of their vet. Other solutions may include finding a dog walker or other companion to drop in during a period of absence, maintaining a calming environment, or in some instances, vet-recommended medication. You may even decide that starting doggy daycare or finding a day sitter will help keep your dog barking all day long while you are gone.
2. Boredom
When your dog goes all day without enough mental stimulation, barking may arise as a result. This is especially true for young dogs or working breeds. For example, a Border Collie with excessive energy and a drive to work may become barky if left locked up in a house all day with nothing to do. Just like separation anxiety, destructive behaviors may also accompany barking if boredom is the culprit. For boredom, the solution will vary based on the individual dog and their energy levels. For low-energy dogs, treat puzzles or more stimulating toys may be helpful. For other dogs, a drop-in dog walker, daycare, or increased activity might be key.
3. Environmental disruption
Another dog barking back to your dog from outside the home will not encourage a quiet environment. All the same, people poking around outside may trigger a dog's protective instincts. Reducing environmental noise and other disruptions may be the right move. If you happen to notice that something else is triggering your dog's barking--whether it is visual or auditory--take whatever steps you can to reduce that stimulus to reduce your dog's reaction to it.
4. Health issues
Dogs might possibly bark due to distress from a health problem. This is something especially important to watch out for in the case of elderly dogs, or ones with a prior history of health problems. If your dog has any unusual physical symptoms of any variety, make sure to get them to a vet to address what the underlying cause could be. Even without any obvious physical symptoms, however, having a vet rule out anything health-related might still be ideal.
5. Bad habits
Sometimes, the best explanation for a dog's barking is that they have developed a bad habit and are in need of training. If nothing else seems to be the source of their barking and no other triggers can be identified, it's possible that a qualified trainer would be able to dispense advice on how to help break the negative habit.
Regardless of the reason, excessive barking and endless noise can be distressing to everyone. However, where there is a reason, there is a solution, and all dogs typically bark for a reason. Seek help from your vet and a reliable trainer when needed so that you can find the solution that works for your dog.
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