If the dog blares and barks seemingly for no reason and persistently at any time of the day or night, good advice is expensive, because first the cause of the barking must be determined. Find out here what barking is all about and what you can do about it.
Why do dogs bark?
What distinguishes the dog from the wolf? The barking: Adult wolves (and other dog-like predators such as coyotes or jackals) rarely bark and dog prophylactic treatment their vocalizations are very different from the well-known dog barking. A barking wolf makes at most a short, dull sound, situationally as a brief warning or in battle. Barking is a vocalization that is characteristic of domestic dogs and can also articulate a wide range of meanings there.
Meanings of barking:
Excitement (joy or nervousness)
Demanding attention
Activity Prompt
Fear
Warding off dangers (“barking” of strangers)
“Giving loud”, i.e. barking at the request of a man
The large “language palette” of domestic dogs is presumably an adaptation of the animals to living together with humans in the course of domestication. Other typical “dog sounds” are whining, wheezing, whining and growling – sounds that are also always used in certain contexts.
Dog barks constantly
Barking is therefore a means of communication with the help of which the dog can make itself very differentiated to its bipeds. A short, situational barking is therefore part of the normal behavior of the dog.
The situation is different with the dreaded persistent or strikingly frequent clapping.
There are various motivations for “constant barking”:
Boredom: If the dog is underemployed, there is a risk that it will develop naughty species. Some dogs start gnawing furniture, others pass the time with barking concerts. Make sure the dog is busy. The workload must be adapted to the dog: Action sports such as agility can stimulate overly lively barkers. Long walks or dog sports, where concentration and patience are required, are more suitable, such as obedience or tracking games. Quieter contemporaries, on the other hand, can be well exhausted with long bike rides. Try out what is fun for the four-legged friend and provides balance.
Loneliness: Many dogs are not good at being alone and vent their displeasure and feeling of abandonment with barking.
Attention: In a variety of cases of constant barking, the dog wants to attract the attention of his human for various reasons. Again, training is helpful and necessary to channel the volume and barking pleasure of the animal.
If dogs bark constantly for a long time, it is usually attention or danger prevention barking. In both cases, the dog requires attention:
He wants to show you something, Ask you to take action, or is in a conflict situation.
According to German case law, constant barking is considered a disturbing noise emission. Injunctions and the imposition of fines are possible.
Dogs bark when he is alone
As mentioned above, some dogs bark constantly when they are alone. The trigger for this type of barking in many cases is separation anxiety. Fears of loss, which are compensated with barking, can be triggered by bad experiences or even disturbances in the early mother-puppy relationship.
Teach the animal as early as possible to get by without your presence by the hour and ensure sufficient utilization so that the dog also calmly accepts rest periods. Do not encourage the four-legged friend in his “clinging” behavior – you should avoid elaborate farewell rituals and welcomes.
If barking has become a problem in your absence, get help from a qualified dog trainer. There are various exercises to reduce the stress for your four-legged friend and thus also to reduce or even stop barking.
Can barking be pathological?
If your dog is not a barker but starts doing so suddenly and without an obvious reason, there could be a symptom of the disease. It can be an expression of pain or an indication of a neurological problem. Some dogs suddenly bark at night; this, too, may indicate mental or physical problems.
In addition, constant barking can favor laryngitis (laryngitis). In this case, introduce your four-legged friend to the veterinarian to rule out pathological causes.
How can I stop the dog from barking?
A typical problem: The dog barks at visitors or gets into a lot of excitement when it rings. This arousal barking shows that the dog is under tension, which he reduces by barking. As a rule, these dogs also move a lot, the tail wags, the animal runs back and forth. If you want to stop your dog from barking, there are several tips to help:
Do not suppress barking (for example, by punishing). The dog can then not release the stress, so it is still under tension, even if he stops barking.
Greet him calmly, stroke him gently and do not let the greeting degenerate. Your movements should be slow and calm, and your voice should be deep. Also tell potential visitors.
Something to “crumple” in the mouth, e.B. a dummy, serves several purposes: The bark ends because the mouth is full. The dog is distracted because he has something to do and the jaw movement reduces tension – without noise.
Link the doorbell to the resting place. Whenever it rings, but please also on other occasions, you send your darling on his blanket. If you’ve practiced this for a while, it becomes natural for him to wait there until you get him. This is especially helpful if your dog barks at people and you want to wean him off. In addition, visitors might be afraid of dogs, especially if they behave like great.
In the training situation, you can stop the dog directly: When it rings, interrupt his movement impulse when he wants to jump up and push him back to the resting place. The more consistently you pursue this, the faster he will simply remain calm, because he knows that there is no need for action for him when it rings.
As I said before, barking can also point out other things.crate training a rat terrier if the dog is afraid, it will help him if you calm him down, stand by his side and give him security. On the other hand, you should sanction prompt barking, for example, if you hold the ball in your hand and he wants you to finally throw, by insisting on calm.
Praise and reward your dog when he stops barking. Breastfeeding on call is a signal that you can also teach an older dog with love and treats and that is helpful in many situations.
Your dog barks at other dogs? There is also no blanket remedy here, because the cause is important for the right reaction. Is it fear, aggression or a call to play? The appropriate education will then be based on this.
Are there dog breeds that are particularly bell-happy?
Apart from the individual character differences of the animals within a breed, there are actually differences in belligerence.
Especially dog breeds, which are bred as hunting or guard dogs, have a higher disposition to bark. This is understandable, because guard dogs are supposed to make noise and intruders fade, hunting dogs must be able to communicate within the pack or with their master over distances.
Shepherd dogs, dachshunds, terriers, but also Pugs or lace have a strong territorial behavior and strike when someone approaches. Rather quieter dog breeds, on the other hand, are usually Golden Retrievers, Irish Wolfhounds or Great Danes.