Mary Allen
Is your dog’s constant barking getting on your nerves?
Does your dog bark when someone is in the stairwell? Does your dog bark at night?
Does your dog just bark at every sound?
There are dogs that have a great urge to communicate and will also report if a neighbor has dropped a cotton swab. Other dogs, on the other hand, appear enviably calm and rarely utter a sound.
But why is that?
In this article, you will find out whether you have picked up a very special specimen, why your dog barks at every noise, and how you can break the habit.
In a nutshell: Does your dog bark at every sound? You can do that!
If your dog barks at every sound, there can be a number of reasons. The solution approach can be just as individual as the characters of our four-legged friends.
Maybe your dog is barking out of fear or insecurity. In this case, you need to take charge of your dog and make him feel safe. Your dog is barking because someone is in the stairwell? Let him meet the neighbors if they’re okay with it.
Research into the causes: why does my dog bark at every noise?
Before you can start training to stop your dog from barking all the time, you need to figure out why he’s barking. There may be various reasons.
In the following, we want to go into three possible causes and then show you a suitable solution for each.
Perhaps you will rediscover your dog in our descriptions?
Breed behavior
Some dog breeds were bred specifically to take care of their people, home, and yard. So it’s logical that they loudly announce potential enemies and dangers and at best keep them away.
Other breeds, on the other hand, are generally very communicative and use barking and other sounds to communicate with their peers – even over kilometers. Pinschers and terriers lead the list of the most barking dogs.
| Dog breeds that bark a lot | Dog breeds that bark little |
| Boston Terrier | Basenji |
| Foxterrier | Irish Wolfhound |
| Miniature Pinscher | Lhasa Apso |
| Miniature Schnauzer | Akita Inu |
| Yorkshire Terrier | Labrador |
| Beagle | Golden Retriever |
| German shepherd dog | French bulldog |
Your dog is scared/unsure
The behavior of our dogs cannot always be traced back to their original breeding. Dogs are masters at mirroring our behavior.
Are you perhaps a rather insecure person yourself and shy away from new situations and challenges at first?
If your dog senses that you’re nervous or scared, there’s a good chance it will affect its behavior as well.
Even bad experiences, such as biting, can cause your dog to bark more at fellow dogs and strangers.
Your dog is not busy
Another possibility why your dog barks at every sound could be that he is not being exercised enough.
Does your dog report every doorbell ring, every step in the stairwell, everything that seems strange to him during the night and also when he farted?
Perhaps your dog is bored and finds occupation in barking, guarding, and reporting.
Stop barking: The right solution is often individual
Just like us humans, our dogs are all different.
They bring their own personality and previous experience with them.
Sometimes it is difficult to find the right solution immediately and it takes some trial and error.
There is no ONE solution. The approach is just as individual as you and your dog!
Teach your dog a trait?
It’s always a good idea to research the breed-specific traits before purchasing a dog.
There is no point in getting a guard dog like the German Shepherd or Chihuahua and then complaining that they want to do their job.
If you already have a barking ball of fur living with you, you can still limit the barking with consistent training.
Try it like this:
If your dog barks to announce your visit, let him bark 2-3 times, thank him for watching, and praise him for being alert.
With a “stop!” or “Quiet!” you signal to him that that’s enough and hold him a treat in front of his nose as a reward. If you repeat this exercise regularly, your dog will quickly understand what you want from him.
Offer your dog safety, protection, and guidance!
Is your dog afraid of other dogs or people because of bad experiences? Or are you a rather reserved person yourself and transfer your insecurity to your dog?
Whatever the reason, you need to be strong for your dog now!
Dogs always look to the strongest member of the pack, and if that’s not you in your little pack of two, your dog will feel responsible for protecting you.
The great thing is: you could work on it together!
If your dog barks like crazy the next time you meet a dog, take him protectively behind you and stay calm. Stand up for him, keep an eye on what he’s afraid of, and make him feel like you’re in control.
Tip:
You might find nice dog owners in your neighborhood that you can practice with.
Give your dog the opportunity to socialize in a relaxed manner. The more often you meet new people and dogs, go for a walk together or perhaps visit a dog-run area, the more confident your dog will be in dealing with strangers and dogs.
Make sure you have enough work and workload
A busy dog is a relaxed dog! That means both physical and mental exertion.
Dogs that are obviously bored tend to find an outlet for their excess energy. With some dogs, to the chagrin of the neighbors, this often degenerates into deafening barking orgies when they are alone .
Does your dog bark at every sound out of boredom? Here’s what you can do to keep him busy:
- Walk an extra large lap before heading to work or shopping.
- Make a few stops for head and nose work. Let your dog find treats in the woods, toss his
favorite ball, or do some impulse control exercises with him.
- Maybe you would like to try an agility course?
Good to know:
You can vary your dog’s activity so that it doesn’t get bored again straight away. It is only important that you do not overload your dog and its bones, muscles, and joints.
In short: your dog will no longer bark at every sound
There are dog breeds that bark a lot and breeds that bark a little.
You won’t be able to wean dogs that love to bark from their sounds, but you can narrow them down a bit.
The best thing to do is to familiarize yourself with the breed-specific characteristics before getting a dog and not get a guard dog if the barking gets on your nerves.
Make sure that your dog does not have to be afraid and is sufficiently busy. There are many intelligence games, concentration exercises, and impulse control training units that provide the necessary mental workload for your four-legged friend.