Mary Allen
Whether it’s the joy of meeting you, fear or pain – your dog’s barking can have many reasons – and only if you know them can you properly meet the needs of your four-legged friend.
Your Dog is Glad to See You
The most obvious reason: Your dog simply greets you with his barks and is glad that you have returned home. This is a contact form for your beauty.
However, in some situations, this may not be desirable: for example, with frightened postmen, sensitive neighbors, or when you come home from a party at night. Fortunately, there is an opportunity to teach your dog a different greeting. Instead of barking, you can teach him to bring you his favorite toy, which you can then play with.
Your Dog Wants Your Attention
Speaking of play, another reason your dog might bark might be boredom. Maybe at the moment, he is feeling weak – and his barking requires your attention.
However, do not go into details right away – otherwise, your dog will quickly learn that you are dancing to his tune. Instead, you should make sure your dog has enough play and exercise right from the start. You have to give an incentive to play together, not the other way around. If your dog is barking at you because he wants to play, it’s best to send him to the trash can. In a few minutes, you can start playing with it yourself.
Some dogs bark a lot when visitors arrive. No wonder: suddenly they have to share your attention with other living beings. If your dog is upset and feels neglected, he will express this with loud barks. Again, you can take preventive measures and regularly keep the dog with something to keep it or stay generally balanced.
Your Dog is Protecting You (or Himself)
Sometimes your dog may bark while walking when it sees other dogs. In this way, it goes on the defensive and shows its strength in situations in which he feels unsafe.
Your Dog Barks in Fear
In frightening situations, barking goes in the same direction: often barking is accompanied by panic, running back and forth. For example, some dogs react to stressful situations such as fireworks, thunderstorms, or the need to see a veterinarian. Sometimes the insecurity of their owners is transmitted to four-legged friends – they can feel exactly what you feel in some situation. Presumably, they then also react in a frightened manner and demonstrate this with hysterical barking.
Your Dog Barks in Pain
Don’t you immediately understand why your dog is barking? Then he can show that he is not doing well. Because even to chronic or acute pain, four-legged friends react loudly.
And this makes sense: this is how you make it clear to your owner that something is wrong. If your dog barks for no apparent reason, you should take him to the vet for a thorough examination.
Your Dog is Disappointed
Sometimes dogs also react in a very human way: for example, when they look forward to a walk when you put on your shoes, and then get frustrated when you just go shopping. Even so, your dog may bark at you to express his frustration.
No matter why your dog is barking, simply dismissing his behavior as disobedience and punishing him for it is dangerous. You should try to read your dog’s signals.
Only by knowing the reason for it barking, you can fix it.