“Wait a minute, I need to see what is going on out there?” I said to my friend. It had been 15 minutes straight and Milo had not taken a break from barking. I had to go and see what was going on before someone filed a complaint. I noticed that the neighbours’ cat was sitting in the window directly across the street. Milo’s predatory instincts had kicked in. Even though he couldn’t chase after the cat, he had no problem barking continuously to alert the cat of his presence. During that time, I kept thinking to myself – do dogs ever get tired of barking?
No, dogs do not get tired of barking. If a dog is barking, it’s because he feels he has a reason to bark. They might take a break, but unless the cause of the barking disappears, they will continue to bark. Predatory instincts, separation anxiety, boredom, fear of something or someone, territorial issues or even excitement are all reasons that dogs bark. Through extensive research I’ve found that while dogs don’t get tired of barking, there are some things us doggie parents can do to help them relax their vocal chords.
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Dog Thought Process
Your four-legged companion does not have the same thought process that we do as humans.
Milo doesn’t know what time I’ll be back, no matter how many times I tell him I’m just going to the mailbox.
They can’t tell time or understand that the vacuum cleaner isn’t going to chase them down.
Dogs never bark without a legitimate reason – a reason that they think is legitimate, even if we humans know better.
So if you dog barks uncontrollably, you can easily calm them down by figuring out the source of the problem.
Barking and Anxiety
Oftentimes when a dog barks non-stop, anxiety is the cause. Especially if the barking occurs when their owner leaves the house.
As a puppy Milo would bark and howl for hours whenever I would leave the house. Now that he’s older he’s learned that I’ll be back in a little while and no longer does this.
Usually the barking was accompanied by destruction of property and emptying his bowels in all areas of the house.
This is a clear sign of separation anxiety.
Puppies often go through this when acclimating to their new home. But if your dog has not overcome this stage of development, treating the separation anxiety is a good idea.
Teach them that you will always come back home by starting off slow.
Only leave the house for small periods of time at first, gradually increasing each time.
With Milo, I left the house only for 30 minute intervals at first. Then an hour. Then several hours. Until he understood that I would be back shortly.
I also made sure to give him plenty of toys to entertain himself while I was away. And to give him plenty of attention as soon as I got back.
Boredom and Barking
Unlike humans, dogs cannot just tune into Netflix to kill time.
If they are bored, they will bark excessively to let you know they want some entertainment.
This is because dogs usually move in packs in the wild. They aren’t used to being lonely.
Like humans, dogs also need a routine to stay busy and entertained all day long.
To prevent boredom and stress, spend lots of time with your dog and establish a routine. Show them the affection they are looking for. Give them plenty of exercise before you leave the house.
This way they will be tired and relaxed when you are away. You know what they say – a tired dog is a good dog.
Puppies often suffer from boredom more than older dogs do. When Milo was younger he would want to play non-stop. Rarely did he ever get tired.
Now that he’s in his adult years, he seems to be content relaxing on the couch a lot more than he used to.
If you know you will be away for long periods of time however, you can always leave your pooch at a doggie daycare. This way he would be involved in other activities and would not have a lot of time to think about you.
Hiring a dog sitter or a dog walker also helps immensely.
Stress, fear, and barking
An often overlooked reason that a dog barks is stress and fear.
For example, Milo hates the vacuum cleaner – just like many other dogs. He will bark at that thing for hours and avoid it completely when he can.
So if we happen to leave the house right before the Roomba is programmed to come on, we will definitely return home to find Milo howling at the top of his lungs.
This can also be seen in guard dogs.
When an unknown person comes to the front door, a guard dog will bark until the threat is removed – or until they see that the threat is not actually a threat.
As much as we like to think this is a heroic act of valor, Fluffy is probably just afraid of this unknown threat and doing what he can to protect his home.
Ways to Reduce Barking
Toys
Have you seen a baby crying non-stop and the only way to put an end to it is if you give them their favorite pacifier?
Well the situation here is similar.
Bones or chew toys can keep your dogs occupied for hours. So instead of barking or destroying your house, they are distracted by their favorite toy.
Apply this technique especially when you think your dog is barking out of boredom or separation anxiety.
Exercise
Exercise is very important for dogs.
And as you probably already know, some dog breeds require a lot more exercise than others to keep up their physical and mental health.
Failing to provide sufficient release for your dog might result in excessive barking or destruction of your property – simply as a release of energy!
Positive Reinforcement
Dogs respond very well to positive reinforcement, so leaning the command “Quiet” is no different.
When you give your dog the “Quiet” command, and he stops barking – even if he’s just trying to understand what you said – give him a reward and praise.
Continue doing this on a regular basis until your dog associates the command with him not barking. Eventually, you will be able to use this command without giving your dog a treat.
When Milo was about 6 months old, he found his bark.
As a guard dog, I was proud of him, but sometimes what he perceived as a threat was nothing more than a squirrel outside.
The quiet command was an easy way to calm him down and was not so difficult to teach him!
Comfort Blanket
If your pooch suffers from separation anxiety then a blanket can be used to comfort them – much like a baby cries for their pacifier.
Using a blanket that you use for yourself and has your smell on it can be especially comforting.
This makes them feel as if you are with them and never left.
Jackets, pillows, and other soft articles of clothing work in a similar way.
Get Rid of the Motivation
Just like Milo barking at the Roomba, it might be a good idea to remove the cause of the stress to prevent your dog from barking uncontrollably.
Sometimes that means keeping the curtains closed so he can’t see the cat in the window.
And sometimes that means reprogramming the Roomba to run at a different time.
How long can a dog bark legally before a complaint can be lodged?
The time that a dog can legally bark before a complaint can be lodged varies by county. Check with your county to determine local ordinances. However, many counties do not provide a time limit and rely on a “reasonable” nuisance before a complaint can be filed. Often times, multiple complaints must be filed before action is taken.
Can constant barking hurt a dog?
Dogs can get sore throats from extensive barking and actually lose their voice, much in the same way that people do. They can also cause damage to their vocal chords and require treatment from a vet to reduce inflammation and swelling caused by excessive barking.
Does a dog whistle stop a dog from barking?
Dog whistles make a noise which is not disturbing to human ears and does no harm to dogs either. However, the high frequency of the whistle annoys our little canine friends. They might respond to it by barking a lot in the beginning but once they notice that the whistle is being used only when they bark aggressively they will eventually stop barking.
Often as pet owners, we become distressed when we see our pooch barking quite frequently for no apparent reason. It is always best to find the source which motivates our fur babies to bark incessantly – whether the cause is apparent at first glance or now. Dogs never bark for no reason, so if you dog can’t seem to stop using his outside voice, think about some of the causes listed above to determine the best course of action for your dog.
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