There are hundreds of thousands of words in the English language, but imagine for a second that the only thing you could say (or hear) is “banana.”
Whether you’re happy or sad, need food or a hug, or want to express a desire to go for a walk or take a bath, the only thing anyone hears is “banana.”
(Imagine this entire article about why your dog won’t stop barking says “banana, banana, banana.”)
That’s what happens to dogs when trying to communicate with their owners, and that’s why it’s important for owners to always pay attention to context and tone when their dogs bark and bark and bark.
“Barking is driven by a lot of things,” says Dr. Kristina Spaulding, a certified animal behaviorist in upstate New York, “and while some dogs don’t bark much, they sometimes find other ways to show their emotions.” or indicate that they want something, such as groping you, jumping, talking with your mouth, stealing things, or finding other ways to get in trouble.”
Read on to learn five common reasons why your dog won’t stop barking, the meaning of different types of barking, and the best way to react.
they want something
Demand barking, Spaulding says, occurs when a dog wants some type of attention. Maybe it’s a walk or just a pet. It could also mean that your dog wants food.
Unlike other types of barking, demand barking has a specific, identifiable cadence, Spaulding says.
“Demand barks tend to be shorter: a single bark or several in quick succession. There are more pauses in between and the dog usually looks at you or what he wants. He is much more controlled,” he states.
The million dollar question when faced with this type of barking is whether you should respond to them.
“I tend to ignore it or actively get up and walk away if a dog barks at me,” Spaulding says. This is because giving in and giving dogs what they want can reinforce the behavior and encourage them to demand more barking in the future.
However, if you decide to give in, Spaulding says it’s best to do so after the first bark or second, if you can, because waiting teaches dogs that they have to bark a lot to get what they want, and they can become very aggressive in the future.
They are alarmed
Most dog owners have probably experienced this when the doorbell rings and their dog just freaks out.
“Alarm barking is associated with something that draws the dog’s attention,” says Sandra Sawchuk, a primary care clinical instructor at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.
If you want this type of barking to stop, Sawchuk says the most important thing is not to yell at the dog. That tends to irritate him even more.
Instead, divert the dog’s attention as quickly as possible by taking him outside or giving him his favorite toy; something he can chew will work especially well to get him to stop barking.
Sawchuk also recommends considering training your dog to go somewhere away from the door every time the doorbell rings. This could be something you can do yourself or you may need to hire a certified professional in your area to help you.
they are anxious
The emotion behind this is similar to an alarm bark, but the context can be very different.
Sawchuk says anxious barking can occur when you leave the house for the day. You can also see it on walks when a stranger or another dog approaches.
To that end, Spaulding says this type of barking is often confused with aggression.
“Usually, if a dog barks in an aggressive context, it’s actually out of fear,” he says. “People are often confused by this because if dogs lunge and bark at the same time, that must mean they are aggressive, but it often seems to be just a display to keep them away from something they are afraid of.”
they’re excited
During walks, a dog may let out an excited bark if he sees another pup on the path, Spaulding says. “You’ll also see excitable barking when dogs do something they like, like chasing a small animal or agility dogs when running a course.”
The fine line between fear and arousal can be especially difficult when it comes to on-leash reactivity, and Spaulding says dogs who react on leash should probably be evaluated by a certified professional.
However, in most other excitable barking situations, the context is usually quite clear.
“If they’re recoiling from something, they’re probably afraid,” Spaulding says. “If they attack you when you get home from work, they’re probably excited.”
They just want attention
Context means a lot when you’re trying to discern why your dog is barking, but Spaulding says that sometimes it may not be entirely clear to you what your dog wants, assuming he wants anything.
“Often a dog’s barking means he’s bored or frustrated and wants us to fix it,” he says. “In situations where you are not sure what is causing the barking, it is fair to assume that your dog would like to interact with you.”
If your dog won’t stop barking, you can try these training tips to help him stop the behavior.
