Introduction
Every animal has different sounds that they use as a form of communication and expression. For dogs, one of them is called barking. Different dog breeds bark at different frequency, pitch and volume, due to their genetics, physical anatomy, personality, or any underlying behavioral or health issues they might be dealing with. Dogs bark as a way to alert their owners, out of fear, excitement or as an attempt to communicate with other animals or their owners. Barking is a normal vocal expression for dogs but it can also quickly become problematic when it gets too much.
If your dog isn’t well-trained, they might bark in places or situations where it isn’t suitable or tolerated, like, when a new born baby is sleeping, in the middle of the night when the neighborhood is trying to go to sleep or designated quiet zones.
Why Do Dogs Bark
Dogs are constantly barking and sometimes we don’t always know what they are trying to say. Here are a list of reasons why dogs bark:
- Alarm barking: This is a common time for dogs to bark. When someone is at the door, to notify you of something unusual, or deter someone from approaching. Some dogs are naturally bred to be alarm dogs like Chihuahuas, German Shepherds and Beagles.
- Attention-seeking: Like toddlers, sometimes dogs bark just because they want your attention to play, food and treats or just to have their way. Dogs also tend to chime in when they hear other dogs barking.
- Lack of socialization: Socialization is a necessary training that all pets have to go through. Dogs have to be desensitized so they don’t overreact in public spaces like the park. In cases of a lack of socialization, dogs tend to bark as a reaction to the stress or to get other people and/or dogs away from them.
- Fear/Anxiety: If a dog feels scared, threatened or uncomfortable, they might bark to express their frustration. Dogs with separation anxiety can also bark constantly and this is usually followed by destruction of household items in extreme cases or general noise pollution in simpler cases.
Barking As A Sign Of Aggression
Barking is one of dogs’ natural ways of communicating, so it can be quite confusing when it comes to differentiating between regular barking and aggression-induced barking. In order to be able to take proper care of and action for your pets wellbeing, here are a list of things you can look out for that goes along with barking:
- Stiff posture
- Deep guttural bark compared to their general excited bark or well-known bark
- Barking at people or things they feel is invading their privacy or threatening their territory.
How To Correct Aggression Barking
- Identify the trigger. What is causing your dog to bark? Are they sick? Being teased? Reacting to other dogs? Discovering and understanding what is triggering your dog can help inform you for an action plan.
- Positive reinforcement training. Rewarding desired behaviors in your pets can help reduce the occurrence of bad behavior. Giving your pet treats in situations where they would be triggered to bark is a good way to eliminate the behavior.
- Socialization and exposure can help address fear-based aggression. This should be done slowly, in controlled environments and rewarding calm behavior to help build your dog’s confidence.
Other Signs Of Aggression
Barking isn’t the only way you can recognize aggression in your dogs. Here are some other things to look out for:
- Whale eyes: this is when the whites of the eye is visible in a crescent shape. showing that the dog is stressed, anxious or fearful and when not addressed can lead to aggression.
- Frequent lip licking
- Baring teeth
- Turning away or going stiff when being held or shown affection.
Note: Barking isn’t the only form of vocal communication that dogs use. Dogs are also known to growl, whine or whimper, howl, yelp etc. Usually also followed with other types of body languages. Being able to differentiate between aggressive and non-aggressive barking in your dogs would also be easier with a general context of the situation and your dog’s body language.
