Barking is a natural behavior for dogs. But some kind of barking isn’t normal. Certain types are problematic. These types indicate underlying issues that need to be addressed.
Below is a more detailed explanation of these barking behaviors and why they may require attention.
Excessive Barking: Continuous or Repetitive Barking Without a Clear Reason
Excessive barking occurs when a dog barks for prolonged periods. There is no clear or appropriate trigger. This type of barking is often characterized by its repetitiveness and can happen regardless of the situation.
For example, a dog may bark incessantly when no one is at the door. It can bark with no visible stimuli such as people, other animals, or noises.
This behavior can happen due to stress, anxiety, or boredom. Left alone dogs without mental stimulation or physical exercise are more likely to engage in excessive barking. They do this as a way to relieve their frustration or pass the time.
In other cases, excessive barking might be the result of a lack of structure or discipline, where the dog has learned that barking results in attention, even if it’s negative attention.
Excessive barking creates a lot of problem.
- It can escalate into a habitual behavior that becomes difficult to manage.
- It can lead to strained relationships with neighbors.
- Frustration increases within the household.
- Over time, the dog may also develop other behavioral problems such as chewing, digging, or house soiling as they attempt to self-soothe their stress or boredom.
How to Correct Excessive Barking Behavior
To address this, it’s important to ensure the dog is receiving enough exercise, mental stimulation, and structured activities to tire them out and keep them engaged. Implementing consistent training and behavioral redirection can also help.
Compulsive Barking: Barking Incessantly with No External Stimulus
Compulsive barking is a more severe and persistent form of excessive barking. In these case, dog barks continuously without any obvious stimulus, such as a person, animal, or environmental change. This type of barking is often associated with anxiety, frustration, or a compulsive disorder.
Dogs with compulsive barking behaviors may exhibit signs of restlessness or pacing. They often bark out of an instinctive need. Compulsive barking can sometimes be a sign of underlying psychological distress, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in dogs, where they engage in repetitive behaviors without any functional purpose. In these cases, the dog might bark for hours on end.
How to Correct Compulsive Barking Behavior
Treatment for compulsive barking often requires a multi-faceted approach, including
- Behavior modification techniques
- Consistency in training
- Intervention of a veterinary behaviorist or a professional dog trainer who specializes in anxiety and compulsive behaviors.
- Medications prescribed by a veterinarian may also be considered in extreme cases.
Destructive Barking: Barking Accompanied by Destructive Behavior
This is a severe version of compulsive barking. This type of barking is typically accompanied by other destructive behaviors, such as chewing furniture, digging, tearing up clothing, or other destructive activities that can damage the home.
This behavior is often a sign of separation anxiety or pent-up energy.
Dogs with separation anxiety bark excessively when their owners leave the house, often accompanied by signs of distress such as pacing, drooling, urination, and defecation inside the home.
The barking in this scenario is usually the dog’s way of expressing fear. They do this to bring attention to their emotional state. Dogs with destructive behavior bark nonstop as a cry for help, desperate to reunite with their owner or to relieve the stress of being left alone.
How to Correct Destructive Barking Behavior
In cases where barking is destructive, it’s important to work on the dog’s emotional well-being by slowly desensitizing them to being alone. To alleviate separation anxiety, you can exercise techniques like
- crate training
- puzzle toys
- gradual departures
- providing your dog with plenty of exercise before leaving the house.
Aggressive Barking: Barking in a Threatening or Growling Manner
Aggressive barking typically happens when a dog feels threatened or fearful, and it’s often accompanied by other aggressive body language such as growling, lunging, raised hackles, or bared teeth.
This type of barking is usually directed at strangers, other dogs, or even perceived threats in the environment. The dog treats the situation as a danger to their territory or themselves. They try to warn the threat to back off.
Aggressive barking is a problematic behavior. It may escalate to biting or physical aggression. Aggressive barking happens when –
- The barking is a learned behavior, where the dog has learned that barking aggressively causes the perceived threat to leave.
- It arises from fear or lack of proper socialization, especially if a dog hasn’t been properly exposed to different environments, people, or other animals.
How to Correct Aggressive Barking Behavior
If your dog is barking aggressively, it’s important to address the root cause of the aggression, which could stem from fear, anxiety, or territorial instincts.
Professional help from a behaviorist or trainer is often required to address aggressive barking.
The training may involve desensitization techniques, positive reinforcement, and teaching alternative behaviors, such as “quiet” or “leave it” commands, to reduce the dog’s need to react aggressively to perceived threats.
Barking at Nothing: Barking at Empty Spaces or Invisible Stimuli
Sometime a dog barks at empty spaces. It may be the ceiling, or walls, or the sky. Some dogs bark at nothing simply because they’re hearing sounds that we can’t perceive.
Frequent barking at seemingly invisible stimuli can sometimes be a sign of more serious issues, including neurological disorders, sensory issues, or cognitive decline.
When barking at nothing happens-
- Senior dogs may do this type of barking as a symptom of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (similar to dementia in humans).
- Dogs with this condition can become confused or disoriented, and may bark at things that aren’t there.
- Barking at empty spaces can also occur if a dog has hearing or vision problems, causing them to react to stimuli they are unable to identify correctly.
How to Correct Barking at Nothing Behavior
If your dog starts barking at nothing consistently, it’s important to rule out medical issues.
A veterinarian should be consulted to assess your dog’s overall health and conduct tests if necessary.
If no medical issues are found, the barking could be linked to anxiety.A behavior modification plan may help address the problem.
Barking During Sleep: Frequent Barking While Dreaming
Some dogs bark in their sleep, during the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) phase of their sleep cycle.
Just like humans, dogs dream. The barking during sleep is usually a reaction to what they’re experiencing in their dreams, such as chasing, playing, or encountering something stimulating or frightening.
Why do Dogs Bark at Sleep
During sleeps, dog barks because –
- The dog is experiencing high levels of stress, anxiety, or sleep disturbances.
- In some cases, barking during sleep may signal nightmares or sleep disorders, such as canine REM behavior disorder. In these situations, dogs physically act out their dreams.
- The dog is not getting enough rest or is overstimulated during the day.
How to Correct Abnormal Barking Behavior
To address barking during sleep, it’s important to ensure your dog has a calm, peaceful sleeping environment.
Avoid stimulating activities right before bedtime.
Provide enough mental and physical exercise throughout the day to help them wind down.
If the barking becomes frequent and disruptive, a consultation with a veterinarian or a behaviorist may be helpful to rule out medical issues and develop a plan for managing the dog’s anxiety.
How to Correct Abnormal Barking Behavior
If your dog’s barking becomes problematic, there are several approaches you can take to manage and correct the behavior.
Identify the Trigger
The first step in addressing excessive barking is identifying the cause. Is it boredom, anxiety, territorial aggression, or something else? Once you know the trigger, you can develop a tailored strategy.
Provide Adequate Exercise and Mental Stimulation
Dogs that don’t get enough physical or mental stimulation are more likely to bark out of frustration. Ensure your dog receives sufficient exercise, mental challenges, and enrichment activities to keep them occupied.
Positive Reinforcement
Reward your dog when they stop barking on command or when they remain quiet in situations that typically trigger barking. Use treats, praise, or toys as rewards.
Desensitization and Counter-Conditioning
Gradually expose your dog to the stimuli that trigger their barking, starting with a low-intensity version and gradually increasing the exposure. Reward calm behavior throughout the process.
Teach a “Quiet” Command
Teaching your dog to stop barking on command is a very effective technique. Use the word “quiet” or another cue and reward them when they stop barking. Be consistent in using the command.
Avoid Punishment
Don’t punish your dog for barking. Negative reinforcement, such as shouting or using shock collars, can worsen anxiety and confusion. Instead, focus on redirecting the behavior and rewarding calmness.
Consult a Professional
If your dog’s barking persists or becomes aggressive, it may be time to consult with a professional dog trainer or behaviorist. They can assess your dog’s behavior and provide a structured plan for correction.
By recognizing and understanding these different types of abnormal barking, owners can better identify the root cause of their dog’s behavior and take appropriate steps to address the issue. Each type of barking requires a tailored approach, whether through behavior modification, medical intervention, or changes in routine. Early intervention can help prevent these behaviors from escalating and improve the overall well-being of both the dog and their owners.
