WHY Dogs Bark and HOW to Deal with Barking

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

We have had several discussions recently on BARKING and how to deal with barking which ranged from training to Citronella Collars.

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Why do dogs bark at windows? Find out…by Katelyn Schutz, CPDT

Ever wonder why your dog rushes to the window, barking at sights and sounds outside of your home?  Curious why your dog so incessantly 
reminds you every time a stranger or another dog walks by your front 

sidewalk?



Believe it or not, wolves bark much less than the domestic dog.  This 

is because barking is a trait that we humans selected for in our dogs!  

So before you place blame on your pooch, understand that we bred this 

into them, actively selecting it for the "watchdog" value that benefited 

us.



It is actually estimated that vocalization makes up for less than 10% 

of a dog's daily communication.  So when they do bark, pay attention, 

because it's definitely for a reason!  A dog's bark is intentional 

communication to his pack, and in the case of vocalizing at a picture 

window, the barking is often a warning to his pack members of potential 

danger.  I frequently interpret barking at a window (or through a fence, 

or at the end of the leash, etc.) as an alert to the pack that someone 

or something is encroaching on the territory.  Basically, your dog is 

saying, "Alert! Alert! Call the pack! There's an intruder approaching 

our den!"  And guess what?  When your dog barks at that passerby, and 

they continue to walk away down the street... your dog only gets 

reinforced for barking, by thinking THAT'S what made them leave their 

territory!



I also find that the barrier of the window ("I can see it, but I can't 

get to it!"), creates horrible frustration intolerance in our dogs.  If 

your dog's bark is very high-pitched and rapid, accompanied with 

excitable body language, your dog is probably barking because he 

actually wants to say hello so badly.



But despite knowing why our dogs bark like this, we commonly find it an 

irritable problem behavior, especially for those living in closer 

quarters to others who may not be as understanding of our dog's barking 

(ie: apartment or condo living, close by neighbors, etc.).  So what do 

you do to help curb your dog's bad habit?



I'll start by telling you what NOT to do: yell at your dog to be quiet. 

This is simply barking back at your dog, and will only encourage the 

behavior further.  Loud vocalizations are interpreted by dogs as 

excitable, so do not give your dog any more excuses to think it's okay 

to bark so incessantly.  Besides, calm benevolent leaders do not act out 

of control this way, so why expect your dog to listen when you yourself 

are acting like an ill-behaved puppy?



Instead, act like a pack leader would to cease a barking pack mate:  be 

quiet.  I know it sounds counter-intuative to us humans, but in the dog 

world, a short, low, breathy growl is authoritative and effective.  This 

is believed to stem from the fact that loud, excessive barking can 

attract predators, so instead of barking back to stop barking, this 

quieter communication pattern has evolved.  To discourage the barking 

behavior of your dog, mimic this low, authoritative growl and state a 

command like "Enough" or "Quiet" in a very businesslike and unemotional 

tone.  This will make more sense to your dog naturally, and will be more 

effective than yelling at your dog in frustration.



I find taking the leadership role works best.  I will say very calmly 

to my dogs, "Ok, thank you for letting me know, that's enough now" and 

then re-direct their attention to me in a positive manner.  When they 

cease barking and come to check in with me instead, they receive a treat 

or perhaps some special attention and praise.  In response, they learn 

it's better to alert by coming to me, than it is to bark at the window.



Implementing remote corrections can be helpful, especially when we 

don't have all day, every day to remain vigil over the window in case 

our dog barks.  Try a squirt bottle, or a shaker can perhaps.  Remember 

- every dog responds differently, so aim to find something humane, but 

effective, to startle and interrupt the barking, even if it's only 

momentarily.  It is vital that it must be REMOTE and the dog cannot see 

the tool.  If your dog barks, and you show her the squirt bottle before 

you squirt her, she will only remain quiet when the bottle is present.  

However, if you hide around the corner, and sneak a squirt at her 

whenever she barks, your dog think, "Gee, every time I bark, water falls 

from the sky!", and she will discontinue the behavior whether you OR the 

squirt bottle is present or not!



Solicit a neighbor or friend to walk by your house several times, to 

provoke your dog to bark when you have the time to train her.  Try using 

the interruption tool the MOMENT she starts to bark, then take those 2-3 

seconds of quiet as an opportunity to re-direct your dog's attention to 

you instead.  Re-direct, treat, repeat!



A quiet pack equals a happy household.  And a happy neighborhood too!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Good article especially about not yelling "Quiet", which I am trying to train myself not to do : )

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I laughed when you wrote that in the last discussion.   Reminded me of something similar also.

When people YELL, 'R E L A X'.  Like that would make anyone feel calm! 

But I am guilty of the same thing.  I think most of us are

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

Oh I like the low growl thing ill try that!!! Usually I say something to them when they bark and sometimes they stop and sometimes they don't so it's not consistent. My cousin got us a sunbeam egg thing for barking but I haven't tried it bc it's supposed to have a high pitched sound that makes them stop but I really don't want to hurt their ears since they only bark at ppl that pass by and never for no reason. It's weird though because they usually do not bark at the same things/people/dogs.

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

great insight!  love understanding my dog's behavior better.  he rarely barks, but he does give me eye contact while doing it. I usually tell him, "OK, good boy, that's enough" and he quits in a bit.  

thanks for posting! 

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Haley is pretty good about barking.  He does bark at a lot of things both seen and unseen.  When he barks I tell him "good boy" or "good job" and if he continues to bark I tell him "enough" or "quiet".  I always use a quiet tone.  It is one of his jobs to alert me but I would prefer that he only bark when someone is in the yard/driveway and not 1/4 mile down the road!

[Jennifer and Jack]

I love this article.... I always no matter what go see what Jack is barking at and I always say.."Thank you and pet him" then I say I got it...no more!!!!!,

I am so happy to read this because I have been trying to explain this to ppl for a long time...I never just yell usually....I go see and I think it works well..I want Jack to bark when something or someone is near by.....as long as he stops after I go see..which he always does......I am fine with it!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

So when they do bark, pay attention,  because it's definitely for a reason! 

This is my favorite line in the article and what I was trying to get across the other day in another discussion.   One which I do believe we ignore but is most important.  If we figure out WHY our dog is barking, we can take steps from that point on to   deal with the situation.

[Adina P]

I am fine with the dogs being quiet because they SEE a squirt bottle.  I have had to resort to the threat of the squirt bottle because I needed them to NOT bark at something I was expecting would make them bark. 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

A squirt bottle, even not used but placed on the counter in full view, " Is My Friend"  so I totally agree on your comment vs the article.  Rarely needed on Spud, but I did use it on Starlit to get her off the bed rather than grab her collar.

I rarely have to use one but I do believe they are a great tool.  Just pick it up and the message is there already.

My only regret with using one is that Spud gets upset if I want to use a hair product on his coat OR play in the sprinkler  : (

[Adina P]

He might not have liked that anyway.  Rosco doesn't like ANY sort of water play unless it is a lake type situation.  No to sprinklers, hoses, squirt bottles, etc.  Well...Boca isn't a fan either but I've never taken her to any body of water so don't know if she'd like that.  They don't get the slightest upset, they just avoid those things.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Good article and reminder.  I am still in training some days!

[DJ & Chance]

Thanks for posting this.  I'm going to practice my low growl!