Why Does My Dog Bark? Advice from a Specialist

Your dog's incessant barking can quickly become intolerable and difficult to bear. Besides being irritating, barking can also cause stress for individuals trying to avoid scolding from neighbors or owners who work from home. We therefore asked for help from our canine behavior specialist, Julia Couture at Le Bon Clébard , who hears this problem regularly during her meetings with her clients.

Find the cause of barking

Why does our dog bark?

There are multiple reasons why a dog might bark, and it is essential to understand and identify the source of this barking in order to be able to act on the underlying cause.

Before we go any further, it should be noted that barking is an instinctive and natural behavior in dogs. Some barks may result from negative emotions, while others may express excitement and pleasure!

A dog may bark because it...

• feels frustration or anger,
• experiences fear or discomfort,
• seeks to end an interaction,
• wishes to initiate an interaction,
• attention seeking,
• bored,
• is anxious,
• seeks to warn,
• attempts to create distance from something or someone.

Let's explore the most common reasons together in order to fully understand and get advice on how to remedy this problem.

1. Barking linked to frustration

It often happens that dogs find themselves in situations that are too complex for them, which leads to frustration expressed by repeated barking.

Here are some tips:

• Simplify exercises during training by asking for simpler behaviors.
• Identify the source of the frustration to act on the cause.
• Walk away from the trigger for frustration, such as a dog across the street. Reward the dog for calm and maintain this distance to avoid a return to frustration.
• Make sure to tire your dog out physically before confronting him with a situation likely to cause frustration.
• Increase the value and ratio of treats to increase the dog's motivation .

2. Barking directed at you

Whether out of excitement, to get your attention or to play with you, barking directed at you can be very insistent.

Here are some tips:

• Ignore the dog. Be careful not to respond to his requests.
• Retire to another room.
• Make sure all their needs are properly met on a daily basis.
• Give him attention and initiate play sessions when he is calm and quiet.
• Offer him alternative activities before barking times, such as a chew bone or interactive toy with his kibble and/or high-value treats .
• Teach him to solicit you using an alternative behavior, such as sitting.
• Teach him to better manage his emotions through specific exercises.
• The STOP exercise is essential! Contact Julia to get it for free!

3. Barking out of fear

Often misinterpreted, fear-related barking should not be taken lightly! It is crucial to understand that these barks are intended to create distance between the dog and the fear-provoking element.

Here are some tips:

• Identify the fear trigger to desensitize the dog and transform a negative emotion into a positive emotion with high-value treats .
• Develop a training plan and protocol tailored to your dog's specific fears. It is recommended to call a professional in this type of situation.
• Avoid punishing the dog, as this will only increase the fear or aggression associated with it.
• Your presence and attitude can often bring comfort to your dog. Do not hesitate to use them to calm him down.

4. Barking related to the front door

When your guests arrive at your home, it can be difficult to converse with them if your dog barks loudly when they arrive because of the doorbell. This situation is not uncommon and can be difficult to manage.

Here are some tips:

• To avoid nuisance barking, suggest that your guests call you when they arrive rather than ringing the doorbell. This approach will help soothe your dog by avoiding the sound trigger of barking.
• One solution is to record the sound of your doorbell on your phone or download an app that simulates this noise. Initiate the exercise by setting the volume to minimum and reward your dog with treats when he remains calm.
• Following desensitization of the doorbell sound, you can train your dog to respond to a specific command in place of barking, such as going to his mat or sitting to the sound of it.

In conclusion, it is essential to understand the reasons behind your dog's barking and to implement solutions to reduce its frequency, rather than reacting systematically. Take some time to think about “what specific behavior you would like your dog to do instead of barking” and train him in that direction!

Need professional help?

If you are unable to resolve certain behaviors in your dog and would like to get help from a specialist, visit the Le Bon Clébard website to seek help from Julia Couture, canine behavior specialist .

Julia offers private consultation services in person or by videoconference, group classes as well as tips and tricks on her Instagram account.

Benefit from a 15% discount on the first service of your choice at Le Bon Clébard by mentioning the code BLOGUE15.

"KALŪ is the company I use for my training. They offer healthy formulas made with local ingredients in eco-friendly packaging. Their high-value, low-calorie treats allow you to offer more to your dog without affecting its weight If your pet is rather greedy, you can opt for their high quality kibble for the exercises you practice regularly ( Chicken-free formula available)."

- Julia Couture, The Good Clébard