Bringing a pet dog home is one of the most wonderful experiences in this world. Even if you live with a houseful of kids, a canine companion can add immense joy and cheer to your family. Looking after your dog, playing around with them, and spoiling them with treats and affection is beneficial for your physical health, as well as mental well-being.
Nevertheless, caring for a pet dog also comes with a set of unique challenges. One of the biggest questions most owners ask is do dogs get tired of barking?
If your dog barks all the time, it can be a problem for your family members/roommates, landlord, as well as neighbors. Also, it often indicates an underlying physical or mental illness. Worse still, you might be unknowingly encouraging this behavior with your actions and words.
But there is no reason for you to lose your sleep over this. There are various ways to prevent excessive barking in dogs. You just have to find out what is causing this behavior in the first place.
- Does Barking Tire Out Dogs?
- What Causes Excessive Barking in Dogs?
- How to Stop Dogs From Barking Too Much?
Does Barking Tire Out Dogs?
In an ideal world, dogs would simply tire themselves out by barking too much and then remain quiet on their own. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case with most dogs. Various factors, including fear, anxiety, or underlying health conditions, might be causing your dog to bark. Unless you eliminate the root cause, your dog might continue to incessantly bark for numerous hours, thus disrupting your social life.
So, the simple answer is a straightforward no. However, a tired dog is less likely to bark for too long. Therefore, in most cases, providing your pooch with sufficient physical and mental stimulation can be the key to controlling uncontrolled barking. Simple lifestyle changes and behavioral modification techniques can go a long way to minimize this habit.
What Causes Excessive Barking in Dogs?
First things first – barking is normal for dogs. It is their way of communicating with others, including their pack members and favorite humans. Whether your dog is hungry or wants to go out for playtime, they will likely bark to express themselves. Likewise, they will bark to communicate their feelings of happiness, grief, fear, etc.
However, if your dog tends to relentlessly barks for long periods, it is a cause for concern. It could be a sign that they are in pain or experiencing separation anxiety. Alternatively, it could indicate that your dog has plenty of pent-up energy and is looking for a way to release it.
There are a few reasons for why dogs bark a lot:
1. Communication
As mentioned earlier, dogs use barking as a way to express their emotions and needs. For instance, they might bark out of excitement when they see you after a long day. Or they might bark to indicate that their bowl of water is empty.
Dogs may also want to communicate their problems to you. If your dog ate its rope toy and experiences symptoms, it will bark at you as a way to ask for help.
2. Attention Seeking
Oftentimes, your dog could just be barking to get your attention. This is especially true if they are meeting you after a while. Alternatively, they might want to go out for a walk or to relieve themselves and would bark to let you know.
If a dog ate dry rice or other inedible product, and experiences stomach problems, it will ask for your attention to help it fix its pain.
3. Illness & Aging
If your otherwise peaceful dog has suddenly developed the habit of barking, it could indicate that they are in pain due to an illness or injury. Alternatively, senior dogs, who have impairment in vision and cognition, often bark for hours without even realizing.
This will be most noticeable in dogs breeds that are not known to bark. For example, Bulldogs do not bark a lot, but this can change if they feel pain.
4. Fear
Barking is a natural canine response to fearful and alarming situations. New or unfamiliar people, places, objects, and animals can cause your dog to bark out of fear. Likewise, undesirable situations, such as a car ride or visit to the vet’s clinic, can trigger unstoppable barking.
For example, fear is a common reason why Rottweilers growl and get stiff. The same goes for other dog breeds.
5. Separation Anxiety
Barking is one of the most common signs of separation anxiety. Your pooch might use barking as a way to cope with their loneliness.
6. Boredom
Sometimes, dogs bark just because they are bored and have a lot of excess energy that they need to release. Controlling your dog’s barking in such cases can be particularly difficult.
Due to boredom, you may also notice that a dog keeps licking your legs. It is just one of the many coping mechanisms due to being bored.
7. Territorialism
Most dogs prefer to mark their territory and don’t like it when a stranger, whether human or animal, invades it. They might use barking as a way to scare the unfamiliar person/animal and drive them away from their territory. Some dogs will even bite if provoked. Knowing how strong a Belgian Malinois bite or other similar breeds’ bite is, will certainly worry you in this situation.
Now that you know the various factors that can lead to unreastrained barking in dogs, it is time for us to discuss ways to prevent and control it.
How to Stop Dogs From Barking Too Much?
Here’s the thing – you can’t expect your dog to grow out of the habit of barking. Instead, it is up to you to identify the root cause of their behavior and use appropriate preventive/corrective measures. But first, you should have a clear idea of things you shouldn’t do when your dog is barking.
What Not to Do
Most dog parents make the mistake of yelling at their dogs to stop. However, yelling at your dog might encourage them to bark even more. Likewise, giving your dog a treat or toy in a bid to stop them from barking can do more harm than good. Also, you shouldn’t resort to extreme measures, such as hitting or debarking your furry friend.
Angering dogs will lead to more problems. Large dogs can get quite scary when angry. For example, Blue Heelers are medium-sized dogs and are already frightening when angry. But large dogs like the Rottweiler can seem extremely scary in this situation.
The Right Ways to Control Excessive Barking
To begin with, make sure you book an appointment with your vet and get your dog thoroughly examined. This will help you rule out any physical ailment or injury that might be causing pain. If this isn’t the case, try using positive reinforcement techniques to encourage the right behavior in your dog.
Start by not reacting to their barks at all. Don’t pay any attention or yell at them while they are barking. Once your dog calms down, reward them with a treat or a pat on the back. It will gradually encourage them to stop barking. Also, you could consider teaching them the “quiet” command.
It is also a good idea to let your dog socialize with other animals and humans from a young age. This can go a long way to eliminate their fear of strangers. If your dog’s barking is triggered by specific situations or objects, it might be wiser to eliminate the stimulus.
Additionally, you should ensure that your canine companion gets plenty of physical activity in the form of exercise, walking, and playtime. You could also distract them with interactive toys, such as puzzles and treat-releasing toys. This is particularly useful if your dog barks out of boredom. However, if the barking is a result of separation anxiety, you might have to consult a canine behaviorist to ease the problem.
Conclusion – Do Dogs Get Tired of Barking?
This is a question that occurs to numerous dog parents who have to deal with their furry friend’s outrageous barking. Dogs can bark to communicate something to their owners. They also might be feeling pain or fear and need help.
Unfortunately, dogs don’t outgrow the habit of barking. A conscious owner should train their dog not to bark whenever it is not needed. Positive reinforcement and obedience training play a major part in this situation.
FAQ
How Long Can a Dog Bark?
Typically, dogs can bark for hours on end before they get tired or bored. It also depends on what is causing them to bark. For instance, if the barking is triggered in a specific environment, removing your dog from that environment will help them calm down.
Do Dogs Grow Out of Barking?
In most cases, dogs won’t simply grow out of the habit of barking. If your dog barks because they are scared or anxious, they will continue to do so unless you get rid of the stimulus. However, tiring your dog out with exercise and interactive toys can decrease the duration of barking.
Why is My Dog’s Bark Hoarse?
Straining your dog’s vocal cords due to barking too much can make them sound hoarse and raspy. But it could also indicate serious ailments, such as dog flu, canine, distemper, kennel cough, etc. It could also be a sign of a more serious disease, such as oral cancer. Make sure you consult your vet at the earliest if your dog’s bark sounds unusually hoarse.
Bark Collars – Should You Use One?
In most cases, bark collars only offer temporary respite from barking. Ultrasonic bark collars aren’t effective on all dogs. Likewise, most dogs can learn to work their way around citronella-spraying collars. Avoid using shock collars though, as they could hurt your pooch.
Can a Dog Hurt Itself Barking?
Yes. It is possible, although rare, for your dog to hurt their vocal cords because of unstoppable barking. They could also get a sore throat as a result of this.
What is Considered Excessive Barking in Dogs?
While barking is a normal form of communication in dogs, it is considered to be excessive when it starts disrupting your normal life. If your dog continues to bark for hours without any apparent reason, it is a cause for concern.