It’s nighttime, and you are trying to get some shut-eye, but your dog won’t stop barking. It’s not only at night but also during the day. Your dog keeps barking away, and you think, “Do dogs get tired of barking?”
You can’t expect a dog to stop barking completely. Still, excessive barking can become overwhelming for you and even the people around you. Dogs rarely bark without any reason, so a vet visit is essential if it’s a sudden behavioral change.
Yes, dogs eventually get tired of barking when they notice there’s no response to it. But this tiredness is not physical but mental. So you can’t just throw on your noise-canceling headphones and deal with it. It’s your responsibility to figure out what is causing this excessive barking.
To help you out on your quest, we have gathered some reasons for your dog’s excessive barking issue. Have a look at them and try to join the pieces together.
Why Does My Dog Bark at Everything?
There are many reasons for your puppy to bark. If you already own a dog breed that’s very vocal, that could be a possible reason for barking. It can easily lead to the question, “do dogs get tired of barking?”
But as we have already mentioned, dogs rarely bark without reason, and clearly, they bark for or at something. Don’t misunderstand it thinking they are barking at everything. Once you figure out the reason, you can quickly devise dog barking solutions.
Here are 8 reasons why your dog is barking.
1. Excitement or to Greet
After a long day of work, you reach home to find your dogs barking at you. Don’t be annoyed! Instead, give them some pets and cuddles. Your dogs missed you, so they are barking to greet you out of excitement.
Along with barking, you’ll also notice them jumping and running around when they see you. These are all forms of excitement. Remember, as your pets can’t talk to you, they use barking as a verbal communication method. Moreover, if your dog is super friendly, you’ll see them barking and jumping at everyone.
2. To Socialize or Play
While taking your dog for a walk, you may notice occasional woof-woofs seeing another dog. Dogs are social animals. Even before they became house pets, they always stayed in packs. So, seeing another dog may excite them and have a playful bark conversation.
A doggy friend may be nearby if your dog is barking from inside. But if you don’t let your dog play with others, it can become restless.
3. Boredom or Loneliness
If you are a very busy person and have only one dog, it is possible that your dog is feeling lonely or bored. You must understand that dogs are companion-based animals; if they have to spend many hours alone daily, they will eventually get bored.
With you out for work and no one to play with, your dog will continuously bark because they are stressed. It can also happen if they are in the yard for a long time.
4. Separation Anxiety
My dog barks when I leave a room, but why? It can be a probable cause of separation anxiety.
Boredom or loneliness can lead to separation anxiety. It’s a condition that can’t be left untreated because it will worsen over time. This condition can be noticed in dogs who are the only pet. This condition comes with excessive howling, scratching, depression, and destructive behavior.
Contact a veterinary doctor if you notice these behaviors in your dog. Don’t let the condition grow because it will cost you to lose a happy puppy.
5. To Protect the Territory
Dogs are very territorial, which makes them great for guarding houses. Dogs usually bark loudly when they see strangers or unknown dogs approaching. The barking is to scare off the strange people or dogs so that their territory remains safe.
Dogs can also know if something or someone is suspicious. They use their barking as an alert mechanism to inform you about the trouble. That’s why it’s called “territorial barking.” If you ever see your dog barking like this, notice your surroundings to look for anyone or anything suspicious.
6. To Get Attention
Dogs can get very needy, and they will do anything to get your attention. Usually, they will approach you and bark. These barks typically have a few seconds of gap between them, and it can be because your pet gives you time to notice their need.
Your dog can seek your attention for food, water, or play. They can also be trying to get your attention because they feel uncomfortable or are in pain. They will also bark loudly to get some belly rubs. It won’t matter to them if you’re busy or not.
Tip :
If your dog doesn’t stop barking at night, there are 3 reasons it’s happening.
7. Loss of Vision
If your dog has recently started barking at night, there must be a reason. Does your dog bark when it gets dark? It could be the cause of vision loss. You should get them checked by a vet immediately.
When dogs start experiencing vision loss, they become self-conscious and insecure. At that time, they bark loudly to get in touch with you and inform you that they can’t find you. If you have a visually impaired pet, keep them close until they start gaining self-confidence again.
8. Your Dog isn’t Tired
You are tired, but your dog maybe isn’t. This usually happens if your dog lacks enough exercise or playtime for the day. They will seek the nighttime to steal the opportunity to let all their barks out and get the playtime.
So, suppose you want to avoid such situations. In that case, you should provide your dog with enough playtime and exercise according to its breed’s needs.
9. To Alert
Dogs have excellent senses, and they use them very smartly. If you wake up and see your dog barking at the door or the window, there could be someone trying to break into your house. We know it’s not always the reason for the nighttime barking, but if your dog is barking after a few days, it’s better to check.
Hey! The nighttime barking may help keep robbers away from your house. If so, reward your puppy so they know how to behave when someone tries to break in next time.
Why is My Dog Barking in His Sleep?
You get woken up in the middle of the night. You hear your dog growling and barking, and you go to check on them. But, all you see is your little pup sleeping peacefully. You go back to sleep, but it happens again, and you think, “why is my dog barking in his sleep?”
Barking, growling, twitching, and eyes and ears jiggling are common behaviors in sleeping pets. Did you know dogs’ sleep cycles are similar to ours? Surprising, right?
When dogs lay down to rest, they go into a relaxed stage for around five to ten minutes. Then slowly, they enter a light stage of sleep where their heart rate slows and body temperature decreases. This allows the body to enter a deeper state of sleep known as non-REM. REM means Rapid Eye Movement.
In non-REM sleep, the muscles and bones start to repair themselves, but neither your dog nor you always stay in the non-REM stage throughout your sleep.
Just like humans, dogs switch between non-REM and REM sleep. REM is the stage where all the magic happens. Dreams occur in this stage. So, a possible reason your dog barks in his sleep is that he is dreaming.
Next time you see your dog barking in his sleep, don’t worry because they are just dreaming. Moreover, don’t wake them up. Let them enjoy their dreams where they may be chasing a squirrel, or a ball, or just getting some well-deserved belly rubs.
How Do You Stop a Dog from Barking
Yes, dogs are cute and can get away with anything with their puppy-dog eyes, but constant barking can soon swamp you. You already have gone through the reasons, and hopefully, you now know why your dog is barking.
We can help you by giving some tips to stop your dog from barking. It’s an advantage that dogs are easily trainable. Aside from any medical conditions, these tips will work great. For medical conditions, it is best to seek help from a veterinarian.
Here are 5 tips to stop your dog from barking at everything.
Tip# 1: Mental Stimulation
If your dog has been reacting to someone or some other dogs, gradually get them accustomed. Whenever the stimulus is near your dog, divert your dog’s attention to treats or toys. Moreover, give your dog activities to stimulate their minds and learn new things.
You can try playing hide-and-seek or puzzle games or give them agility training to keep the mind stimulated. Treats work great when the stimulus for barking is near. Your dog will eventually learn not to bark at it.
Tip# 2: Train to Be Quiet
Dogs can quickly learn different commands. If your dog knows to sit or shake their paw on your order, it will learn to be quiet easily.
Whenever your dog is barking, say, “quiet” in a calm yet firm voice. At first, they won’t understand what you’re trying to achieve but reward them with a treat whenever they stop barking.
Practice the same technique whenever your pup barks and wait until they stop barking to give a treat. With some patience and time, your dog will understand to stay quiet on command because then they will get a treat.
Never shout, yell, or punish your pet because barking is their natural communication method. Always try to ensure positive reinforcement while training.
Tip# 3: Provide Your Dog Exercise
If your dog isn’t tired even at night, maybe their exercise need isn’t getting fulfilled. Research your dog’s breed and find out how much exercise they need.
If you have a very energetic dog, try to give them heavy exercise and one to two hours of walks daily. But on the other hand, a less active dog will get tired after a few light activities and 30- to 45-minutes of walking. Your main target will be to tire them out.
Tip# 4: Ignore the Barking
If your dog is barking for attention or some cuddles, it’s better to ignore them. Eventually, they will lose interest in barking as you’ll pay no heed. But avoid giving even a small scratch while they are barking.
Tip# 5: Play Soft Music
If your dog starts barking when they get startled or because of loud noise, play soft music and try to drown out the noise. The music will calm your dog and create a soothing and comfortable environment in the room.
Summary
Dogs naturally bark to communicate with you or other animals. They love doing it, but their barking habits do have reasons.
You can’t completely put an end to it. But you sure can train them!
So, let your pup let their barks out sometimes and try to enjoy their small woof-woofs.
I am Dana McQueen, a Veterinary Doctor who studied Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida. For years, I have got common questions from friends and family about their pets. So, I decided to open up this website and answer all those frequently asked questions. Alongside, here I share my expert knowledge about pet care, pet health and the animal environment.