Do Dogs Get Tired of Barking? [Strategies]
As a dog owner, there have been moments when my dog barks for a longer time than usual. If you have had such similar encounters and keep wondering, do dogs get tired of barking, you are not alone!
Barking is normal for dogs as it shows that they’re trying to communicate with you. However, excessive barking is a cause of concern, and you should try to identify and address the underlying causes to ensure that you handle this issue.
Here’s why dogs bark excessively and the steps you can take to help your dog stop this behavior.
Can Dogs Bark for a Long Time?
How long your dog can bark will primarily be influenced by the reason behind their barking and their physical limitations or capacity. In most cases, dogs will bark whenever they have reasons to. For instance, if they notice an intruder or feel threatened, they’ll bark until the threat goes away.
If the barking isn’t associated with a threat, you may find it challenging to decode the reasons for excessive barking. In such cases, your furry friend can bark until they reach their physical limits. Addressing the causes behind your dog’s excessive barking is crucial as it can take a toll on your dog’s vocal cords.
What Can Cause Your Dog to Bark Excessively?
Barking is a way for dogs to show expressions, and doing it excessively could mean many things. Here are a few you should know about.
They Might Be Lonely or Bored
When dogs realize that they’re left alone, they’ll bark excessively. They’ll exhibit this behavior because they’re bored, or it could be a sign that your dog has separation anxiety. You can tell that your dog is barking due to boredom if you notice long bouts of barking followed by short breaks.
To stop your dog from barking due to boredom, ensure that you play with them before leaving, which encourages relaxation while you’re away. You could also hide treats and food in different areas around your yard to encourage the dog to use their brain and nose to get the reward.
Your Dog Could Be Marking Their Territory
If someone approaches their territory (your home), your dog will likely bark a lot. This usually happens when someone unfamiliar to them, like a visitor, enters your home. It’s not easy to manage all forms of territorial barking, and eliminating such barking isn’t something you should consider. You want to be warned whenever an intruder approaches your home.
You can consider plenty of approaches if you want to manage territorial barking. For instance, consider training your dog to be “Quiet” on command. If your dog spends a lot of time indoors, reduce their exposure to people and other dogs by covering the window with a translucent film.
They Are Trying to Seek Attention
Your dog could be barking because they need attention. In some cases, it could mean that they want affection or they need something. For instance, if you’ve trained your dog to relieve outdoors, excessive barking could indicate that they wish for a potty break.
How Long Can a Dog Bark For?
The amount of time your dog takes to bark depends on different factors like the reasons for barking, the volume of the bark, and the size of your dog. If your dog is barking due to a territorial breach, it could continue barking as long as the intruder is present.
If there isn’t anything causing your dog to bark, the other common reasons could be boredom, loneliness, or separation anxiety. In such cases, your dog can bark for as long as they see fit, even after they’re sore.
Steps to Address Excessive Barking
If your dog is barking excessively, there are plenty of steps you can take to ensure that this issue is resolved quickly. Here are a few to take note of.
Reward Your Dog for Good Behavior
When you notice your dog barking excessively, you should consider rewarding instead of punishing them. If the bark is because they need attention, wait until they calm down for a few seconds, then provide them with a treat.
This can also work well during separation anxiety training when the dog doesn’t react negatively when you’re leaving. When you focus on rewarding good behavior, your dog will learn to do what can get them the reward.
Keep Your Dog Active
Many energetic dogs are likely to bark when they feel lonely or bored. When you keep them exercised, they won’t have any reason to bark as they seek attention. Taking your dog for walks or runs in the park releases calming hormones, and they won’t feel the urge to bark. In most cases, the level of exercise necessary will largely depend on the dog’s physical traits, breed, and size.
Consider Seeking Professional Dog Training
If you’re finding it challenging to address your dog barking concerns, consider seeking the help of a professional. An expert can advise you on steps you should take to address this problem.
Take Away Their Stimuli
To ensure that your dog doesn’t bark excessively, consider taking away whatever they’re barking at. This is mostly the case if your dog is a territorial barker. If your furry friend is barking because of something they’re scared of, consider taking it away from them.
This trick works for a short time, which is why you should work on desensitization. This is where you remove the stimulus from the dog then re-introduce it slowly until they’re used to it.
Final Thoughts
Dogs don’t get tired of barking, and they’ll continue to do so until they receive some response. However, as they become physically tired, they tend to slow down their barking. All dogs bark, and this could be due to boredom, alarm, or fear.
While your dog can’t remain silent for a long time, excessive barking should be a cause for concern. Such behavior doesn’t resolve by itself, which is why you have to take different approaches to ensure it’s effectively addressed.
