【CityU VMC Vet Tips - My Dog Barks too much?!】

All dogs bark, but surely not all day and night. If you find your dog is barking excessively, it deserves some attention. Dogs use barking to express different kinds of emotions, and when they bark it can mean different things depending on the situation. There are a few directions that you can check on your dog when you think that he/she is barking excessively:
1. Health issue?
Some dogs bark because they are in pain. You can check whether your dog has a spot somewhere that made he/she uncomfortable. Go to clinic to have a checkup if necessary.
2. Fear?
If your dog is in fear, he/she may voice this concern by barking. Your dog can be feeling fearful towards a person, a loud noise, or a strange/new situation.
3. Loneliness?
Dogs are social animals; they are well adapted to living in groups. If they are alone for excessive amounts of time, they may bark as a sign of unhappiness.
4. Territorialism?
Dogs can become territorial if a person or other animal comes into their territory. They feel possessive of their area and want to protect it.

How to deal with it?

The first step is to observe and try to understand why your dog keeps barking. Make a note of when your dog barks and the type of sound, so you can address the underlying emotional causes better. Do not simply stop your dog barking with an anti-bark collar, rather, be patient and call the dog to you in a calm and controlled way. Divert their attention with some basic dog training exercises and provide positive reinforcement and reward instead.Make sure your dog is getting sufficient physical and mental exercise every day. A tired dog is a good dog that is less likely to bark out of frustration or boredom. You can also visit your vet and or seek advice from a certified professional dog trainer especially if separation anxiety issues are the trigger for the barking.

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