As most dog owners will attest to, having a furry canine companion can be incredibly rewarding. After all, they’re man’s best friends for a reason. Their unconditional love and loyalty, as well as their often boundless energy, make them excellent house pets and often exceptional guard dogs.
As guard
dogs, they will often bark to alert you to any potential threats. However,
sometimes, the barking can get a little too much, especially when it happens at
night. This can prompt dog owners like yourself to ask, “do dogs get tired of
barking?”
While it
may seem harmless and simply frustrating, the excessive barking may be a sign of
an underlying issue, such as stress or something similar.
With that
said, check out the most common reasons for excessive barking and the best ways
you can address this issue.
Can Dogs Bark for an Extended Period?
More often
than not, it can feel like your dog can continue barking for what seems like an
eternity. This may be even why you ask yourself the question “do dogs ever get
tired of barking.” However, similar to how people get tired after talking for a
long time, dogs can actually get tired of barking too.
In fact,
two factors affect just how long dogs can bark – the reason they’re barking and
their physical capacity or limitations. For the former, dogs bark as long as
they have the reason to. If it’s intruders or other threats, they may keep on
barking until it goes away.
However,
in some cases, especially when there’s no actual threat present, it might be
tough to get them to stop barking. In that case, they will bark until they
reach their physical limits.
The
process of barking is similar to how humans talk – air passes through the vocal
cords, resulting in sounds that serve as communication. Moreover, like speaking
in humans, excessive barking can take its toll on your dog, especially if it’s
putting too much strain on their vocal cords.
Common Reasons for Dogs Barking a Lot
As
mentioned, barking is typical behavior for dogs, as this is how they express
themselves without words. It could mean anything; it could be a way to get your
attention or serve as a form of greeting.
It can
also be a way for them to alert you to potential threats, such as intruders on
your property. However, when dogs bark incessantly, especially when there’s no
immediate threat or cause, it may be a sign of something deeper.
So, if
you’re asking yourself, “why is my dog barking more than usual,” check out some
of the typical reasons dogs bark with no apparent reason below.
1. Stress
Stressful
as their incessant barking may be for you, it might also be a sign that they’re
experiencing a lot of stress themselves. Excessive barking is typical
in dogs who are undergoing a lot of stress, especially in older dogs. This is
because they might be experiencing memory loss and confusion due to their
advanced age.
Therefore,
if your older dog is barking a lot, it might be due to the stress they’re
feeling due to their declining senses. On the other hand, if they’re younger or
still a puppy, they might still be barking due to higher than normal stress
levels.
This might
be caused by various factors, such as being in an unfamiliar place, loud
noises, or being around strange people.
2. Attention-Seeking
Another
common reason for dogs barking a lot is that they’re trying to get your
attention. While this often means that they want affection from you, the
incessant barking could also mean that they need something.
For
example, if they’re trained to relieve themselves outdoors, the barking may
indicate that they need you to take them out for a potty break. Forgetting to
take them out to do their business when you get home might result in your dog
barking a lot at night.
Aside from
this, the incessant barking may also indicate that they want to play or want a
treat. This is common, especially in highly energetic dog breeds, such as
terriers and Chihuahuas.
3. Boredom
Suppose
you’re always away or leave home for extended periods. In that case, your dog
might feel lonely or bored and start barking as a way to express their
unhappiness.
If they
get used to this, they may continue barking anytime they feel unhappy, which
can be problematic, especially if it happens at night.
Barking
due to boredom can also mean that your dog is not receiving enough stimuli to
satisfy its need for such. This can be common for dog breeds whose
personalities aren’t designed for prolonged isolation.
4. Anxiety or Excessive Fear
While
barking is typical when dogs detect potential threats, excessive barking may
indicate that your dog is experiencing anxiety or an intense level of fear.
While it may seem like it is, anxiety is not a condition exclusive to humans.
Various
animals, such as dogs and even cats, can also suffer from anxiety, and it can
manifest differently in different species. For example, non-stop barking,
especially at night, is common in dogs suffering from anxiety.
So, if
you’re asking, “why do dogs bark at night when there’s nothing going on,” this
may be the reason behind it.
5. Painful Underlying Medical Condition
Another
potential reason dogs bark non-stop is that they might be in pain or
experiencing discomfort. Barking may be a way for them to express the pain and
discomfort they’re experiencing.
This pain
can be due to an underlying medical condition, such as an infection or a small
but deep wound. If this is the case, aside from non-stop barking, your dog may
also shy away from being touched or any other form of physical contact.
How to Address Excessive Barking
If your
dog is barking a lot, it can pose several problems for you, especially if they
keep doing it at night. It can disrupt not only your sleep but can also be
disruptive for your neighbors who are trying to get enough restful sleep.
As a
result, this can put a strain on your relationship with your neighbors.
Therefore, it’s crucial to find ways to address your dog’s excessive barking.
With that
said, here are several tips on how you can address your dog’s excessive
barking.
1. Take them to the vet.
As
mentioned, excessive barking, especially when there’s no evident threat, can
mean something more serious is going on with your canine friend. For example,
they can be under a lot of stress due to a change in environment or old age.
In
addition, they can also be experiencing stress due to anxiety and intense fear.
In some cases, excessive barking can even be a sign of an underlying medical
condition that causes them pain and discomfort.
Therefore,
it’s best to take them to their vet and have them thoroughly checked to rule
these possibilities out. If the vet finds anything, they can prescribe the
proper treatment, such as medications or alternative methods to help address
the issue.
If they
suffer from anxiety, the vet can also help your dog undergo desensitization to
help them deal with what’s causing their anxiety. Addressing the root cause of
their barking won’t just make them stop barking incessantly, but it can also
even save your dog’s life.
2. Train them.
If your
vet rules out underlying medical conditions as the cause, the next method you
can try out is to train them. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you
have to go through hours and hours of dog training courses.
In fact,
it could be as simple as ignoring the bad behavior you want to correct (the
excessive barking) while rewarding good behavior (keeping quiet). This is ideal
for excessive barking due to excitement and attention-seeking behavior.
Of course,
it may be tempting to react and reprimand them whenever they start barking, but
it’s vital that you don’t. This is because your dog might misinterpret your
reaction as you communicate back to them.
So, to
address this issue, you can train them to keep quiet by rewarding them with a
treat whenever they stop barking. Later on, your dog will learn to associate
being quiet with rewards and stop using barking as a way to gain your
attention.
3. Give them enough exercise.
If they’re
barking because they’re too energetic, giving them enough exercise can stop
your dog from barking a lot at night. Ensuring they engage in plenty of
physical activity during the day can provide them the stimuli and movement they
need to keep them from getting restless at night.
In fact,
exercise is generally considered the most basic remedy when addressing various canine behavioral
issues. This is because if your dog is has exhausted all its energy while
playing during the day, it’ll be too tired to bark non-stop at night and opt to
sleep instead.
4. Make sure to take them out for potty
breaks.
Another
potential reason your dog keeps on barking at night is that they may need to go
outside to relieve themselves. This is especially true if they have been
trained to go outside and only outside.
So, if you
forget to take them out in the afternoon so that they can do what they need to
do, they might end up barking non-stop at night. Therefore, to prevent this from
happening, make sure that you keep to their routine and remember to take them
out for a walk.
Not only
will this keep them from barking incessantly during the night, but it can also
prevent them from having accidents on your floors.
5. Provide them with enough stimuli.
If your
dog keeps barking due to boredom, it would be best to ensure that they have
enough stimulating objects around to keep them entertained. This is especially true if you need to be
away from home for hours at a time.
For
example, you can provide several entertaining toys for your dog to keep him
occupied while you’re at work. An example of these toys is food-dispensing
toys, which are available in various shapes and sizes.
This can
keep your dog entertained and happy for several hours without over-feeding
them. Another alternative would be bringing them to a doggy day-care where they
can interact with other dogs.
If this
isn’t an option, you can always ask a close friend or relative who loves dogs
to come over and keep your canine friend company while you’re at work.
Final Thoughts
When your
dog barks non-stop when there’s no evident reason, you may end up asking
yourself, “do dogs get tired of barking.” It may seem like they don’t, but they
do, especially if their barking puts too much strain on their vocal cords.
However,
their relentless barking can disrupt you and others in your neighborhood before
they get too tired to stop. Therefore, it would be best to find out why they’re
constantly barking and take measures to address the underlying issues.
So, what
about you? Does your dog bark constantly? What steps have you taken to address
the issue? Let us know in the comments below!
July 28, 2021 at 05:15
Lisa Guy says:
My dog barks every time I take him out and I go to the garbage can just to go around the block or just to go around the side of the building it gets on my nerves and my neighbor's nerves just to leave him for 5 seconds he boxes if something is going on with him what can I do