Is it ok if my puppy barks a lot?

If you have the feeling your pup barks more frequently than other pups or something small can trigger it to bark, you should explore the reasons for this behavior. Puppies do not usually bark a lot and if there is a issues behind its barking it could become problematic when it grows into an adult dog.

Why do smaller dogs bark more often than bigger ones?

Yes, it is true, certain breeds of dogs bark more frequently and in general smaller dogs do as well. Here is a list of breeds that bark a lot:

Beagle
Chihuahua (photo)
German Shepherd
Poodle
Yorkshire Terrier
Jack Russell Terrier
Shih Tzu
Cocker Spaniel

Why do dogs bark?

Dogs bark for a variety of reasons, including communication, alerting, warning and expressing emotions. Barking is a natural behavior for puppies and adult dogs and can be a way for them to express themselves. Understanding why your dog is barking and how to tell the different types of bark apart can be beneficial in managing its behavior.

Puppies might bark or howl to try out their voice. It is a behavior similar to young children who scream at the top of their voice just to experiment how loud they can become and also what type of reaction it triggers. Puppies are always in the process of learning and this includes manners of communications and the reactions these evoke.

Dogs bark to communicate with people and other animals. A dog might bark to get attention, to let you know they are feeling anxious or excited, to ask you to play with them, or to express their needs.

Dogs often bark to alert their owners to potential danger or to let them know something is happening. This type of bark is usually loud and urgent and can be a sign that your dog needs help.

They may bark to warn off possible threats. This type of bark is usually deep and intimidating. This is very typical of watchdogs like the German shepherd, especially if they are kept for most parts in a garden or courtyard.

Dogs also bark to express their emotions such as excitement, joy, or displeasure. This type of bark is usually high-pitched and can be accompanied by other behaviors such as jumping or running in circles. Barks of scared dogs can be very high-pitched, almost sounding like a whine.

Differentiating between the various types of bark can be helpful in understanding why your puppy is barking and how to address the behavior. For example, a warning bark is often accompanied by aggressive body language and posturing, including having their neck hair stand up, while a bark of excitement is more likely to be accompanied by jumping and tail wagging.

What to do if your puppy barks a lot

It might be that your pet isn´t feeling well, whether it has health issues such as digestive problems or that it doesn´t feel good in its environment. Let your vet check your pup for any possible health issues. Otherwise monitor the situations in which your pet starts barking. Where was it and what happened before it started barking? Are there other people involved, maybe strangers passing before the window, was there an unusual noise or has the pup been left to its own devices for a long period of time?

In most cases dogs that bark a lot do so out of a protective urge. They want to keep their owner and their home safe and bark to warn and fend off potential aggressors. This habit can turn into a problem, especially if there isn´t a real threat but the pup continuously feels threatened. Please do not consider this behavior as cute and don´t take it lightly. Your dog is in a state of alertness and has the potential to attack somebody or another animal if it feels very threatened. In a situation when there is no danger, you should tell your pup to stop barking by simply saying "no" in a firm, clear voice.

This helps the pup to understand that there is no threat and it can relax. It also strengthens the bond between you by strenghtening the trust in you: Your pup will come to understand that you are taking care of it and the situation in general and that it doesn´t have to prepare for a fight and defend you or its home. It will make your dog feel safe and calm down and it can enjoy the day.

If your dog growls, shows its teeth or has its neck hair raised, be aware that this is clearly aggressive behavior. It is usually directed at a person or another animal. Even if your pup is of a small breed like the chihuahua you should not tolerate this aggression. There is a potential risk of it harming somebody or some other pet. With the proper training you can break its habit of threatening others and help your dog relax. It will feel a lot better if it doesn´t feel threatened and doesn´t feel the need to fight for its own and your protection.

For more information on behavior, visit our page on understanding your puppy.

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