Sometimes our furry friends seem to have a lot to say, but let’s be real – having a dog that barks at every neighbor, delivery person, or passerby can be downright annoying and embarrassing. Even worse, it can land you in hot water within your apartment complex if it’s considered a nuisance. I can understand that you just want it to stop, but often telling your dog No! or getting mad at them, only seems to make it worse.

Fear not, my fellow Singaporean dog guardians, there’s hope!

The key to getting that yapping to simmer down is understanding *why* your pup is letting their vocal cords rip. Once you know the root cause, you can start tackling the issue with some proven techniques. So, let’s dive in and explore the different types of barking behaviors.

Alert Barking: The Neighborhood Watchdog

You know the type – your dog spots someone walking by the window and suddenly it’s World War Bark up in here. Their eyes are laser-focused, their hackles are raised, and they’re letting out a series of sharp, staccato barks. This is classic alert barking, and it’s their way of saying, “Hey, human! There’s something out there that needs your attention!”

The reason behind this behavior is pretty straightforward – your dog is trying to warn you of a perceived threat or intruder. It’s an instinctual response that stems from thousands of years of breeding.

Dogs are one of the few species that we humans have had a very strong hand in developing, selecting to amplify certain traits (coat, color, demeanor) over others to suit our preferences (after all, why would natural selection ever favor a flat nosed pug that can barely breathe!). Often dogs were kept (and still are) as guards within a household or community. Their main role was to alert people to strange things in their environment and this is hardwired in most dogs today.

From the overly suspicious stranger danger barker, to the one that balks at a shopping bag floating in the wind.  In the concrete jungle of Singapore, your pup may see every passerby or hallway crosser as a potential threat and we can’t really blame them for it. They’re just doing what they’ve been bred to do.

I never recommend to completely abolish this behavior, because after all, it serves a genetic need. I do, however, recommend strategies to curb the alert barking. So we don’t need Fido to keep barking until the strange thing has disappeared. One bark and a settle will do just fine thank you.

Here you’ll need to teach your dog an alternative or chained behavior, like coming to you, or going to their “place” or “mat” after an initial bark when they see or hear something outside. Reward them with treats and praise when they do this enough times, and soon they’ll learn that one bark is as good at 40.

Fear Barking: A good defence is a good offence

Some dogs bark out of fear, and their barks tend to be high-pitched and repetitive. You might notice their ears are flattened, their tail is tucked, and they’re backing away from the perceived threat. This is their way of saying, “Stay away! I’m scared!”

Fear-based barking can stem from unfamiliarity, or past experience, or even pain causing a lower threshold (capacity to tolerate). Your pup may be terrified of the loud construction happening down the street in Bukit Batok or the group of boisterous children playing at the nearby park. We all know about how fireworks and thunderstorms can cause many dogs to cower in fear. Well, while some dogs cower, other’s take the opposite strategy and try to scare the scary thing away (bless their brave hearts).

To help your fearful pup, I always recommend, firstly, to minimize their exposure to the scary thing as much as possible. If this means that your dog needs to rest in your bedroom with a sound machine on, while you vacuum your living room, or when you’re expecting deliveries, or when you know lots of people will be passing by the door (after work), then that’s what you need to do.  

Secondly, I recommend lots of confidence building games, so that your pup learns how to navigate different situations and builds a more positive world view. You’ll also need to go slow with desensitization and counterconditioning plan with a certified professional. A certified trainer or behaviorist will help you build a roadmap to expose them to the scary stimuli at the right levels to ensure they’re kept under their threshold of fear, and in the learning mindset so that you can see progress.

Happy Barking: The Excited Extrovert

On the flip side, you’ve got the dogs who just can’t contain their excitement. When you walk through the door or pull out their leash, they’re jumping, spinning, and letting out a series of high-pitched yips or even nibbling on your hands. This is their way of saying, “Yay, fun times are here!”. At times it might seem like they’re so overwhelmed with excitement, they don’t quite know what to do with themselves.

While happy barking is infectious and makes us happy when we see it, I do recommend teaching dogs a more human-acceptable way to channel their excitement. This can range from going to their toy basket to get a toy to offer the newcomer to toss, or a simple hand touch, or even a stationing behavior like go to Place or Mat in order to be greeted. All of these ensure that the dog is able to express their happiness in a more structured manner and doesn’t loose themselves in the excitement barking. Of course if you live in the middle of nowhere with no neighbor’s complaining, then screw it! Let your baby run wild with happy abandon, so long as it isn’t affecting them negatively.

Frustration/Demand Barking: The Misunderstood Pup

You’ve been working at your desk all day and come 5pm, you find your dog is sitting by the door or by your chair. You have a deadline to meet so you ignore them, and soon find them whining and barking because they really want your attention or to go outside. This is frustration or demand barking, and it’s their way of saying, “Come on, human! I want _______!”.

Frustration or demand barking often stems from a mix of a lack of mental and physical stimulation and ignored communication. Additionally, we often  we end up teaching our dogs that if they bark long enough, they’ll get what they wanted in the first place (ever ignore the first few barks, and eventually give in because you just want them to shut up?).

In this scenario its always best to firstly ensure your pup is getting enough exercise and enrichment throughout the day. Ensure that enrichment is suitable to your dog’s breed and personal preferences (digging, shredding, sniffing).

Secondly, I recommend keeping an eye out for the early signs that your dog is getting restless or wants something. They might get up and go towards the door or window, or come and lie down next to you or simply stare – these are all acceptable early requests from them on something they want. If you can step away for a moment and give them what they need in that moment, you’ll find your dog escalates to whiny, barky behavior less. In a way you’re teaching them an alternate, more acceptable behavior to get your attention.

In the situations where you know you’re unable to step away to give in to their more polite requests, I recommend having some suitable busy projects on hand to distract them, and buy some time for yourself.

In a nutshell

Understanding why your dog barks is the first step to addressing the behavior. Each type of barking has its own triggers and solutions, and by recognizing these, you can help your dog communicate more appropriately.  Additionally,  every dog is unique, and what works for one pup may not work for another. But with a little patience, some observational skills and the right training techniques with a certified professional, you can turn that rave in your house into a peaceful zen retreat.

If you’re struggling with your dog’s barking, consider seeking help from a professional dog trainer or behaviorist. For more tips on managing your dog’s behavior and fostering a peaceful home, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’m here to help you and your furry friend live harmoniously together.