Every dog owner will ultimately face the dilemma of a dog that won’t stop barking. The noise is enough to bother not only the people in the house but in the neighborhood as well.
It is because of the need to avoid potentially annoying, incessant barking in their pets that some dog lovers ultimately decide to get a Labrador Retriever because of its reputation for being a rare barker.
However, as with any other dog, Labradors may be quite determined barkers once they set their minds to it. If you find yourself with a barking Lab, the key to dealing with it is to finding out what is causing or stimulating your dog to bark and take the necessary steps to fix the problem.
General Reasons Why Dogs Bark
In general, there are a number of reasons why dogs as a whole bark. These reasons are:
1) They want to play – This can be true for Labs since they want your attention for some playtime.
2) Giving a warning – Although Labs are not really good guard dogs (meaning that they do not possess the aggression to attack intruders), they can be trained to bark out in warning if someone enters your house.
3) Anxiety or fear – Labs tend to bark if they are anxious or afraid of something.
4) Responding to a stimulus – Like most dogs, Labs also possess acute senses so they can bark if they detect something that is unknown to them.
5) Guarding – Guarding barks and growls are considered to be more aggressive than warning barks. These barks are an indication of the possibility of impending attack if the intruder continues to invade their territory.
6) Boredom – Labs bark if they are bored, such as when you leave them alone at home or have them stay in the backyard or garden for too long. These barks indicate that your dog needs mental stimulation.
7) Self-identification – In the presence of other dogs, a bark serves to identify them. This type of barking also helps owners identify their dogs, for example if the Lab has wandered far while walking outside.
It should be emphasized that not all incidents of barking need to be corrected since your dog may have legitimate reasons for doing so. Instead, learn to understand the types of barks your dog makes.
Forms of Nuisance Barking and What to Do
1) Bored or frustrated barking
Sometimes, your dog may bark because he is bored and wants something to do. Labs, being intelligent and sociable, especially need the mental stimulation. If you will be leaving them at home while at work or in school, have a family member or dog sitter check on your Lab and play with them for 30 minutes twice a day if possible. You can also leave toy puzzles for them to play with.
2) Attention-seeking barking
For attention-seeking dogs, it is more advisable to not give in to them. Never pat or hug your dog when it is seeking your attention. You are not calming or comforting them when you do this. In fact, you are giving them exactly what they want. So, in their minds, they believe that barking will get them a hug. In the same vein, shouting at them to stop (negative attention) also means that they are still getting attention from you.
Instead, ignore them. When they become quiet, give them a treat. If they start barking again, ignore them again. Always give a treat when they become quiet. They will soon learn that being quiet is the behavior that is expected of them.
3) Barking due to stimulus
This type of barking occurs whenever someone or something intrudes into their territory. Close your curtains or doors so they won’t bark at anything they see outside. If they are outside, distract them by giving them their toys. You can also switch their focus by telling them to “Come” or “Lie down.”
Train your dog to respond to the quiet command. Stimulate them with whatever causes them to bark, such as a noise, knock or ring. Once they bark, get their attention on you. If they stop barking, say “Quiet”, “Enough”, or “No bark.” Wait for your dog to stop barking. If they stop, say “Good quiet” and give them a treat.
4) Nervous or Reactive Barking
Always try to determine first what the cause of your dog’s nervous or reactive barking. In some cases, your dog may be barking because it is in pain, thus requiring a vet appointment.
Never release your dog while it is anxious since this will only make the barking worse. Consider behavior modification techniques, so that your Lab will be taught to move away from what is causing it distress.
While Labrador Retrievers are rare barkers, consider following the tips above in case your dog develops the nuisance barking habit.
