What is Territorial Barking?
A dog that barks out the window at passing people and dogs, barks at noises heard from outside the property, or barks in the garden at noises is not a happy dog. This is what I call territorial barking, and dogs that do this excessively typically do not rest or sleep properly at home. They will sometimes pace, or even if they do sleep, they will soon be awake and alert at the slightest noise.
This is definitely an unhappy dog. Could you imagine living where you are constantly alert at the slightest sound, going to the window to shout at everyone passing, and worrying about what’s around your territory?
How Territorial Barking Affects Your Dog’s Well-being
It is a dog’s natural instinct to protect, but constant vigilance is detrimental to their well-being. If your dog is a territorial barker, then this is what it’s like for them: being on high alert and not being able to sleep or rest properly. The only time they normally have a good sleep is through the night when everything is quiet, and even then, some dogs will still be alert to noises.
Yes, of course, we want people to know that we have a dog, so if they bark a few times when the front door goes, then great, not a problem. If they bark if someone’s walking up to the door or trying to get in the back gate, also not a problem. But a dog that barks at everyday noises and everyday passersby is normally an anxious dog.
Dogs that are confident in their personality do not bark for no reason. Yes, they may bark at the door when the post is coming through or even when someone is walking up to their property, but they don’t bark at everything they see or hear within their property.
Now, there could be many reasons why your dog is feeling the need to bark and protect the property. They are obviously protecting themselves as well as you. It’s a nice feeling to know that your dog is quite protective, but it’s not a nice feeling for your dog to be on high alert most of the time. They are definitely protecting one of their resources.
The Solution: Training to Stop Territorial Barking
When I go to help a client with a barking dog, I first work out why the dog is feeling the need to bark in the house. Then, training is put in place to stop the barking once and for all. The dogs are normally then much calmer, much happier, and rest more during the day, and they definitely don’t pace around.
It’s so great to see a happy owner, a happy, contented dog, and I’m sure, happy neighbours.