All animals and people have a way to communicate with each other. The same applies to your dog. Barking is their way to convey to you what they need and how they feel. You should be worried if your dog never barks. It’s not normal and can point out issues with your dog’s disposition. On the other hand, excessive barking, especially if directed towards you, can also indicate many things about your dog.
Why does my dog always bark at me? First, the dog’s excessive barking towards you can indicate that they don’t want you to invade their space. Second, they also bark at you when you surprise them out of nowhere. Also, barking dogs feel bored and want to have regular uptime. Lastly, if you tend to reward your dog when it barks, the barking has become a learned behavior.
Territory issues
Dogs are animals, and they experience territorial instincts too. This means that dogs get protective naturally. It happens too often, and when your dog is not in the best state of mind or condition to welcome anybody, it gets threatened. This typically happens with people they don’t know. Nevertheless, sometimes if you get closer to your dog, they will bark at you excessively to guard their personal space.
You may feel confused and shocked by the behavior. Why does my dog bark at me aggressively? It’s normal for dogs to feel threats from you even if they already know you. The best thing you can do is back up slowly and avoid the territory. Wait for your dog to come around and make sure that they don’t bark again when you’re around.
It would be best if you waited until your dog stops barking. Give them their space, and when they’re okay, check them. They may feel threatened in their territory because they are undergoing something or are in severe pain. You need to know if your dog has injuries or is sick stricken.
It’s best to give them medical attention when they are in a calm state. Yelping can also accommodate the barking, and it means they are in serious pain. If they welcome you to check them without the onslaught of territorial aggression, examine them.
Feelings of alarm or startle
People exclaim or shout out when they feel surprised and experience unexpected events. The same applies to your dog. Imagine if you creep up on them while they’re not aware of your presence, they’ll feel alarmed or be in a temporary state of startle.
Why does my dog always bark at me? It constantly barks at you if you always surprise it. Avoid surprising your pet, or it will turn aggressive towards you even without doing anything. Feelings of alarm and surprise can quickly spin into feelings of anger and fear towards you.
Set a calm atmosphere, especially if your dog always spends time indoors. Build the feeling of safety with your dog whenever you’re around to avoid unnecessary barking. You wouldn’t want accidents to happen when your dog’s senses are heightened at you.
Feelings of boredom
Dogs should get sufficient daily exercise every time. Long days with nothing to do can signal a lot of boredom to your dog. If your dog has high energy and has nothing to do inside, barking is a way of expressing its sentiments. Depending on your dog’s breed, conditions, and age, take it out for a walk or some playtime. Dogs should have regular physical exercise.
One day, your dog barks at you out of nowhere and doesn’t stop barking after a while. You’ll start thinking, what does it mean if my dog barks at me? In your pet’s mind, it means that it’s time for a break, and you need to play with me. If you don’t take your dog out to exercise, it might end up making a mess inside your home as a way of addressing its pent-up energy from staying inside all day.
Psychological behavior
Dogs are very mental animals. They’re smart and can create patterns and signals in their mind. When you spoil your dog during barking, it can create rewarding conditioning. Rewarding the barking behavior can signal to your dog that whenever it barks, it gets treats. It also applies to extra toys that you keep or the attention that you don’t give.
Don’t tolerate the habit, as it can get worse over time. Your encouraging behavior and associated rewards are typical examples of negative reinforcement and may be detrimental in the long run.
The habit can escalate fast too. The next time you always give in, your dog will bark more, thinking you will give it more reward. This is very unhealthy, especially if your dog’s health and weight are starting to feel the effects of unnecessary treats and food.
Discipline is still essential in raising your pet dog, and there’s no better way to instill discipline by setting limitations. Instead of treats and toys, try taking your dog out for playtime to tire them out.
There are other reasons that your dog keeps barking at you. The best way to deal with this is by learning your dog’s behavior and setting your counteractions. Excessive barking directed towards you can be dangerous. It’s best if you build a dynamic where you and your furry pet work together healthily.
How to lessen the barking
When your dog always barks at you, it can get scary. Moreover, the barking can get irritating, and instead of having a fun time with your dog, you may strain your relationship. A barking dog is also not formed overnight. If they get used to barking at you for no reason, they will keep doing it. There are ways to lessen this.
How can I make my dog stop barking at me? Your dog’s unnecessary barking can lessen when you establish an everyday routine. Taking away attention or redirecting the behavior also reduces the barking. Lastly, you can take the dog for professional help.
Building a routine
Exercise is very crucial to dogs, especially when they’re growing up. Dogs can pick up behavior fast, and they’re intelligent creatures. You can start a healthy relationship with your pet if you spend an adequate amount of time doing healthy actions. Build a routine with your dog, and make sure to stick with it as often as possible. If you’re doing something meaningful with your dog, its mind is more likely diverted from barking at you.
What you can do: You can go out for a walk for 30 minutes every day. Stick with 30 minutes, so your dog isn’t reinforced to keep extending walk time. Complementary authority establishes a dynamic with your pet.
Ignore your pet for a while
Another thing you can do is ignore the dog when it barks. If your pet is okay and you accidentally step within its territory, it’s best to ignore it. When your pet doesn’t get any response from you during its territorial aggression, it slowly lessens its perception of you as a threat. Having a response is still a response, and for your dog, if they know that barking at you doesn’t work, they’ll eventually lose the attitude. They’ll only bark when necessary.
What you shouldn’t do: DON’T ENGAGE WITH THE BARKING, so you don’t provoke your dog. Walk away casually and don’t yell at it to keep quiet or worse, bark back. If you threaten your dog more, it won’t back down its barking. It also won’t feel safe around you, and it will prompt more threatening barking towards you in the future.
Redirect the barking instinct
Another trick you can do is give out another order to your pet when they start to bark at you. If they bark out of nowhere, tell them to lie down. State the incompatible order sternly, so you establish authority with your dog.
What to do: If they follow your order, you can reward them a little by giving them a treat AFTERWARDS. This will teach your dog that they will get a reward if they don’t bark and follow you. It’s essential that you reward them after and not immediately.
Contact professionals
Sometimes, no matter what you do, things don’t work out. The best thing you can do is seek help from professionals. If your dog is injured and needs help, take your dog to the nearest vet. Its pain may be the actual cause of unwarranted barking directed towards you. There are also people with enough experience to help you lessen the barking if your dog is completely fine.
Who you can call: Call your nearest veterinarian and schedule an appointment. You can also contact a professional dog trainer to give your dog the training it needs.
There are many other things you can do to lessen your dog’s barking. Dogs are living things too, and barking is its communication language.
As your pet’s owner, work with your dog to know what it needs. Adjusting for your dog can change its perception of you. Relationships don’t only apply to other people; it includes animals too. A good relationship with your pet starts the moment both of you work together.
