Why Does My Puppy Bark At Other Dogs?[Is it Normal]

I take my dog for a stroll and across the street, he spies the neighbour’s Moodle. My dog pauses his stride, his ears prick up, his tail begins to lift up and wag, and suddenly a boom of loud woofs explodes. 

You fight to keep walking as he is determined to stand there and bark for as long as possible. 

This continues until your dog can no longer see the neighbour’s dog, but you know that as soon as his eyes settle on the Golden retriever ahead of you, it will happen again. 

So what message does this gives? Is your dog unfriendly? Scared or anxious? Or does he just believe every dog he sees is a new opportunity to warm up his vocal cords?

Barking is a complicated set of activities that serves various tasks. Dogs bark at new people, at fast-moving things, and, yes, at other dogs. 

Not every barking dog has a genuine goal other than to say “hi,” and the context, frequency, and intensity of your dog’s barks are crucial elements in identifying why your dog feels the need to be loud. 

(And her capacity to communicate this way is one method to make sure she is a happy puppy.) 

It’s crucial to pay close attention to your dog’s body language anytime she starts to “yell.” Without being there to observe it, a behaviour expert can’t explain with 100 per cent sure why your dog is barking at other dogs in every circumstance. 

However, these are the three most prevalent reasons I convey to customers why a dog may bark at other dogs.

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Nibbling and biting are normal behaviours for dogs. While playing in the litter, pups learn to control their chewing and biting habits. One will yell or cry if they have been bitten too hard, letting the other know it hurt and that the nibbling was too severe.

Why Does My dog Bark At Other Dogs?[Is it Normal]

Your dog is Just reacting to the other dog….

Overreacting to environmental stimuli like other canines, reactivity is a form of hyperarousal. 

Distress, fear, and negative memories all have a big influence on a dog’s behaviour. It is common for a dog to bark excessively when it is frightened or distressed. 

Other reactive-related behaviours like snarling or lunging may accompany this barking. 

While this may appear to be aggressive, this isn’t always the case. If the dog is afraid of another dog, he or she will try to scare it away or prevent it from getting any closer.

Reactive behaviours, such as excessive barking, are more common in dogs that have not been properly socialised or who have had poor encounters with other dogs. 

A dog’s reactivity is a normal reaction to an unpleasant circumstance when they are forced to be in situations they do not want to be in, such as when a barking dog or an off-leash dog runs at them.

A licenced animal behaviour consultant or veterinary behaviourist can assist you if you’re worried about your dog’s excessive barking, especially if it looks to be reactive.

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Reactivity in dogs can occur for a variety of causes, including the following:

• Not being socialised correctly as a puppy
• Having negative interactions with other dogs
• Genetics
• Inadequate training to develop self-control

Your Pooch is SOCIAl! Yay

Social Dogs are sociable and eager to meet new people and learn about the world around them. 

To initiate a greeting (sniff, sniff!) or a game, a dog may bark to get the attention of another dog. You should expect your dog to yelp whenever he sees his canine companion if they’ve previously played together in your area. 

She may bark to initiate some kind of interaction or contact with other dogs if you have a puppy that is still learning how to connect with other canines.

Many dogs will bark when they hear other dogs barking; this symphony of sounds might resemble a neighbourhood Zoom gathering.

Because of her loose and wide mouth, as well as her play-initiating actions like bowing or bouncing, her barking is most likely social in nature and nothing to worry about.

Barking in the territory

Dogs frequently bark to defend their territory. Therefore, if your dog begins barking as other dogs pass by the home, he may be alerting them to the fact that they are approaching his space.

Bear in mind that dogs might see a variety of objects as their territory, including your car or the area where you regularly go for walks, and he may bark at other dogs in such areas if he regards them as “his” as well.

Attention seeking behaviour

Your dog may bark at other dogs for the same reason he may bark at you from time to time – he seeks attention.

Therefore, if your dog barks at another dog in the dog park, he may be attempting to get the other dog to play with him.

How to stop your dog from barking at other dogs

Barking is a normal activity for dogs, and if your dog barks periodically to greet his buddies, you need not be concerned about attempting to stop him.

However, if you find yourself unable to walk down the street without your dog barking at every pup you pass, you may wish to consider management or training.

Ascertain the reason for your dog’s barking

Before you attempt to silence your dog, you should determine why he is barking – whether it is territorial behaviour, reactivity, enthusiasm, or another cause. 

Acquainting yourself with your dog’s triggers enables you to avoid them or train your dog to disregard them.

Making Dogs Quiet by Making Them Relax

Keep your dog and yourself at a safe distance from other canines.

The barking you hear from your dog while he’s on a leash or in a fenced area is because he’s experiencing “barrier frustration.”

Putting your dog on a leash and standing near but far enough away from another dog will help calm him down and ease his anxiety.

Consider a dog park or a pet store where dogs are more likely to congregate.

The distance between you and your dog may take some trial and error to figure out at first. If you’re going to a pet store, it’s best to park far away from the entrance and keep a watchful eye out for curious animals. If you’re in a dog park, don’t stand in the middle of it.

Add a voiceover( A verbal Cue)

Consider using a verbal cue to redirect your dog’s attention away from the other dog in addition to giving him treats.

When your dog sees another dog, use a brief phrase (like “watch me”) or a single-word cue (like “concentrate” or “look”). 

When you give your dog a treat, make sure to say the cue beforehand so that he may link it with the goodie.

To teach your dog when to stop barking, it’s critical that you and your family members use the word or cue the same way every time.

Toss Treats 

That is correct. Feed your dog if she will eat, even if it is just between barking. This teaches your dog that her triggers result in goodies. 

You may either scatter goodies on the ground to entice your dog to play “find it,” or you can feed your dog as you make a hasty exit.

Get your dog a bit closer to the other dog

You should bring your dog in a little closer. As you get closer to the other dog, steadily increase the difficulty for your dog (e.g., closer to a pet store or dog park entrance).

To avoid causing your dog any distress, step away from the situation and begin again.  Per training session, aim to advance your position by a few feet or metres.

As long as your dog does not bark or respond to the goodies you give him, you can continue to 

Be on the lookout for signs of play aggression in your dog’s body language as you get closer. In contrast to a dog that is loose and happy, an irritated or hostile dog may be rigid and sluggish, even show its teeth. 

It’s possible you’ll have to think outside the box in order to get closer. It’s possible you’ll have to move to the sidewalk or the parking lot if you’re in a pet store.

Practice this every day!

Instil in Your Dog a Positive Attitude Towards Relaxation

Begin by educating your dog that the presence of another dog indicates that something nice is about to happen. 

Utilize your dog’s favourite canine companions for these practice sessions, and always keep all dogs on a leash when training. 

After your dog has learned the fundamentals, you may begin exposing him to unfamiliar canines while on a leash in a dog park or in your neighbourhood.

Begin with the other dog at a distance sufficient for your dog to see but not respond. 

Each time your dog stares at the other dog without barking or responding in any other way, reward him with a “good” or a click and treat. 

When you initially begin, your dog is likely to be anxious when he sees the other dog and will only turn towards you briefly to get his reward before returning his gaze to the other dog. 

Treat regularly at first, until your dog develops the ability to relax.

When your dog is able to stare another dog in the eye without responding, educate him to turn and sit facing you when you come to a halt on a walk. 

Reward your dog for remaining seated or for maintaining eye contact with you while the other dog passes.

Control/manage reactivity

If your dog is reactive, working with a trainer or dog behaviour specialist to educate him to be less reactive may be beneficial.

Several strategies for reducing reactivity include the following:

Exiting the area with your dog when you see another dog, even if your dog hasn’t seen him yet (by crossing the street, turning around, etc.)

Identifying your dog’s triggers and attempting to limit or avoid them – if it’s a particular dog he dislikes, if he barks during a certain stretch of your walk, etc..

Utilizing a harness to ensure that you maintain greater control if your dog tugs on the leash 

Why Does My Dog Bark at Other Dogs and Lunge at them?

There are a variety of possible causes for your dog to bark and lunge at other dogs. We can only assume because we cannot ask your dog. 

The following are some of the most often cited (and best) explanations for this behaviour:

Fighting or fleeing. 

When your dog is on a leash, enclosed in a kennel, or behind a window, she is somewhat “trapped.” If doggo is angry about seeing another dog (maybe the previous time she saw a dog, he was unpleasant to her, and she desires more space this time), she is limited in her options. 

She is unable to run while on a leash or otherwise restrained, but she wishes the other dog would go. In consequence, your dog learns that barking and lunging work — and hence continues to do so, perhaps even more frequently over time.

Un-social – Your dog don’t get how to socialize

Certain dogs just do not understand how to socialise with other dogs. 

This can make them particularly fearful of other dogs. When unsocialized dogs learn that being on a leash prevents them from escaping from other dogs, they become more reactive. 

This relates to the “fight or flight” instinct that motivates barking and lunging.

Frustrated Greeting. 

Certain dogs never truly learn how to pass other dogs on the street nicely. They spend their time playing brilliantly with other dogs in puppy courses, dog parks, and doggy daycares. 

When they are small, their well-intentioned owners let them to pull over to “go say hello.” Then their owners cease to let them to “go say hi.” They see another dog (a potential playmate!) and want to investigate. However, they are unable to do so due to this dreaded leash! They bark in frustration. 

They become agitated again the next time they encounter another dog.

This problem can occur regardless of whether you let your dog to “go say hey” to other dogs on a regular basis or only sometimes. This can also happen if you used to allow your dog out to greet you but have now stopped.

Techniques of Training That Are Not Advisable. 

Regrettably, many training methods might actually exacerbate your dog’s barking and lunging. 

Choking, reprimanding, slapping, rolling, or otherwise disciplining your dog for barking and lunging can quickly backfire. 

That is because your dog learns that barking and lunging at other dogs (or humans, or whatever she is barking and lunging at) causes you to do these unpleasant things. 

In response, she attempts to scare the other dogs away by barking and lunging harder.

This can occur even if the corrections you are administering are not very harsh or frightening. 

Anything shocking or even somewhat unpleasant might increase your dog’s fear of/susceptibility toward/aggression against dogs or people.

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