What to do if your dog barks at other dogs

Fun furry fact - dogs bark at each other. We know, that might need a bit of time to sink in… There’s a reason we call them bark babies, our huggable hounds sometimes have to vocalize their emotions and can be directed at other dogs. To understand how to stop your dog from barking at other dogs, we’ve sourced a few facts about why your dog might bark in the first place, what to do if they suddenly start to bark at other pooches, and how to train this behavior away.

On your barks, get set, let’s go!

Why do dogs bark at other dogs?

We all know pups can sometimes bark at the most random of things - a new pair of shoes, a poster, their own reflection - but barking is usually triggered by one of four things…

Fear

Fear is perhaps the main cause of dogs barking at other dogs. It’s a reaction to a surge of adrenaline sparked by a new situation, a new dog, and if they’re unsure what to do. Back in the olden time days, we humans purposefully bred many dog breeds because they quickly reacted to barking if a new scent or presence appeared in their territory. It kept those humans safe and protected from strangers or unwanted visitors.

Unfortunately, this can also trigger additional aggressive behavior which can be scary to witness and deal with. Even the most friendly of puppers can become aggressive if they’re frightened.

Frustration

Barking at other dogs isn’t always an aggressive reaction, sometimes it comes from a place of curiosity. Some pooches just want to know more about another dog and whether they could be a potential playmate. Their leash is stopping them from having a crazy canine conversation, that would frustrate anyone! 

Overstimulation

By overstimulation, we mean from too much rough play or suddenly overwhelming situations (we’ll talk about doggo breeding stimulation next, don’t you worry). Whilst this could be a mixture of fear and frustration, just as children can become carried away when hyped up or given too much sugar, so too can pups forget themselves. Barking can be a release when their emotions become a little too much, we’ve all been there!

Arousal

We’re all mature adults here, pet people, so we all know that this is a natural part of life. A dog’s behavior, specifically those unspayed or neutered, can be strongly dictated by their ‘primal urges’. If it’s mating season even the most well-behaved snuffles can suddenly forget their hours of training and allow their instincts to take over. This is mostly the case with male dogs, but females aren’t completely innocent or compliant when it comes to the birds and the bees.

How to stop your dog from barking at other dogs

Some pups may have a predisposition to barking at other dogs, they’re more naturally timid or fearful, or perhaps they’re a hyper dog who hasn’t learned how to channel their emotions. However, a dog’s behavior can change in a lifetime, either due to a traumatic experience or a medical condition. Either way, there are things you can do to help stop your dog from barking at other dogs.

Remember, if your dog starts to act differently in any capacity, always contact their vet immediately.

Know what causes your dog to bark at other dogs

For one pooch it may be very obvious what drives them barking mad, but for others, a bit of trial and error might be needed. Never put your pup in a situation to purposefully scare or intimidate them. If there’s a particular point on your walk your dog barks at other dogs, or perhaps they only bark at large dogs, or maybe too many dogs is too much. Think about when your pup last had a barking match, what led up to the episode, and whether they displayed any other types of behavior.

Talk to your vet as they may be able to unravel the bark mystery quite quickly. Otherwise, they’ll have some safe suggestions on how to work out what sets them off.

Create an action plan for walks

This is very important if you’re ever worried for your pup’s well-being or you’re concerned they may hurt another dog. Your plan can be as simple as turning around if you see another dog heading your way. Another plan could be to slow down or stop and distract your doggy with treats or a chew toy.

Being unprepared and stressed can make both dogs bark at each other even more. This leads nicely to our next point…

Remain confident and calm around other dogs

As a pet parent, you’re also their pack leader. They look at you, watch your body language, and listen to your tone of voice to interpret how they should react. A nervous and anxious human will cause your dog to feel stressed or scared of the situation they’re in. If you’re worried about an approaching dog, simply remove yourself and your pup from the situation as quickly and calmly as you can.

Distractions: Treats, toys, and tickles

Paw-sivitive reinforcement is dog training 101. Equip yourself with plenty of treats and toys to take on walks if you’re worried there may be a barking encounter. For pooches who think they’re acting as guard dogs when they aren’t, toys and gentle reassurance through cuddles or stroking can help to distract them from any barking business. 

Consider how you want to train this out of your pup

Every dog is different and as pet parents we will always decide on what is best for our pup, especially when it comes to deciding how you want your doggo trained. For some, obedience training by a professional might be the best route, while more seasoned pup parents may feel confident enough to handle the situation themselves.

Whatever you decide to do, retraining is essential to teach your dog to stop barking at other dogs.

Training to prevent your dog from barking at other dogs

What we mean by training to prevent your dog from barking is to enforce rules and behaviors before they go barking ballistic on a fellow hound. Rather than wait for a barked argument to happen, you can add preventative training from when they join your family.

Puppy training

For those who have welcomed a baby barker into their household, training to stop them barking at other dogs, or barking in general, can start from day one. Even if this is your first time training a puppy, make sure to deal with your dog barking at other dogs before it becomes a learned habit or reaction.

Socialization

Sounds simple, right? Socialization is really important for a dog’s well-being. Not only does it make them feel more confident and happy in situations with other dogs and humans, but it causes them less stress than their parents. Shy or older doggos might do best by simply socializing with one dog at first. Once they’ve learned to trust another fur baby, they can learn by example how to interact with other dogs without aggression.

Talk to your vet about spaying or neutering

Your vet will prefer whether or not to spay or neuter your dog, just as you’ll have your own which is absolutely fine. However, spaying or neutering will quickly remove a pup’s barking trigger when aroused. Though male dogs may still bark if they pick up a female scent, they’re less likely to act on their instincts if neutered.