Despite the language barrier, the Golden Retrievers are undoubtedly popular and the best family dog. However, assuming that the dogs do not communicate with the humans is a myth because the dogs communicate with various sounds like barking. But do you know why does Golden Retriever bark?
Does your Golden Retriever bark a lot? If it does, then there may be several reasons behind it. Some of them are fear, anxiety, lack of attention, excitement, hunger, and pain. Apart from this, dogs also bark to state their territory and to protect their owners.
Although the Golden Retrievers have a calm attribute, they can sometimes be aggressive and barks a lot. And after a long hectic day at work, continuous barking might be irritating. Isn’t it?
Moreover, the Golden Retriever being a family dog needs to adjust to the human environment. And barking dogs might be antisocial in social gatherings. I bet you also do not prefer a baking dog. Do you?
Therefore, I will tell you about the reasons for barking with the ways to manage it. But before that, let us discuss the sounds that a Golden Retriever makes.
Are you familiar with all the sounds of the dogs?
What Are Sounds That Golden Retriever Makes?
As we know that, Golden Retrievers cannot speak. Thus, they use different sounds for vocalizations. And these sounds tell the owners about the mood and need.
Here the most common sound that the Golden Retriever makes:
- Groaning
- Howling
- Barking
- Whining
- Growling
- Sighing
Furthermore, each of these sounds indicates different things. So, the owners know the mood and requirements of their pet by analyzing the sound.
But I am going to disclose detailed information about barking Golden Retriever. I hope you will find my content beneficial for your dog.
What Is Barking?
Generally, barking is the characteristic short-loud cry of a dog. The barking of some dogs is resonating and alarming, while the others have a high-pitched whistling sound. And the sound indicates that your pet is happy, excited, nervous, uncomfortable, angry, hunger or frustrated.
Apart from this, the Golden Retrievers also show some body language to indicate their emotion like waging of the tail, bouncing around you, running, circling, pawing, biting, etc. Moreover, the dog can show different emotions by barking in a different pitch. The barking with high-pitch indicates happiness, while bark in low-pitch is for threat or to claim territory.
So, you should ignore your pet and stay away from it when your pal barks in low-pitch.
Why Does Your Golden Retriever Bark So Much?
Since Golden Retrievers cannot speak in human language, they use body language and vocalization to show their feeling. And barking is the natural sound in dogs. Therefore, the Golden Retriever may bark in several situations.
Moreover, the most common scenario where your Golden Retriever may bark so much are:
Golden Retriever May Bark Due To Pain
Golden Retrievers are prone to several diseases. Thus, your slight ignorance may deteriorate the health of your pet and lead your pal to pain. So, you Golden Retriever may bark due to the enduring pain caused by disease or injury.
Moreover, the signs that pain other than barking are:
- Agitation
- Yelping
- Hiding
- Sensitive to touch
- Stops eating
- Shallow or rapid breathing
- Aggressive behavior
- Limping or crying
Golden Retriever May Bark Due To Boredom
Golden Retriever needs a lot of daily exercises to stay fit and healthy. Thus, the dog becomes restless and anxious when it lacks adequate exercise or training. Furthermore, the dog behaves abnormally.
Apart from this, lack of exercise leads to several health issues. Thus, the Golden Retriever may bark a lot.
Negative Reinforcement Can Make Your Golden Retriever To Bark
Golden Retriever loves attention. Thus, if you give your pet treats, toys, or attention- when it barks, your pal assumes barking as a positive attribute. So, the Golden Retriever will bark a lot.
Therefore, you should ignore your pet until it stops barking. Furthermore, rewarding the pet for barking may encourage your pal to follow negative attributes.
Golden Retriever May Bark Due To Gain Attention
Since the Golden Retrievers are family dogs, they like getting attention from people. And if you fail to give your pal proper attention, it barks to indicate that it needs attention.
Furthermore, if you still ignore your pet, your Golden Retriever may bark louder and at a higher pitch. Therefore, you should engage your Golden Retriever in various activities throughout the day so that it does not feel ignored.
Golden Retriever May Bark Due To Excitement
Sometimes, the Golden Retriever may bark to show its excitement. And the situations where your pal barks in excitement are:
- When you arrive home.
- Seeing vehicles on the road
- Catching flies and insects
- When it gets new toys.
- When you give treats
Furthermore, the barking during excitement is rapid and loud. And if your Golden Retriever barks in a situation not similar to above, the reason for barking is not excitement.
Fear Can Make Your Golden Retriever To Bark
Fear, anxiety, and insecurity may also provoke your Golden Retriever to bark. Besides this, the pet also shows various other signs of fear. And they are:
- Loss of appetite
- Salivation
- Shaking
- Panting
- Pacing
- Loss of interest in playing
Golden Retriever May Bark For Protection
The pets that survived through accidents or attacks in the past are vulnerable. Since those pets are emotionally unstable, they desire protection.
Therefore, if an unfamiliar object approaches the pet, it barks in a high-pitched sound. And this is a sound of need for the owner to help. So, the Golden Retriever with a history of attacks may bark a lot for security.
Hungry Golden Retriever Will Bark A lot
Golden Retriever loves to eat. And food can enlighten the mood of your pet instantly. But if you fail to give your pet enough food, it feels ignored.
Therefore, it barks to tell you that it needs more food. Apart from this, the appetite of the pet changes according to the surroundings and exercise.
The pet needs more food in winter than in summer. Besides this, exercising may increase its appetite.
Since the same amount of food is not enough every time, sometimes you fail to give an adequate meal. Thus, your Golden Retriever may bark demanding food.
Golden Retriever May Bark To Indicate Its Territory
Golden Retrievers are very possessive dog breeds. And they do not like sharing their toys, food, or owners. So, when other pets approach their things, the Golden Retriever barks to claim their territory. Besides this, the pet may also show other territorial signs like:
- Growling
- Biting
- Lunging
- Aggressive and loud sound
- Freezing in the place
Apart from this, the Golden Retriever may also bark to an unfamiliar face standing the door to protect its owner. Thus, if your pet is in the door and barking a lot, it means that you have a visitor.
What do you think might be the reason behind your Golden Retriever bark?
Do your think one of the above reasons comply with your pet?
How Can You Control Your Golden Retriever Bark?
The barking sound is irritating. And if you are a silent person, it may frustrate you even more. Besides this, barking also indicates chances of illness and pain that might be fatal for your pet.
Thus, it is necessary to control the excessive barking of your pet. for this, you can follow the following ideas:
Provide Nutritious Food
Since the Golden Retriever loves eating, offering food may relax your pet. Along with this, nutritious food will ensure a healthy and longer lifespan for your Golden Retriever.
Besides this, meal filled with nutrients prevents diseases like constipation, diabetes, obesity, thyroid disorders, etc. Thus, it promotes peaceful and healthy life with your pet. Furthermore, excessive barking may also be a sign of hunger.
Thus, providing your pet with nutritious food and healthy natural snacks may stop your pet from barking.
Give Proper Attention
Barking is also a way of asking attention from the owner. Therefore, you must give your pet adequate time or care to reduce the chances of barking.
For this, you can exercise, train, eat food, cuddle or play with your pet. And this also helps to strengthen the bond between you and your pet.
Besides this, paying attention also involves grooming and caring for your pet. Thus, it prevents the chances of skin diseases, ear infections, parasitic infections, etc., in your pet.
Take For Socialization
Sometimes the Golden Retriever may bark a lot because it does not trust people. Therefore, to build trust among people, you should take your pet to social gatherings, meetings, parks, invite guests, etc. The pet learns to accept and socialize when it is around people.
Thus, your pal will be calm and relax to please people around it.
Ignore Barking
If you pay attention to the barking of your pet, your pal assumes barking a positive attribute. Thus, your Golden Retriever will bark more often. So, to stop your pet from barking, you must ignore the barking.
When your Golden Retriever starts to bark, stop playing. And do not resume the game until it calms down. Thus, this will tell your pet that barking is wrong and means to stop playing.
Train Your Pet
Training your pet is essential for disciplining your pal. And since the Golden Retrievers are intelligent, they learn faster during train. You can teach your pet for service activities like diabetes assistance training or blood pressure assistance training.
Furthermore, training sessions such as potty training, training to calm your pet, behavioral management training, etc., discipline your pal. So, if you train your pet, it will follow your command. Besides this, training also utilizes the excess energy of your pet positively.
Thus, your pet does not feel bored or anxious. As a result, the Golden Retriever will stop barking excessively.
Seek For Professional Advice
Since excessive barking also means health issues, you should consult with the Vet. Along with this, frequent health checkups ensure the health condition of your Golden Retriever.
The professional diagnoses the disease and gives treatment accordingly. So, it helps for the speedy recovery of your pet. Apart from this, you can also take suggestions about foods, exercising patterns, etc., from the Vet to ensure the healthy lifespan of your Golden Retriever.
Do you know there are methods to control excessive barking?
What Are The Methods To Stop Your Golden Retriever from Barking?
Golden Retriever is intelligent. So, it can learn new skills faster. Furthermore, if you want to discipline your pet, you can give training from an early age. Similarly, here are three methods to control the excessive barking habit of your pet:
Quiet Method
Quite-method is the method where you control the Golden Retriever using commands. And the steps of this method are:
- Teach your Golden Retriever commands like quiet, stop, enough, etc.
- Create a scenario where your pet would bark.
- Use the commanding word holding a treat.
- When the pet stops barking, give the sign- yes or good.
- Wait for some time until the dog is calm. And give its treat or reward.
- Keep repeating the steps using several treats and toys until you are sure that the command is working.
Barking Method
Since the barking attribute is natural for dogs, this method trains your pet to bark only in need. And the steps are:
- Choose the scenario where you want your Golden Retriever to bark.
- Encourage your pet to bark through the command word-speak.
- Give treat and rewards when it stops barking in your command word stop.
- Observe your pet for few weeks while you follow the steps repeatedly.
- If you are sure that the pet knows when to bark and when to stay quiet, reinforce it positively through patting or kibble.
Good Dog Method
This method where you should use a calming and assuring voice to calm your pet. Here are its steps:
- Create a manageable barking situation.
- When your Golden Retriever starts to bark, use a calm voice to call its name.
- If it stops barking and walks at you, pat your pet and say good dog.
- Repeat these steps.
- After some practice, use the keyword (good dog) before your pet starts barking.
- If it does not bark listening to your words, reward your pet with treats.
Did you use this method for your pet?
How was your experience? Was this method helpful?
Do you have other methods apart from this?
Please share it below.
Also, if you have any suggestions to improve this article, please leave them in the comment section.
