When Do Puppies Start Barking?
If you’ve ever held a newborn pup, a fresh furry soul, you’ve probably heard them whine and squeak to get their mother’s attention or to let you know they need some help. This is a completely normal part of development, but it may make you wonder - when do puppies start barking?
How old will your pup be when they start to bark? What can you do to prepare for this turn? What if they bark too much?
Why Do Dogs Bark?
Dogs are pack animals. This means that they need to bark to communicate with other dogs - passing on warnings about danger, alerting each other to food, or staying in contact while on the move.
Dogs bark at other animals as a warning or as a means of communicating. For example, your dog may bark at a stranger by the door to warn them not to enter and to let you know a strange person has shown up in your territory.
Puppies will learn this barking behavior as they begin to grow and as they learn to integrate and socialize with their ‘pack.’
Why Don’t Tiny Puppies Bark?
You may wonder, if dogs bark to communicate, then why aren’t puppies born barking? Cats seem to meow since birth?
Well, most puppies aren’t completely silent. Even newborns, for the first few weeks may begin to whine, coo, and whimper to let their mother know where they are and if they’re hungry or in distress. At around eight weeks, they will begin to open their eyes and make more purposeful sounds, such as barking specifically for attention or food.
So, At What Age Do Puppies Bark?
On average, most puppies will start barking at around eight weeks. This is when they will start to develop socially and want to bark at you and other dogs. This is also when you will start hearing ‘real’ barks - purposeful, loud barks to try to communicate.
However, this isn’t set in stone. Some puppies may begin barking a week or two earlier, and some other puppies may only bark much later in life - or even not at all! This is not normally something to be concerned about.
Where Do Puppies Learn To Bark?
As far as we know, barking is an innate instinctive behavior that puppies are born with. However, it is possible that they will learn barking behavior and etiquette by watching and listening to how an older dog communicates.
They are also smart enough to learn that barking gets them what they need - whether this is milk and attention from their mother, their littermate leaving them alone, or you coming to feed or care for them.
Why Do Puppies Begin Barking?
There's no real clear answer why some dogs may begin barking and others don’t. Some of it may be determined by breed, with some breeds naturally appearing more vocal.[1] Many of the most vocal breeds appear to be companion dogs, hunting dogs, and sled dogs - indicating that human interaction may have something to do with it.
According to Veterinarian Dr. Teresa Manucy, DVM, there can be many reasons why your puppy feels the need to bark. Some common ones are-
- They’re Startled - Puppies may let out a bark if they suddenly get a fright.
- In Defense - They are warning that they may attack something they perceive as a threat.
- Territorialism - They are guarding something or someone and want to warn against intruders.
- Frustration/boredom - Puppies may bark when they can’t get something they want or when what they want isn’t coming fast enough. For example, they want to chase the bird outside, but the screen door is in the way.
- Socializing - Dogs may bark to greet you, guests, other dogs, or other animals.
- Excitement - Like a human yelling ‘Yippee!’ or screaming, a dog may bark when excited about something.
- Emotional distress - Barking dogs may feel anxious about being left alone, or they may feel isolated and are barking to find someone.
- To express their needs - A puppy may bark at you to let you know if it needs something. This can be a physical need, such as food, or an emotional need, such as wanting you to play or give them attention.
How To Deal With Excessive Barking Behavior
If your new puppy is still very young and hasn’t started barking too much, then you have the chance to intervene to prevent bad habits from forming. A young puppy can pick up bad habits from an older dog, so try to keep your puppy around well-trained adult dogs.
Make sure that your puppies are not bored or frustrated. Many bad behaviors, such as continuous barking, occur because a puppy has too much free time and is getting bored and tired. Try increasing your playtime for younger puppies or increasing your walk time for older puppies.
Remember, it is best for puppies to be walked using a harness, instead of a collar, to reduce the risk of choking or injury.
If you would like to find some good-quality adjustable harnesses, try Sparkpaws’ Activewear Harness Collection.
You can also take them to a puppy class if you want to start training very early.
How should YOU deal with barking
Barking is not something that should be ignored; your puppy is trying to tell you something important. Always make sure that your puppy's needs are met - including food, water, temperature, stimulation, exercise, etc. - before you get too mad.
However, don’t let it form a habit, either. For example, you may have spent time playing and giving attention but are finished now, but your puppy barks for more time together. Do not reward this behavior by giving in, but don’t scold them and excite them either.
Rather, a better approach may be to distract the puppy with a toy or something before calmly leaving in an assertive manner. If the puppy responds well and calms down, you can reward them with a treat. Stay consistent with your training.
Other noises
Sometimes, puppies may howl or cry, especially when they are left alone. This is normal but should not be encouraged. You may check on them, but avoid rewarding their cries by giving them too much attention. Rather, try to ease their anxiety with crate training and toys.
Some puppies may also bark and growl. This may be because of discomfort, fear, or unhappiness with the situation. Once you’ve ruled out any health issues, ease your pup into being picked up and socializing, respecting when they just want to be left alone.
Barking at Other Dogs and Guests
A little barking at a stranger or other dog is par for the course, but if this has turned into an excessive or annoying habit then you may need to intervene.
Try and figure out what triggers your puppy’s barking and avoid it if possible. For example, you can move them to another room as the guests arrive and bring them out after they’ve gotten used to the fact that people are inside the house.
Slowly introduce them to strangers and other dogs, rewarding good, calm behavior and removing them from the situation if they become nervous and tense. Try to make sure all children know how to properly pet or hold the puppy before letting them interact.
You can distract a barking puppy with treats, food, and toys, making noise or moving around to distract them without startling them. If they are old enough to walk, distract them from barking at other dogs by varying the walking pace, changing routes, or by bringing toys along for the ride.
Regression
Don’t be overly concerned if your sweet angel of a puppy, who rarely ever barks, suddenly starts going at it and barking incessantly at everything that moves.
Like children, as puppies age, they will begin to test out their new abilities and limits. For example, though they may discover how to bark at 8 weeks or so, they may only discover that barking is really fun when they get to 6 months.[3]
This is normal, so don’t worry if you’re suddenly having a lot more trouble than you did a month ago. Your puppy will probably calm down as it gets older and learns more about the world around it. For example, Guests coming over for the first time is scary, but after the 10th time, it's not such a big deal.
However, don’t rely too much on the fact that it may just be a phase - this is a good time to set proper boundaries and keep consistent with your training regime. Be understanding, but don’t hesitate to show them that this behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in the future.
Conclusion
On average, puppies should begin barking at around 8 weeks old, though you will probably hear them begin making noises before that. Some puppies may start barking earlier or later than that.
Barking is an important means of communication and often indicates that your puppy wants something. This can be a simple need, such as food or water, or a more complex need, such as attention or out of boredom. It can also be a form of expression, such as if they're frightened or excited.
You can help your puppy not to bark incessantly by rewarding good, calm behavior and by providing for their needs. Many puppies bark out of boredom, so use a toy or exercise to distract them.
Don’t get too frustrated at any failings in your training, just stay consistent and you and your puppy should be able to come to a good balance between communicating and staying calm as they start to grow up.
Happy Walking!
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