Should you ever find yourself sitting in your living room, enjoying a few minutes of peace, when, out of the blue, your dog jumps up and starts to bark madly at an empty part of the room, then you are welcome. You have been enlisted in a very large club.
Being a pet lover, I am able to tell you something funny and strange yet strangely reassuring: nearly no dog barks at nothing. They shout in response to things that human beings do not see, do not understand, and devalue. Nothing is the same when I realize that.
So here we will unwind this mystery. Calmly. Clearly. With facts. and perhaps a laugh or two–way along.
First, Let’s Clear a Major Myth
- Dogs are not being dramatic.
- Dogs are not “seeing ghosts.”
- It is not deliberate that dogs are annoying you.
Their world of sensation is dominated by an entirely different level. Dogs smell, sense movement and hear much better than human ability. A single look at it to them will appear to be a complete sense experience.
Simple answers to this question that I would ask myself before frustration sets in are: What could be the dog detecting and I cannot?
The question makes the opening of understanding possible.
Dogs Hear What Humans Cannot
The hearing of a dog has got a long distance range compared to ours. Although human beings have a hearing range between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz, dogs are able to hear a frequency of up to 65,000 Hz. That difference is enormous.
It may be your dog responding to sirens somewhere far away, electric humming somewhere inside the walls, high pitch electrons, rodents running behind your furniture, or even a neighbor opening a door a few houses away.
You hear silence but your dog hears a soundtrack.
Therefore, when your dog is barking at an “empty” hallway it may be actually reacting to sound vibrations which you as a biological being cannot perceive.
Smell Has a Larger Part Than You Imagined.
Dogs perceive the world first of all in terms of smell. Depending on breed, their sense of smell is approximated as 10,000-100000 times stronger than ours.
Air carries information like Hormones, Fear and Movement of other animals moving towards it.
A dog can bark due to the presence of the smell of another dog that passed by the house ten minutes ago. Or some wild creature he might sense in the dark, near the gate, or a lingering scent of a stranger.
To you, the space looks empty. It is like a tale told there just to your dog.
Hence the helpful question will be: Could my dog be tracking something on a scent trail not a thoroughly visible danger?
The answer to this is usually yes.
Images Perceived in a Different Way.
Dogs regard movement more superiorly than detail. Light, light shadow, or light reflection which are tiny may provoke alert barking.
A moving curtain,Movement of headlights through a window or movement of Grey clouds across the sky are other things that can provoke a dog to barking
What seems to you as trivial may appear dangerous to a dog with a survival instinct. Their forefathers managed to survive as they spotted minor movements at an early stage. That instinct never left.
That is why barking is also prone to occurrences during the night. Shadows are enhanced with the low lights. Considerations get lost. The dog’s brain fills in the gaps quickly.
Is your dog wrong? Not really. It is an adaptation that is precisely as was intended by evolution.
Territorial Instincts are extremely sharp.
Dogs are natural guardians. Even mild and cordial dogs do not lose their sense of territory.
When your dog barks at doors, windows, or fences it is usually because it feels that it is being invaded. Someone passing by. A car slowing down. An external/ stange voice was heard.
Of course your dog is barking at something.
Your dog is proclaiming that it perceived this thing ,event, or person first.
Interestingly, it has been proved that dogs bark more in places where they feel that the boundaries are not clear. High alert barking is caused by large windows, open areas or heavy foot traffic.
So here is the point to think over: Is it the responsibility of my dog to guard this space independently?
This is a question more important than one thinks.
Anxiety Can Trigger dogs to bark at nothing
Not all barking is external. There is an internal origin for some barking.
Dogs that are anxious, stressed or bored do not even necessarily have a trigger when they bark. It is particularly prevalent in dogs that are left unattended over a long duration or without a mental stimulus.
Repetitive and intense barking of the dog is often anxiety-filled. It may occur at random times. It may escalate quickly.
Veterinary behaviorists verify that dogs that lack regular schedules and enrichment efforts also get more anxious and consequently bark more.
Does your dog have a sufficient amount of mental activity?
Enough predictability?
Enough rest?
The reasons are such that they affect the barking much more than individuals think.
Cognitive changes with Aging.
Aging dogs occasionally bark at nothing because of mental degradation. It is referred to as Canine Cognitive Dysfunction which is similar to dementia in humans.
Affected dogs can lose their headings, turn lost or become vocal particularly during the nights. They can also bark at corners and walls or the familiar places which at one point become unfamiliar.
This is not disobedience. It is a neurological change.
In case there is age related worsening of the barking accompanied by pacing or disorientation, a visit to the veterinarian will be necessary. Early intervention is capable of enhancing the quality of life.
Then better ask, Is my dog getting old, and might this be an expression of puzzlement and not rebellion?
Practicing Reinforcement unconsciously.
This is one of the secrets that many owners do not know. The accidental training of barking is very possible.
When you react to your dog’s barking and jumping with screaming, speaking or giving food, the dog will assume that it was correct.
To the dog, attention was created through barking. Mission accomplished.
Successful behavior is repeated by dogs. They memorize patterns easily and effectively.
When the process of interaction is regularly activated by barking, the dog learns to use the behavior.
It is a matter of peaceful diversion and not punishment. Noise should not bring anything, but action.
Breed Tendencies Matter
There are breeds, which are more vocal. Historically, herding dogs, guardian breed and terriers were also raised and trained to warn, alert and make a noise.
The formation of unrealistic expectations is induced by the expectation of complete silence of these breeds.
Knowing the history of a breed would help an owner differentiate normal communication and unnecessary barking.
frankly inquire: Am I seeking my dog to do anything which is not in his natural nature?
When one knows better, frustration diminishes tremendously.
When Barking Signals a Problem.
it is natural that the dog barks at times when it wishes to draw the attention of its owner. Constant or exhaustive, or restless, barking is not.
Warning signs include:
Pacing or shaking and barking.
Sudden behavior changes
Barking during rest or sleep
Barking with aggression or fear.
These symptoms are the reasons to be assessed professionally. It can be veterinary problems, pain, neurological or intense anxiety.
Leaving behind constant barking is not likely to make things better.
What You Can Do, Starting Now.
First, observe patterns. Time of day. Location. Triggers. Duration.
Second, make the mind more enriched. Puzzle playthings, training games, sniffing.
Third, establish habitual routines that result in habits of the dog. Dogs thrive on structure.
Fourth, respond calmly. Emotional response increases behavior.
Lastly, seek guidance by a professional where necessary. This is the purpose of trainers and veterinarians.
The last question you should ask yourself is the following: Do I listen to what my dog is saying, or do I reject it as noise?
Since communication is barking. Not chaos.
Some Last Words of a Pet Lover to a Pet Lover.
Dogs do not bark meaninglessly. They bark with information. It is time to work, not to get frustrated.
Understanding supersedes irritation. Knowledge replaces fear. Curiosity replaces anger.
and when you really know why your dog barks at nothing, you find out something to the contrary.
It was never nothing at all.