Understanding Why Dogs Bark (Pt 4) – Learn How To Stop Dogs Barking Due To Being Territorial.

So, after reading the article ‘Why Dogs Bark‘, you think your dog could be a territorial barker, what can you do?

Territorial barking can be broken down into fearful barking and defensive barking. If you feel that your dog may be exhibiting fearful barking, head over to our article How To Stop Dogs Barking Due To Fear to explore the hints and tips given there.

If you feel however that your dog is defensive of his or her environment, read on because this article will explain how to stop dogs barking that’s protecting their territory.
First, I would recommend proceeding with caution. A dog who is self-confident and exhibiting defensive or territorial behaviour, may also show a tendency to guard resources. Maybe they lift a lip or growl when you try to take their toy, or you know to stay well clear of their food bowl during feed times.

For all of these behaviours I would recommend employing the services of a professional and accredited dog trainer or pet behaviourist, as some of the very minute signals that are given during these situations can be very difficult to read, and some may be a warning or precursor to aggression.

With all territorialities, the dog is either raising a warning to the rest of the ‘pack’ that there are non-pack members approaching or within the territory, or they are trying to warn others to stay away. Generally speaking, those who are trying to alert their own ‘pack’ or family, will only bark when there is someone home for them to warn, but will rarely get upset when everyone is out. Those who are trying to stop others entering the property, will generally bark at the fences, the windows and regardless of whether their human family is home or not.

If your dog only tends to bark when family members are home, the most effective way to approach this behaviour is to ignore it! If your dog barks excessively when someone knocks on your door, you may want to put up a sign asking visitors to wait patiently while you ignore your dog, but the time to approach the door is once the dog has calmed down and stopped barking. You see, dogs learn that if they bark excessively, we will react by going to the door, but if we train them to be calm and quiet before we answer the door, they will learn that this behaviour is not necessary.

If your dog barks all of the time, whether the human family is home or not, then there are a few ways to help them to be calmer.
You could try having a space which is more central to the property, that is your dog’s ‘safe’ space, a space which has the additional buffer of other rooms or yards, in which they can feel secure.
Additionally, to stop dogs barking at fences or gates, adding that buffer can also help. Having some alternative sound stimulation may help to distract them from their trigger, so leaving a radio playing or even a white noise machine can help and using the systematic desensitisation and positive reinforcement techniques discussed in the fear based barking article will also allow you to encourage the calmer, less noisy behaviours.

All excessive barking behaviours can be frustrating and difficult to deal with, but remember that you are not alone, many dogs bark, and many owners struggle to reduce the behaviour. I recommend speaking with your neighbours and asking if they are being affected by the barking, have a conversation to say that you’re working to try to reduce the barking and that any information they can give you regarding when and why your dog is barking in your absence will help you to better understand the behaviour and hopefully fix it quicker.

With all of that in mind, here are the basic steps to help with how to stop dogs barking because their territorial.

1. Provide a safe space which helps to buffer the noise or trigger that is causing the barking.
2. Try to identify if there are specific stimuli which are setting your dog off.
3. Add buffers to external fences and gates if you feel that they are the problem.
4. Try to reinforce your dog’s feeling of security around the property, for example, if there is another dog next door, add a buffer to that fence so the dogs ‘territories’ are more defined.
5. Try to ensure that you are not reinforcing the behaviours. Any attention you pay to the behaviours displayed or toward the barking is going to reinforce in the dog’s mind that you need them to be on guard and alert, by ignoring as much of the behaviour as possible, and rewarding the calm and quiet behaviours, you can minimise the response.
6. If the behaviour worsens or becomes aggressive, contact a qualified and accredited Dog Trainer or Pet Behaviourist to help.

Working hard to help your pet dog to feel secure and safe in their environment, trying to understand what it is that is triggering their noisy behaviour and doing even an occasional training session to help alleviate this issue, will guarantee the bond you have with your dog and the relationship you build will become stronger.

If you have a question, or would like to make a comment, please feel to do so below.

Bec (Pet Behaviourist)

BSc (Applied Animal Behaviour & Training), Post Graduate Certificate in Education.
National Diploma Animal Management.
Aset Care of Animals Award & CENTRA Award in Animal Care.