What You Should Know About Bulldog Barking
If you are the lucky owner of a bulldog, barking should not generally be a major problem in your household. There are, however, exceptions to every rule. Bulldog barking may be the result of many influences, but before the habit can be dealt with, it’s necessary to first identify the type of barking that occurs. This article details the different types of bulldog barking behaviors, and possible ways to help curb them.
Barking in Owner Absentia
Many dogs, even the best-behaved bulldogs, tend to bark when their owner is gone and the home is empty. This can be accompanied by other, often destructive behavior. This is not because the dog is bad, but rather because it is feeling intense anxiety while the household is empty.
If your dog is a perfect angel while you’re home, but your neighbors complain of barking while you’re at work, it is most likely a case of separation anxiety. Your dog doesn’t know what to do without you, and gets nervous and scared while you’re gone. These feelings may manifest through barking or tearing through the household. This can be remedied by teaching your dog that it is not the center of the universe. Be more dominant. Pay less attention. Go for mini outings and leave your dog at home so that it gradually gets used to being in an empty house.
Over Excitement
Although bulldogs are not typically overly excitable, they will occasionally develop this “perky” behavior. If your dog goes ballistic when it gets close to walking time, it may be because you have established a walking routine that it has learned and expects. Essentially, the dog has been conditioned to expect a walk at a particular time of the day. As that time nears, it is likely that your dog will realize it and become even more antsy.
This can be resolved by changing things up a bit. Instead of a walk in the park, take a jog around the block. Play a drool-laden game of fetch in the front yard. Consider taking Spike for a ride in the car on occasion as well. Also make sure that you change the time of day that these excursions take place. It will keep your dog guessing, and you won’t have any more preemptive barking fits of joy.
Attention Seeking Behavior
If you’ve got a barking bulldog on your hands, and no amount of muzzle holding, shushing, or yelling will stop it, you may have a dog that is simply demanding your attention. In cases such as this, the punishment is not viewed by the dog as discipline—rather, it’s a form of attention, and therefore exactly what your dog wants.
Behavior like this is generally caused by an off-balance owner/dog relationship dynamic, as is most behavioral problems. The most effective thing you can do in this situation is to re-establish yourself as the dominant party of the house, and teach your bulldog that its demands for attention will go ignored. You may have to endure a week or so of incessant barking, but your little furry friend will eventually learn that barking will not garner attention.
Guard Dog Barking
A dog that alerts its family to an intruder is a wonderful family addition indeed. Sometimes, however, the guard dog mentality and behavior can become a bit overzealous at times, and your normally well-tempered pet may turn into a bulldog barking machine. Even if you come to the rescue, your dog may still persist in barking, and this is when there is a problem.
If your dog continually barks at strangers and visitors it is because he has assumed the lead dog role. As stated above, this is not good. It is the owner’s responsibility to be the one in charge, the alpha dog.