“Dogs’ Sensitivity to Sound: Why They Bark at Every Little Noise”Dogs’ hearing sensitivity is truly remarkable. They can hear the faintest sounds with perfect clarity, and they’re often easily startled by them. The house we live in has decent soundproofing, especially at night when the noise outside is minimal.One time, while I was deep asleep, I suddenly heard Sunny bark twice. I woke up from my dream, thinking that a burglar had broken into the house. We carefully opened the door to the room, peeking through a small crack to see what was outside. Sunny also stood at the crack, looking out— it was honestly quite a funny scene. Fortunately, it was just a false alarm; Sunny had exaggerated the situation. It was likely just someone passing by in the hallway in the middle of the night.
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Dogs See Themselves as the “Little Guard” of the House
Dogs take their role as protectors of the home very seriously. They believe it’s their job to guard the territory, so whenever someone passes by the door, they’ll bark. Sometimes, they even paw at the door, trying to see what’s going on outside. If the fridge makes a noise, they’ll jump up in surprise, bark once, and rush to the kitchen to check out what’s wrong. Any unusual sound, and they’re ready to take action! Each time, I reassure them, saying, “It’s okay, that’s just the noise from someone else’s house, no need to worry,” or “That’s just the fridge, nothing to be afraid of.” I’m not sure if they understand, but after a couple of barks, it usually settles down, and the disruption isn’t too bad.
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Dogs Have Their Own Secret “Conversations” with Fellow Pups
Sometimes, when we’re out walking, we hear other dogs barking, and Sunny will perk up their ears. If another dog barks back, Sunny will join in, and it turns into an ongoing back-and-forth of barks—just like a group chat! One dog says something, then the other responds, and it gets pretty lively. Of course, this only happens when it’s not bedtime, or it would be too noisy. Sunny has a particular dog friend, an older dog that lives on the same floor. Sometimes, this dog will bark a couple of times, and Sunny will respond. Once Sunny replies, the other dog continues barking. This little “encrypted chat” stops with Sunny, and I’m always curious—what on earth are they talking about?
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If Your Dog Is Barking Excessively, Don’t Just Try to Stop It—Figure Out What’s Triggering It First
Is it footsteps or a knock at the door that’s making your dog bark? Once you identify the source, you can start desensitization training. Have someone make a small noise at the door, gradually getting closer and increasing the sound. This helps the dog get used to the noise. When your dog doesn’t bark, reward them with something they really like, whether it’s a treat or a favorite toy. Don’t reward them after they bark, or they might learn that barking = rewards. Desensitization needs to be practiced several times to be effective; otherwise, it might not stick. You can also use commands like “Quiet” or “No” to stop the barking, then redirect their attention. When they stop barking for at least 3 seconds, reward them, and slowly extend the time before rewarding. Eventually, they’ll learn to stop barking just by hearing the command.
“How to Calm Your Dog After They Bark at Sounds Outside the Door”When dogs bark at sounds outside the door, sometimes it’s because they’re scared. Don’t just focus on stopping the barking—it’s also important to calm them down and ease their anxious emotions. You can pet them gently, play with them for a little while, and help them relax. Does your dog bark loudly when they hear noises outside the door?
