Do Dogs Get Tired of Barking? Psychology Facts & FAQ
By Grant Piper
Updated on
Dogs bark for a number of reasons. If you spend enough time with a particular dog, you will start to recognize the different kinds of barks. There are greeting barks, playful barks, scared barks, aggressive barks, excited barks, and more. Some dogs bark frequently, while other dogs hardly bark at all. Then, in rare cases, there are dogs that seem to bark incessantly. These dogs bark constantly, seemingly for no reason, and will continue to bark and bark long after other dogs would have stopped. This has led exasperated owners to ask whether dogs ever get tired of barking, and the short answer to that question is no. Dogs don’t get bored or tired of barking.
The Psychology of Barking
Barking can take on a number of roles for a dog. At its most basic (and healthy), barking is a natural instinct that dogs do in certain situations. In this case, the situation determines the barking. An owner comes home, and a dog might bark in excitement. A stranger comes onto the porch, and a dog barks in fear or territorial aggression. When the moment passes, so too does the barking. In these situations, barking is a response to some sort of action or person. This is natural.
In other situations, barking can act as a soothing or calming influence on a dog. Instead of barking to get their point across, some dogs bark to soothe themselves. For example, when a stranger comes onto the porch, a dog might feel anxious. Instead of barking to let the stranger know that the dog is there and feeling anxious, the dog feels anxious and begins to bark…to soothe their own anxiety. This can result in a feedback loop that causes the dog to bark incessantly, even when the situation has passed. The stranger is long gone, but the dog is still barking. That is because the dog feels calm or in control while barking. That can be a problem for owners.
Do Dogs Get Physically Tired of Barking?
In the literal sense of the word, dogs can get physically tired from barking. The act of barking uses a lot of air and a lot of muscles. Dogs are usually tense while barking, and they are usually standing. If a dog barks for an abnormally long time, they will tire themselves out physically. Imagine screaming or yelling for minutes or hours on end. Yelling for us is also exhausting. Barking is similar for dogs. While dogs can tucker themselves out physically by barking, dogs that bark incessantly rarely ever tire out mentally from barking.
Do Dogs Get Mentally or Emotionally Tired of Barking?
No. Most scientists and veterinarians agree that dogs that have a penchant for barking will not tire out mentally or emotionally. Some people listen to their dog barking for long periods of time and pull their hair out, asking, “Aren’t you sick of barking?” and the answer is almost always no. Unlike humans, barking does not have an emotional toll like yelling or having an explosive argument does. People tend to project onto their dogs, and they think that barking must feel similar to having an exhaustive argument. That is not the case. In fact, it is often the opposite.
When dogs bark for long periods of time, they are often getting rejuvenated both mentally and emotionally. These dogs feel calm, soothed, in control, and Zen while barking. Instead of getting mentally or emotionally exhausted, they are getting mentally and emotionally boosted. That is why dogs that bark a lot don’t get sick of it. They don’t tire of it because they feel good while they are barking. Otherwise, they wouldn’t do it.
This is a problem for some dog owners because it can be very difficult to get a dog that barks incessantly to stop barking. This is called a self-reinforcing habit. Barking makes the dog feel good, so they continue to bark to continue to feel good. Barking can be similar to constant licking or chasing in this regard. Self-reinforcing habits can be extremely difficult to break or reduce.
Conclusion
Unfortunately for owners of heavy barkers, dogs do not often tire of barking. Dogs that bark a lot do it because they like it. Dogs rarely do things they expressly do not like. Barking can be a soothing or self-reinforcing habit that causes dogs to feel good while barking. Dogs can physically tire themselves out if they bark all day long, but they rarely get sick of the act of barking itself.
See Also:
- Why Does My Dog Bark at a Specific Person: 7 Vet Reviewed Reasons & Solutions
- How to Get Over a Fear of Dogs: 6 Expert Tips and Advice
Featured Photo Credit: dikkenss, Shutterstock
