Do Dalmatians Bark?
Barking is one way a dog can communicate with the surrounding world. The Dalmatian breed are not usually loud dogs, but each dog is an individual so this is not a set rule. Dalmatians will bark occasionally when they feel the need to, but are not known for constant barking, even when left alone. In comparison to other dog breeds, especially small dogs, Dalmatians do not bark much. Any constant or excessive barking by a Dalmatian or any dog breed is a reason for concern and should be investigated.
Why do dogs bark?
All dogs bark, it is natural and normal for every dog. It is one of the ways they communicate, whether that be with us or with other animals. The communication may be for positive reasons, negative reasons or neutral. Here is a list of potential reasons for a dog to bark:
- Communication – expressing emotion, get attention, call to other dogs
- Alarm – Alerting to a perceived threat or something out of the ordinary
- Fear – Self protection or protection of others
- Boredom – Not enough exercise, too much build up energy that needs releasing
- Loneliness or separation anxiety – Left alone for too long
- Greeting – The most common bark for a Dalmatian. Almost guaranteed to happen
- Behavioural issues – Something may be wrong, both physically or mentally
It’s important to note that although most dogs bark, constant or excessive barking is usually because of an underlying issue and should be investigated.
Most common reason for Dalmatians to bark
Dalmatians are very protective and loyal to their owners and their property. Because of these protective inclinations a Dalmatian will likely bark at any new visitors to the property or anything out of the ordinary, like a sudden loud noise or another dog walking past the front gate. A Dalmatian requires training when it comes to people entering the property as they will bark at all people entering the property, even the owner. Although this is a welcomed trait for protection of your property and being, it can get extremely annoying when people are constantly coming and going.
Guard instinct
As Dalmatians are extremely loyal and territorial, they make excellent guard dogs. They will alert their owners to any intruders that enter their territory with a loud and distinct bark, whether that be a stranger, the mailman, another animal or even someone you and the dog know.
Dalmatians may feel the need to bark at other people or other dogs when out in public on walks. This is likely because of their guarding instinct and loyal temperament. This needs to be addressed at an early age as this is viewed as a negative behaviour trait by others. It’s important to note that most Dalmatians are an excellent judge of character and may bark or growl at dodgy looking strangers. Your Dalmatian needs to be taught when it’s okay to bark and when it’s not. Teaching the dog a stop barking command is a good idea.
Consistency
Consistency in the treatment of a Dalmatian when it comes to barking is very important. It’s too difficult for the dog to differentiate between a threat coming to the door and the postman, so yelling at the dog for barking at the postman is being inconsistent and is confusing. If you train a Dalmatian to bark at potential intruders, you must accept that they will most likely see all people entering the property as intruders. This is why a stop barking command is extremely useful for Dalmatians, they need to know that once you are alerted to the potential threat, there is no need to continue barking.
How to stop constant barking?
Constant barking is a problem and needs to be stopped or at least controlled. There is likely some kind of trigger, or multiple triggers for a dog that constantly barks. Identify these triggers so that a strategy to stop or control the barking can be put into place. This will require training so the dog can understand when it’s appropriate to bark if at all, and when it’s not. Training is the answer to a dog that barks a little too much. A Dalmatian may not bark much, but when a stranger comes to the door (like the mailman), they most likely will get a little carried away. Using positive reinforcement training techniques is the way to do it. Come up with a command to stop barking and offer rewards when successful. It may be too hard to stop the Dalmatian from barking altogether at people entering the property, but it can be controlled easily with this type of training.
Making noises
Dalmatians seem to like using their voices in the form of grunting or moaning. Some will talk to you in the form of grunts, moans and little yelps…usually when they want something or are trying to get your attention. Dalmatians hate being left alone, especially for long periods of time. They will get used to a routine, such as common work hours, but will require some training so they know you will come back. It’s recommended to record your Dalmatian when you are training them to be alone to help you.
Dalmatians, just like any other dog, will most likely bark. It’s up to the owner to dictate to the animal when it’s okay to bark and when it’s not. With the correct training from an early age, Dalmatians will know what to do with their voices to make their owners happy.
