Excessive Vocalization in Dogs

Symptoms of excessive vocalization include differences for each cause and type. For example, if your dog is a hunting dog, he or she will bark to let you know there are small game animals in the vicinity. The different symptoms/types are:

• Alarm or territorial bark (barking at noises, people, animals)
• Attention or boredom bark (barking for no obvious reason)
• Aggressive barking (barking at people and other animals)
• Anxiety bark (barking at noises)
• Growling
• Yelping
• Whining
• Howling

 Types

• Alarm or territorial bark is sometimes called a warning bark, which your dog will do if he hears or sees people, animals, noises, and other strange sights and sounds
• Attention or boredom bark is a habit that dogs can get into once they notice that they will get attention if they bark; this is common in dogs from rescue shelters or kennels that have been kept in cages
• Aggressive bark and growling are signs of aggression or behavioral disorders in dogs at any age
• Anxiety bark can also happen with separation anxiety or stressful situations
• Yelping may be a sign of pain from injury or illness
• Whining and howling can be associated with boredom or possible separation anxiety, which is a psychological illness

Your dog’s way of communicating with you, as well as others, is through vocalizing, which includes barking, whining, growling, and howling so it should not be ignored. If you notice any of the symptoms shown above, it is important to take your dog to the veterinarian to rule out any medical disorders first. Illnesses or diseases that cause any kind of painful or discomforting sensations for your dog, like cancer, arthritis, urinary tract infection, dental problems, and Cushing’s Disease.

• Medical (pain, loss of mobility)
• Stress and anxiety
• Protective (alerting others to unusual sights and sounds)
• Howling or whining (distress from separation anxiety)
• Growling (aggressive or warning behavior)
• Genetic predisposition (certain breeds are more susceptible)

Let your veterinarian know if your dog has suddenly had a change in behavior besides the excessive vocalization because the presence of other symptoms can help lead to the correct diagnosis easier and faster. The veterinarian will do a physical examination of your dog, including heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, weight, and reflexes. He will also do a hearing and vision test to determine if this may be causing the barking.

Some laboratory tests will need to be performed, such as electrolyte panel, urinalysis, complete blood count (CBC), chemical panel, and possibly some x-rays. If medical conditions are ruled out, the veterinarian will give you some advice about behavioral treatments or seeing a veterinary behaviorist.