“Why is my dog barking at nothing?” is a common question amongst dog owners.
There are many theories to this mysterious dog behavior. Some think it’s just an attention-seeking tool, whereas others go as far to say that dogs have a sixth sense for the supernatural.
Human ears detect frequencies between 20-20,000 Hertz. Hertz is the vibration of frequencies per second of a sound. This means our ears can detect lower frequencies than a dog’s, although, some believe giant dog breeds can hear them.
Dog ears can detect frequencies between 40-60,000 Hertz. Their ears can also rotate to hone in on the exact location of a sound, whereas ours cannot. Dogs have the ability to hear the tiny squeak of a mouse underground, or the bark of a dog far away.
Whether it’s a truck driving down the road or a dog barking way off in the distance, your dog will usually respond by barking.
There are usually two reasons your dog will bark at other dogs or animals: to create distance and keep their territory safe or decrease distance to socialize.
Barking increases the distance your dog perceives as their territory. This why they’ll almost always bark at wild animals like squirrels, birds, or bunnies. If your dog is social, however, they may be barking to draw the animal closer. Tip: By socializing your dog at a young age, you can help prevent aggressive, territorial behavior.
Any responsible pet owner should seriously consider pet insurance. Properly understanding how pet insurance works and what pet insurance covers can help you make an informed decision about your pet’s health needs and plan your finances accordingly!
You may feel like your dog is barking at nothing, however as we now know, this is likely not the case. Whether it’s a distant sound or smell, boredom, attention seeking, or alarm barking, there’s a reason for their barking. Decode the barks, and you can solve your dog’s barking problem.
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Writer, Mom of a Fab Fur Fam of Five
Lynn is a writer and long-time Learning & Development Manager at a large PNW retailer. She's also mom to 3 dogs & 2 cats!
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