Barking is one of the main factors people consider when deciding what breed is best. There are stereotypes that small dogs bark a lot more than bigger dogs, which is true. They do tend to bark more. But any dog can develop a habit of barking, big or small. Most of the time dogs only bark if there is a reason to. We may not always agree that it’s a good reason to bark, but we see it as one. Whoodles are a breed that doesn’t bark that much.
How Much Do Whoodles Bark?
No, whoodles don’t bark excessively. Like any other dog, they will only bark if they need to. However, if you allow your Whoodle to continue to bark in situations where you don’t see fit, they will develop a habit and bark more often.
Luckily, there is something you can do to help your dog to be more calm and quiet. You will need to find out why your dog is barking; then, you can go from there. Here are some reasons your dog may be barking and what to do in those situations.
Separation Anxiety
Dogs don’t usually do well on their own and can start feeling anxious and lonely, leading to needing to bark. Separation Anxiety is usually more common in puppies, so it’s important to recognize and help them sooner than later.
To help your dog with separation anxiety, start leaving them for shorter periods and gradually extend it. You will also need to ensure they aren’t getting bored while you are gone, as this can be another reason they are barking. You can get many toys and gadgets for your dog to help them stay busy while you aren’t home. You can get chew toys, puppy puzzles, treat dispensers, and many other things to help them.
If you want more information on how to help Whoodles with separation anxiety, here is an article that goes into depth on helping Whoodles.
If leaving them home alone without supervision doesn’t sound appealing to you, or if your dog still doesn’t do well without you. You can always bring your pup to doggy daycare.
Fear of New Noises
Everyone has been to a house where you can hear all of their dogs barking right when you knock or ring the doorbell. If this is your dog, here are some things you can try. While you are home, randomly knock on different surfaces; this will help them get used to the sound and not be startled by it as easily.
Another thing you can try is ringing the doorbell yourself or have someone else ring it. Each time wait until your Whoodle is quiet (and, if you choose to, sitting), then reward your pup with a treat. Soon, your dog will realize this is a wanted behavior. You need to be consistent and do this anytime people ring your doorbell. You can take a few different approaches to this issue; here are some more tricks to try if these don’t work for you.
Boredom or Lack of Exercise
If your dog is just sitting there barking at nothing, it could be that they are bored and have too much energy with nothing to do. Luckily, this reason has an easy fix, let them out into the backyard and run around, maybe play fetch with them, and they will quiet down.
If this doesn’t seem appealing to them, it could be that they want attention. Dogs are very affectionate and loving animals, and they love to be around other people and dogs. Play with your dog a few minutes a day with their favorite toy, and they will be content with their day.
Most of the time, when a dog is barking, it is because they feel it is necessary. If you can help your dog see that they don’t need to bark for these reasons, you can help them create a healthy habit that you both will like more than the latter.