Small dogs such as toy or miniature poodles have an unfortunate reputation for constantly barking. However, this isn’t true for all poodles! Typically, poodles bark for good reasons, such as protecting your safety or feeling lonely. Find out what these are to train them out of excessive barking. Here are some causes that motivate your poodle to bark, and what you can do so they calm down!
Solve Separation Anxiety To Curb Excessive Barking
Is your poodle barking excessively? Check if this is because of separation anxiety or triggers. Poodles feel separation anxiety when they’re left alone for long periods of time. They aren’t used to your absence, so they start barking a lot in the hope you’ll come back and give them attention.
Curb excessive barking by helping them adjust to your absence in small ways, such as leaving enough toys to keep them entertained and keeping a light on in your home. Leave calming music or the TV on to give them soothing background noise – just check first which sounds provoke or calm your poodle.
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Lastly, make sure you leave quietly and avoid making a fuss, as even saying “goodbye” can become a trigger word. This makes them anticipate your absence and start panicking, so avoid this!
Socialization Stops Unnecessary, Excessive Barking
Have you noticed your poodle barking at house guests or passing cars and people? Nip this extra barking through socialization. Poodles are highly intelligent and they’ll quickly pick up social cues from you. Give your poodle slow, limited exposure to these triggers to train them to behave and stop barking.
Train your poodle out of unnecessary barking by being consistent and rewarding the right behavior. Don’t give up after just a day of trying to get your poodle to stop barking. Praise them and give them petting if they behave well, but ignore negative behavior.
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It’s easy to think you should say “no” or reprimand your poodle. However, in reality, dogs thrive on our attention – even negative attention like reprimands. Taking your attention away works more quickly that they should stop barking at certain triggers.
Poodles Bark To Protect Themselves
Your poodle may also feel territorial, and think that these triggers are threatening their safety. Ever seen your poodle barking when people come near their food or toys? They’re protecting their turf!
Curb this behavior by keeping their food and water dishes in a quiet part of the house. Tell family and visitors to steer clear of your poodle’s feeding area so they can eat in peace. This trains them to think their food source – and therefore, their survival – is not under threat. This type of training should be included in your puppy routine.
Poodles protect their toys too, so if your poodle is barking at anyone who approaches their toys, let them nest! They’ll start keeping their toys close to them, but this behavior will eventually stop. Teach your family members and visitors not to move around these toys, so your poodle doesn’t see them being “played with” and start barking.
