17 Reasons Why Your Dog Is So Vocal + 5 Tips To Stop It

If there’s a talent contest for dogs who bark the most…

Howl the longest…

And yelp the highest note…

Your dog will get first place.

Congrats, doggo!

In this article, you’ll find out:

17 reasons why your dog is so vocal.
5 tips on how to deal with your outspoken pooch.
The most talkative dog breeds (and the most dramatic).
And much much more…

Why is my dog so vocal?

Your dog is so vocal for reasons such as their breed, seeking attention, wanting to go out, having an injury or doggy dementia, feeling excitement or anxiety, being alert, feeling contented, trying to speak, lacking socialization skills, inviting someone to play, or having a noisy environment.

17 reasons why your dog is so vocal

#1: It’s all about their breed

If you would compare your dog to a person, they would be that one neighbor who loves gossip.

“Good morning! Hey, have you heard about…”

But since your pooch can’t speak, they express their thoughts with you through barking, whining, yelping, howling, growling…

Name it and they do all that!

What’s the reason behind this?

Well, your dog could be one of the dog breeds that are born and bred to be vocal. According to VetStreet, here are some of them:

Beagle.
Chihuahua.
Pomeranian.
Siberian Husky.
Yorkshire Terrier.
German Shepherd.

Is your pooch mentioned above? If so, you’re in for a loud ride.

#2: They’re descendants of wolves

Since your cute pooch is a descendant of the mighty wolves, it’s in their natural instinct to behave like them.

“Aaaawwwhoooooo….”

Same as dogs, wolves are vocal animals.

Because their territories could be vast, howling is a way to inform their pack of their whereabouts. It’s the method they use to communicate with each other.

#3: Something’s ‘howling’

There’s another reason why your dog gets vocal at home.

Maybe they’re hearing a high-pitch noise that only they can hear. Or there is a hospital near you and they often listen to the ambulance’s siren. A dog’s hearing capabilities are extraordinary.

And if they make out something that resembles a howl, they tend to imitate its sound.

#4: They’re trying to get your attention

You wonder if your dog is mad at you.

Every time they see you, they bark and whine at you. Why’s that?

Since dogs can’t say it in words, they can’t express and tell you exactly what’s bothering them.

And as their dog parent, you have to make sure that you’re providing all their needs.

For example, maybe they aren’t getting fed enough. Or they don’t have an eating routine.

By being vocal, they’re trying to get your attention.

They want to let you know that they’re hungry or thirsty.

#5: They need to go outside

Your pooch gives you tantrums whenever they want to go out.

They whine, bark, and howl at you non-stop until you open the door and take them on walks.

“Okay, let’s go. But for a little while only.”

Being active is one of your dog’s traits. They thrive in an environment with wide spaces where they can run around and play.

So if they get cooped up for too long, they’re likely to misbehave.

#6: Noisy environment

You have a loud family.

Everyone’s always laughing, talking, and throwing jokes at each other.

Because of this, your pooch perceives that being noisy or loud is accepted behavior.

And so they communicate with you and your family by being so vocal.

#7: It’s a call for playtime

The next-door neighbor’s got a new pup.

You’re delighted because your pooch has a new friend.

What you don’t enjoy much is the constant barking and whining they do to make their friend come out and play.

Hope your neighbor won’t get mad about the noise!

Your pooch has become more vocal because it’s their way to communicate with the other dog.

By doing high-pitched barks and whines, they let their new friend know that they’re not a threat.

They’re just there to have fun.

#8: They have an injury

Every time something touches your dog, whether it’s you or an edge of furniture, they whimper and yelp.

You’ve also observed that they’ve become grumpier now and bark at everyone.

How did a quiet pooch become so vocal now?

What happened?

If your furbaby is suddenly whimpering and being more aggressive, it could be a sign that they’re feeling pain or they have a body injury.

#9: Your dog is territorial

The garbage collector, the delivery guys, the birds, and the neighbor’s cats.

Your dog dislikes every single one of them.

Whenever they see them on the porch, they bark and howl excessively.

Uh-oh!

Looks like you’ve got a territorial pooch!

Dogs like yours become vocal to scare away possible threats. They’re also doing this to alert you of their presence.

Warning: Territorial dogs can develop aggressive behaviors if they’re not corrected.

#10: Separation anxiety

From the moment you close the door to leave to the time you come back home, your poor pup is whining and screaming.

As their dog parent, you’re very worried and you feel bad for leaving your pooch.

You ask yourself, “Why do they behave like this?”

Here’s a question:

Does your dog only become vocal whenever you leave?

If so, they may have separation anxiety. This makes them anxious whenever they get separated from their dog parents.

But what are the things that cause this disorder?

Studies show that dogs who are abandoned, surrendered to a shelter, or if they’re with a new dog parent can lead to this.

Further reading: 13 Reasons Why Your Dog Suddenly Screams (Dangers + 11 Tips)

#11: You don’t stimulate their mind

“Am bored. Hooman won’t play wid me.

I guess I’ll just sing the song of my people for the nth time today.

Aaaawwwwhooooooo woof woof whooooooo…”

Here’s some bad news for you.

The reason why your pooch loves hitting those high notes all the time isn’t because they love singing.

It’s just that they’ve got nothing else to do. Therefore, their minds are not stimulated.

Because of this, they begin to develop compulsive behaviors such as being overly vocal.

#12: It’s a warning

Not only does your dog bark at your visitors, but they also growl at them, too.

“Hold up, why are you so loud?

You’ll wake up the baby.”

You’ve noticed that ever since a new member of your family came home, your pooch suddenly became so vocal.

The reason for this is that they’re being protective of your baby. Since your pooch looks at them as a vulnerable pack member, they get extra cautious of new people around.

When guests come inside your home or go anywhere near the baby, they perceive them as threats.

#13: They’re relaxed

When dogs get vocal, it doesn’t mean that they’re always feeling extreme emotions.

Sometimes, they just want to express that they’re content.

For example, after you went on a full day of hiking and climbing a mountain, your pooch plops down to their bed with a long sigh and a wide yawn after.

This simply means that they’re tired and now they’re relaxed and comfortable.

Reading tip: 13 Reasons Why Your Dog Grunts And Groans + 5 Tips

#14: Doggy dementia

Many things have changed ever since your pooch got older.

You’ve also noticed that they’re doing things now that they didn’t use to before. An example is their constant pacing and walking around in circles.

They’re also more temperamental now. And they often bark at you and the other members of your family.

Because of your dog’s age, this may be a case of dog dementia or Canine Cognitive Dysfunction.

This condition degenerates their brain making them develop unusual behaviors like being so vocal all of a sudden.

#15: Lack of social skills

Your pooch loves dog parks.

But the other dog parents are concerned whenever your pooch is with the other dogs.

Whenever they’re playing, your dog cries out and screams!

“For Pete’s sake. Please calm down.”

You always explain that your pooch is just like that, and they’re not being hurt in any way.

“Those are playful cries of excitement, I swear.”

And now you’re sweating bullets.

The reason why your dog’s so vocal when they’re playing with other dogs is that they lack socialization skills.

This may be caused by being separated too early from their birth mother and siblings.

So they get super excited every time they’re playing with other dogs.

#16: They’re trying to speak

“Awwwwaaawoooooooooo”

Have you seen the viral video of a Siberian Husky saying “I love you” to their dog parents?

Or the one where they’re answering “No” when they’re asked to come inside the house?

Those are hilarious!

But what’s the reason behind that?

Because your dog takes cues from you, they may also try to communicate with you using the sounds they often hear.

For example, if they have connected that the word “No” is something they can say when they don’t like to do something, they’ll say it always.

They’ll try to imitate it the way they try to imitate the ambulance’s siren.

But don’t go expecting them to have conversations as you do.

Because they can’t use their lips and tongue in ‘talking’, they can only learn a few words.

#17: You reward them

Since your pooch is such a gossip, you’ve decided to teach them simple words just for fun.

However, because you often give them treats whenever they try to ‘talk’, they now do it non-stop.

Oh, well…

The reason why your pooch is so vocal is that you may have reinforced it to them. Because they’re receiving rewards, they perceive being vocal as good behavior.

Bonus: You have an over-dramatic dog

Your doggo is a screamer.

Whether you’re trimming their nails, bathing them, or taking them to a vet. They’ll scream their lungs out.

Some dog breeds are like this – especially the Shiba Inus a.k.a. the drama queen of all dog breeds.

5 tips on how to deal with your vocal dog

#1: Teach them the ‘Whisper’ and ‘Quiet’ command

Your dog’s constant howls and barks wake up the neighbors at night.

So to put an end to this and to hopefully get some good night’s sleep, you need to train your pooch to be vocal – but in a quieter and more tolerable way.

By teaching them the ‘Whisper’ command, they’ll be able to bark softly to the point that they’re almost spitting air.

While the ‘Quiet’ command can make them stop from being noisy at all.

A friendly warning, the ‘Whisper’ command is too cute, it’ll melt your heart!

#2: Take care of their needs

Is the reason behind your pooch’s over-vocalization a lack in their food, water, or exercise?

If yes, then you need to create a schedule that you can follow.

For example, if the only time you can feed your dog is before you leave and after you come home from work, stick to it.

Refill their water bowl as soon as they’re almost finished with it.

And when you only have an hour to play with them, then that’s great! It’s better than not having any time for your pooch at all.

These little things may seem simple, but they can help you manage and take care of your dog’s needs properly.

#3: Visit a vet

As mentioned earlier, some reasons why your pooch is vocal is if they’re in pain or they have CCD.

In case of your dog having an injury, the vet can give them medications to relieve the pain. Or therapy and treatment for more serious conditions.

The vet can also provide certain medications for dogs who have CCD.

As their dog parent, what you can do as well is to make sure they’re always monitored in a safe environment.

#4: Condition them

If your dog’s over-vocalization is caused by separation anxiety, then you need to condition them that there’s no harm when they’re alone.

You can start by leaving them in a room full of their toys for a short period.

Close the door, but make sure that you’re still on its other side.

When you come back and they didn’t make noises, give them a reward.

Continue this training by leaving them for a longer time and moving further away from the room.

As time goes by, they’ll learn that being alone isn’t that bad.

And you will always come back for them.

#5: Positive reinforcement

Your pooch is so vocal to the point that it’s already annoying and disturbing.

So you shush them and shout at them to keep them quiet.

That’s a big no-no!

Your dog will just think that you’re barking or howling alongside them. Thus encouraging them to bark or howl more.

What you can do instead is to make yourself calm down first.

You can’t correct your dog properly if you are anxious yourself. Your energy will radiate to your dog.

Next is to wait or make them calm down. You can do this by massaging or touching their ears.

When they stop being vocal, you can give them what they want or reward them with treats.

This will condition them that they’ll only get what they want once they stop barking.

Warning: When training your dog, never strike, hit or use a shock collar on them. This will cause them to be aggressive.

Bonus: Let them have their fun

Your sweet pooch is so vocal because they get too excited every time they’re having a playdate with their friends.

But since you know them too well, you’re not worried. It’s just the way they play.

The only ones concerned are the other dog parents.

Here’s an advice.

Who cares? Your dog is having fun!

If you make them stop because they’re being loud, they’ll think that you’re stopping them because you don’t want them to play.

And that’ll break their heart.

So the last tip I’m going to share is to let your dog be. 🙂