What Will I Learn? 👇
What are the main factors that you look at when buying a dog? If you’re like some dog owners, you might specifically look at a breed of dog that doesn’t bark a lot. Especially if you live in close proximity to your neighbors or have children. The last thing you will want is to receive noise complaints and keep people up at night.
However, Poodles are considered dogs that have a tendency to bark and get a bad reputation for this. There are many reasons why your Poodle may be a barker, but that’s not something that can be managed without sufficient training.
Toys, Miniatures, and Standard Poodles are not the quietest dog breeds out there nor the loudest. Their barking tends to be moderate, and the pitch tends to develop more if certain triggers have been set off.
| Factor | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Breed | While all poodles are known to be vocal dogs, some breeds, such as toy poodles, tend to bark more than others. |
| Age | Puppies are more likely to bark excessively as they explore their surroundings and learn to communicate with humans and other dogs. As they mature, their barking behavior may become more manageable. |
| Gender | Male poodles are generally more vocal than females, especially if they have not been neutered. |
| Training | Poodles that receive proper training and socialization from a young age are less likely to bark excessively. Training can help teach a poodle when barking is appropriate and when it is not. |
| Environment | The environment in which a poodle lives can play a significant role in its barking behavior. Poodles that are kept in small apartments or in busy urban areas may bark more frequently due to stress or anxiety. |
Generally, the larger the Poodle, the louder it barks. Many people have this misconception that when a Poodle will bark, it’s due to aggressive tendencies they may have. The truth is, though, Poodles aren’t an aggressive dog breed, and they usually bark due to the following:
why do poodles bark so much
Separation anxiety
Poodles are a breed that loves to please. This means they enjoy being around the company of others and don’t do well being left in the home for long periods. If left alone for long, they may develop separation anxiety and bark out of despair. This is why it’s important to socialize your dog from an early age. If you have a rescue dog, make sure you introduce them to other dogs and people as soon as possible. This will help them feel more comfortable in the company of others.
One effective strategy is crate training, which involves teaching your Poodle to associate their crate with comfort and safety. This can help them feel more secure when left alone, and may reduce their anxiety and barking.
Another technique that can be helpful is threshold training, which involves gradually increasing the amount of time your Poodle spends alone in a room or area. This can help them learn to feel more comfortable and relaxed when separated from their owners.
Of course, it’s also important to provide plenty of exercise, mental stimulation, and affection for your Poodle, as well as to seek the guidance of a professional trainer or behaviorist if their separation anxiety is severe or persistent.
Noisy environment
Poodles are very sensitive dogs and can easily become disturbed by the slightest noise in their home. Like other dogs, Poodles have a hearing capacity of 8,000 Hz compared to our own hearing of 2,000 Hz, which means they can pick up sounds a lot more easily than us.
One example is fireworks on the 4th of July can cause a lot of distress, and bright flashes can set them off. Also, loud situations such as thunderstorms and loud music from parties may cause them to bark out of fear.
Strangers and footsteps from nearby
Naturally, Poodles aren’t much guard dogs, but they are very alert, which makes them perfect service dogs. If they hear the sound of footsteps from passersby that they don’t recognize, they may tend to bark to alert you of their presence. Moreover, if they see strangers in your home or in their territory, they may bark as a form of threat to intimidate the newcomer. The same can apply to other dogs.
If your dog is barking at other dogs, it’s likely that they are either feeling threatened or they are trying to protect you. Dogs bark when they feel scared or threatened in order to warn off the perceived danger. For example, a dog who barks at another dog on a walk is probably feeling threatened and trying to protect you.
Boredom
This is one of the most common reasons why your poodle may bark. Dogs are pack animals and love companionship and interaction with their packmates. When left alone, they often become bored which leads to excessive barking.
Excitement
If you’ve been away from your Poodle for a few hours or days, when they see you again, they may bark out of excitement. Similarly, if you play with them a lot and want to play more, they may also bark because they’re having fun.
How to teach your Poodle to stop barking?
Barking is something that is pretty much inevitable for most breeds. However, as a poodle owner, you have the power to reduce the frequency and the situations your Poodle barks in. To do this, you should try the following:
ignoring your poodle’s barking
One of the first steps to stop them barking is not acknowledging it. Usually, barking is a sign they’re commanding attention, and you don’t want to give into it. If you do give in to it, it will only encourage them to bark more. Most dogs cannot decipher the difference between positive and negative attention. Because of this, telling them off when they bark will not have the appropriate effect.
Positive reinforcement is key
When your Poodle stops barking after a barking episode, you should reward them with a treat or toy. Doing this over time will condition your dog to believe that if they’re quiet, they’ll expect a treat. It will also prevent your Poodle from barking unexpectantly.
Train your Poodle how to speak and be quiet
Sitting and being quiet are two of the most important commands that can be effective in stopping your Poodle from barking. To show your Poodle is speaking, say “speak,” then reward them with a treat when they carry on barking. Over time, this will let them know when to bark. Similarly, when they’re quiet, say “quiet” and reward them. If you are consistent with this and apply it to different situations, it will allow you to control your Poodle.
Remove any external triggers
The majority of the time, when a Poodle won’t stop barking, it’s due to external triggers in their environment. When you’re in your home, office, or out in public, try and remove certain triggers like loud noise, strangers, and more which could set off their barking.
If you can’t remove these triggers, some of the best things to do are to remain calm in these situations to let them know it’s safe. Moreover, you might wish to make a safe and quiet space in your home to go to when they don’t feel safe.
Socialize them
When you get any dog, socialization from an early age is essential. After they’ve had their full set of vaccinations, you should take them out on walks and let them get accustomed to other dogs and humans. The more familiar a Poodle gets with strangers and other animals, the less likely they will fear others and bark less.
Give your Poodle toys
Sometimes it isn’t easy to stay in the house all of the time with your Poodle and give them the attention they deserve. To help reduce their barking, you should gather toys so they can play with them while you’re away. Toys can help provide them with mental and physical stimulation distracting them from the long periods you’re gone.
Exercise
If you give your Poodle sufficient exercise, it can also reduce the chances of barking due to excitement. When a Poodle becomes exhausted from training, they have less energy to bark out of boredom, fear, or aggression. Therefore try taking them out on frequent walks, runs, swims and give them lots of playtime.
Desensitise
If you can’t remove the external triggers completely, you can aim to desensitize your Poodle from them. Slowly introduce your Poodle to these triggers and provide them with positive reinforcement. Over time they won’t bark as much. Some common examples of this are training them to be calm around the delivery man or other people when walking.
Do standard poodles bark a lot?
Standard Poodles are generally not known for excessive barking. Some poodles may develop barking habits if they are not properly socialized or trained. To stop your Standard Poodle from barking too much, it’s important to give it a lot of physical and mental stimulation, as well as socialization and training from a young age. Consistent positive reinforcement training can help teach your poodle when to bark and when not to bark.
Do miniature poodles bark a lot?
Miniature Poodles are known for being relatively quiet dogs. While all dogs may bark from time to time, Miniature Poodles are not generally prone to excessive barking.
Do toy poodles bark a lot?
Yes, toy poodles can bark a lot. They are small dogs with a lot of energy, and they tend to bark when they are excited or when they want something. Toy poodles are also very intelligent, and they can learn to bark on command.
Do teacup poodles bark a lot?
Teacup poodles are known for being one of the quietest dog breeds. They typically only bark when they are startled or feel threatened. However, some teacup poodles may bark more often than others due to genetics or early socialization experiences. If you are considering getting a teacup poodle, be sure to ask the breeder about the dog’s barking habits.
Final thoughts
Poodles can bark for many reasons, so it can be hard to determine why your poodle is barking. A good place to start troubleshooting your dog’s barking is to take a look at what happens right before your dog starts barking. For example, does he bark when you get the leash out of the closet? Does he bark when you put his food bowl down? Once you have a better idea of what causes your dog to bark, you can start to address his problem.
Do you have a dog that barks a lot? Let us know what you do to reduce how much it barks.
Marko is the founder and author at PoodleHQ, where he leverages his expertise and passion. With three generations of poodles under his care, Marko is a lifelong enthusiast of the breed and all animals, bringing his love and appreciation to his work every day.
