Well, while barking may be a medium of communication for dogs, it can be annoying to dog owners and neighbours. So for intending Pitbull owners or existing owners who are confused as to the existing character of their Pitbulls, this post will clarify whether or not Pitbulls bark a lot.
Pitbulls are moderate barkers. They bark for common reasons, so it is possible to have a pitbull constantly barking because of common actions like a knock on the door, unknown footsteps, or even when excited.
Common Reasons for Pitbull Constant Barking
If your pitbull is constantly barking, then these are some of the common triggers might include the following;
- Fear
- Frustration
- Hunger
- Threat
- Health conditions
1. Fear
Little things such as a moving insect or object, or a funny-looking hat your neighbour is putting on may cause your Pitbull to bark.
It doesn’t understand what it is, and the only way to make his fears known is by barking. As a dog owner, you might want to investigate to know what’s causing your dog to be scared.
2. Frustration
While you were out for daily duties, your neighbour may inform you of how your dog has been barking since you left. Your bully only wanted to see you but couldn’t, so it barked out of frustration.
You should consider giving him some toys and safe chews to play with when you are away. Anything to keep him busy.
3. Hunger
Your big guy has not eaten for several hours and needs food now. This may cause him to bark. It is now up to you to understand why he keeps barking in this case.
4. Threat
When your Pitbull feels threatened by other dogs or even humans, he responds by barking. The big guy doesn’t like to be intimidated, so he rises to the occasion. As a Pitbull parent, you should come in time before your dog becomes nasty.
5. Health condition
When your dog will not stop barking, it could be a clear indication of an underlining ailment or health condition which needs attention. Calling the attention of your vet might be the most sustainable option in this case.
Moving on. However, age, genetics, and how they are trained to contribute to the constant barking of a Pitbull. Let’s find out more about Pitbull and why they behave the way they behave.
6. Guests Entering your Home
You should anticipate a bark from your Pitbull when you have visitors who have never met your dog before. They become instantly more excited when they realize that you are welcoming the visitor.
How do I get my Pitbull to stop barking?
A. Give Him Treats.
When your big friend is not barking, treat him to yummies. Do this only when he’s not barking. He’ll get the message soon.
B. Ignore Him When He’s Barking
Oh, your dog is at it again, woofing at nothing? Just ignore him. He wants your attention but he’s not getting it until it keeps quiet. Now he gets to understand that there’s nothing for him if he keeps disturbing your peace with barking.
C. Praise Pitbull When He Goes Quiet.
In addition to giving him treats, shower him with praise when he goes quiet. Now he’s getting to understand that he only gets treats and praise when he’s quiet. You are on your way to putting an end to unnecessary barking.
D. Use the “Speak” Command.
Your Pitbull is barking? Use the “Speak” command. He continues barking. Now use the “Quiet” command. He’s stopped? Give him treats again. He doesn’t? Ignore him. Be there to give him treats every time he stops barking. The message would click soon.
Now, repeat the same process for some time, over and over again, until he understands that “Quiet” means he’s getting a treat soon. Gradually elongate the time between when you give him the quiet command and when you give him treats. Before long, your Pitbull may not need the treat to stay quiet when you use the quiet command.
E. Exercise.
As stated earlier, Pitbulls are hyperactive dogs by default and therefore, require a lot of exercises to stay active. Their barking is an outlet for the pent-up energy in them. Consider going for a long walk, or playing catch on the field to keep him active.
This way, he will not remember to bark when he’s back home as he’d have gotten a handful of fun.
F. Socialize
Making ensuring your Pitbull is well socialized from the start, especially at a young age if possible, is one of the key techniques to reduce the way they bark when meeting strangers.
From the moment you bring them home as a puppy, they should be introduced to social situations including both people and other animals. They will be more composed later in life when they meet unfamiliar people or animals thanks to your initial socializing effort.
G. Avoid Long Absence
Although it may seem absurd, many Pitbulls experience separation anxiety when left alone. They frequently bark to entice you to return because they detest being apart from you.
If hiring a pet sitter isn’t possible due to constraints, make sure your pet has enough to do when you are not home. When left to their own ways, Pitbulls may bark simply because they are bored to death.
What are typical pitbull behaviours?
Just like humans, many dog breeds have peculiar behaviour. Pitbulls are more of a people-oriented kind of dog. They love people and food. Generally, their personalities are shaped by genetics, life experiences, and the people around them. This means when your Pitbull behaves in a type of way, it’s probably how you raised him. Pit bulls and other “banned” breeds can never be service animals, according to the ADA is false.
They have sharp hearing skills and can take instructions quickly. They are also athletic. So, a generous amount of exercise should get them active and prevent boredom. Some Pitbull owners have said that Pitbulls are very determined.
When they set a target for themselves, they go all out to achieve it regardless of the outcome. Whether they want to rip your couch, bring down something from the shelf, or open a not-properly-locked door—they just don’t give up without giving a fight.
Are Pitbulls very vocal?
Most dog breeds have disparities in qualities such as vocality. Some dogs are very vocal, others are mostly silent. It is the same with Pitbull.
However, you should remember that every dog’s behaviour cannot be completely predicted. So, chances are that some Pitbulls may act differently from what you read.
But the thing is if you have a breed of dog that won’t let you hear yourself due to loud and incessant barking, it is a no-no. For this sole reason of barking, some people choose their next breed based on how much they bark. So let’s focus on Pitbulls.
Are Pitbulls barkers?
Generally, Pitbulls are regarded as moderate barkers. Being one of the most intelligent dogs out there, they do not bark for the sake of it; they only bark when it’s necessary. So if you have a Pitbull that woofs all the time, there are two things involved.
One is that he is faced with some challenges of which you may be completely unaware. Such challenges could include health, threat, fear, and so on. So before you conclude on your big guy’s barking habit, you should be sure that you are not being insensitive.
The second thing may be that your Pitbull has not undergone any formal training. You need to engage him more and train him to bark less, otherwise, he might just keep woofing at every single thing.
Pitbulls are good listeners, so you will not experience difficulty teaching them basic instructions such as “Quiet”.
Do Pitbulls get stressed?
Pitbulls, just like any other dog get stressed, and they have signs that tell that they are. You might just want to pay more attention to know when you can come in for your stressed friend.
Some of the signs are whining and Barking – When your bully begins to whine, it is a sign that he’s stressed. Many dogs can’t control their whining when they are stressed. To them, it is more like an automatic stress response. In addition, barking is also a telltale that your dog is stressed.
At what age does a pitbull calm down?
Naturally, Pitbulls are not calm dogs. This is primarily because they were initially trained to be fighting dogs. They are literally built for chasing, catching, attacking, and athletics. This means that most of the time, a Pitbull is hyperactive. Though, not all Pitbulls are hyperactive; some are still very quiet and reserved.
However, the hyperactivity of Pitbulls can vary dramatically with age. When your Pitbull hits the one-year mark, you should expect him to become calmer over the next 6 – 12 months. Although your Pitbull may still be active after 2 years, it will never be the same as it was when he was only a teenager. Note that this is a generalization and may not apply to your dog.
Conclusion
Pitbulls are active dogs, and as an owner, you should understand some of the dynamics of these dogs. While some are very active, others are reserved, you can’t completely tell if a dog will not bark as barking is a common means of communication in dogs.
However, Pitbulls bark less than other dogs. But if you have a Pitbull that goes off every time, consider putting the above suggestions into practice and watch him become calmer than ever.
These things take time, so you might as well be patient with your friend.
