Are Poodles Quiet? 6 Reasons Your Poodle Is Barking

Poodles are one of the most intelligent dog breeds in the world and were judged to be the second most intelligent of all dog breeds- but does this intelligence mean they are more likely to “talk”?. Toy poodles, miniature poodles, and standard poodles are trainable and capable of handling any task, mentally challenging or physically- which can unfortunately include barking unnecessarily. Owners of this breed of dog have many words to describe: intelligent, regal, proud, loyal, and affectionate. However, rarely has the word “quiet” being associated with poodles because regardless of age, type, or size, poodles can have a tendency to bark, especially when scared, excited, when they want attention or when they are simply bored.

Toy poodles, miniature poodles, and standard poodles are not quiet dogs, but nor are they very loud if trained correctly and given the right amount of exercise and mental stimulation. Poodles are rated to be “moderate” barkers that become louder and more regular barkers when triggered, but the good news is they are highly intelligent and can be trained not to bark half as much as they do. Standard poodles have the loudest bark, followed by miniature and toy poodles in size order. The size of the dog also affects the pitch, with the larger standard poodle having a deeper toned bark and the high pitched toy poodle. 

A lot of people do not like their poodle barking- after all it can be interpreted as aggressive or scary to those who are not comfortable around dogs. Barking does not mean a dog is aggressive, dogs bark for communication reasons and can be due to excitement, wanting attention and because they are bored. While barking is not in itself a sign of aggression if accompanied by bared teeth, growling or other aggressive body language you should leave the dog alone. Luckily, poodles are not an aggressive dog breed and are not known for attacking or 

How Often Do Poodles Bark?

Toy poodles, miniature poodles, and standard poodles bark quite often; they are vocal breed. Although there is so much to love about them, one challenge faced by most poodle owners is that they tend to bark a lot, especially when someone arrives at the house or they see something, such as another dog outside that excites them. Poodles often get triggered by one thing or the other, which has given them the reputation of being yappy and troublesome. They are also reputed to be very enthusiastic watchdogs that bark to alert their owners of potential threats- so barking is not all bad!

A cute video of poodles barking

Why do Poodles Bark?

 Poodles are not quiet for a reason. They are highly sensitive and watchful dogs that bark with good ideas. Each bark from your poodle is justifiable. Its high level of sensitivity makes it more aware of things than you are. Some of the significant reasons why poodles bark includes the following:

·       Separation Anxiety: Poodles hate to be left alone. They have loads of separation anxiety, which makes them bark when they are left all to themselves.

·       Loud Noises: Poodles are highly sensitive and emotional. Loud noises like thunderstorms and the flashes that follow likely set off your poodle. In a loud situation where you poodle won’t stop barking, try and get them to a quiet room of the house so they can calm down.

·       Footsteps from Passerbys: Poodles bark when they hear passersby walk past through the environment or home. They become even louder when the steps are louder. In this situation, barking is a way of sending a signal to you.

·       As a means of Protection: Whenever poodles perceive danger to self or their owner(s), they bark.

·       Boredom/Excitement: Poodles are energetic dogs that need to expend their energy in one way or another. When they are not engaged in other fun activities, they bark for fun.

Site of Strangers: The average poodle will not be silent when he sees some strangers around its territory or loved ones. They are bred to be watchdogs that alert their owners of imminent danger.

How to train your poodle not to bark

As a poodle-owner, it is vital to train your canine friend not to bark at every slightest trigger. Although doing this may take consistent effort, but it is totally worth it, especially if you want to have a well-behaved poodle. Here are few tips on how to train your poodle to stop barking:

·         Train them to follow the “speak” and “quite” command: The best way to get your poodle to remain quite is by training them to follow the “speak” and “quiet” command. Doing this is quite simple; when your poodle barks, simply give him or her the “speak” command and reward with a treat when he obeys. Like all training, the real results come from being consistent and letting your poodle know that the rules do not change depending on different situations and people. 

·         Ignore barking: You can also choose to ignore your poodles when they bark no matter how long he or she keeps barking.  If you give your poodle lots of attention when they bark, they will take it s a sign that they should bark to get your attention. Poodles and other dogs can’t tell the difference between negative attention and positive attention, so telling your poodle off for barking will not have the desired effect.

·         Reward them for being quiet: Once your poodle becomes calm after a barking episode, ensure that you reward him or her with a treat or praise them. 

·         Check for and remove legitimate barking triggers where possible: Most times, when your poodle barks, they are triggered by some factors in the environment. If possible get rid of these triggers to get them quiet.  It could be that your poodle is seeing vermin in the yard which is triggering barking, so if this is the case get rid of obvious triggers for the barking. It can be something simple like blocking the window from your poodle’s view that can help this sort of barking trigger. Other barking triggers include thunderstorms, the sound of rain falling heavily, car alarms and the sound of cars on the street. Again, the best way to approach these triggers is to let your poodle know that these triggers are not harmful by appearing relaxed and comforting your poodle. You should also make sure your poodle has access to their own safe and quiet space at all times, where they can retreat to if they feel scared or uncertain.

·         Exercise and play with them: Poodles are high energy dogs that need to burn off their energy through regular exercise, which can include walking, running, and playing- depending on your poodle’s size and age.  If your poodle is tired, it is less likely that they will bark out of boredom or to blow off steam.

·         Socialize your poodle: It is vital to expose your dog to the environment and ensure other dogs do not easily intimate them. Being comfortable with the environment can help reduce anxiety and make your dog stay calm. The more comfortable your poodle gets around others, the less he will bark as he learns that most people and other dogs are friends and not to be feared.

·         Provide toys for your pet: When you can’t give your poodle the attention they deserve, find an alternative focus that can help prevent boredom and anxiety. Especially if you are out of the house a lot. Providing some toys can do the magic as it provides exercise, mental stimulation and the opportunity for your poodle to learn new things.

Finally, always remember that poodles have a natural tendency to bark. They can be  loud dogs when left untrained and will require a good amount of training to encourage them to remain quite when necessary. However, one good thing about this dog breed is that they are intelligent and able to pick up on training quickly. So you can easily teach your poodles to stop barking.

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