Do border collies bark a lot?
Yes. Border Collies bark a lot. If you are considering adding one of these intelligent and fun-loving dogs to your family, be prepared because they are known to be quite vocal. It is simply part of the way they communicate.
Choosing a breed of dog for a family or an individual comes with a lot of considerations and questions. If a dog barks excessively, it can affect those living with him, as well as those who live nearby.
If you’re thinking about getting a Border Collie, then one of the things you need to know about is their barking tendencies.
Do Border Collies bark excessively? Are they notorious for barking? And if so, what can you do to stop your Border Collie from barking at everything?
Let’s dive in and learn more about the Border Collie and their barking tendencies.
Table of Contents
Do Border Collies Bark A Lot?
Yes, Border Collies are known to bark a lot. They tend to bark when they are bored, hungry, frightened, depressed and sometimes they bark to assert their dominance.
Nonetheless, each Border Collie has their own personality and behavior, so some are more prone to barking than others. Fortunately, you can train and use certain tactics to keep your Border Collie’s barking under control.
Like most other sheepdogs, Border Collies are very intelligent and communicative dogs. They can make great family dogs but not without proper training and the right living conditions.
These dogs enjoy nothing more than being occupied and potential pet parents should make proper plans for this.
The reason why Border Collies bark a lot is because they were originally bred for herding purposes, and barking was major part of their herding job.
However, barking can easily become a habit even when they are not herding. Moreover, unnecessary barking can be disturbing for you and your neighbors. You should start training early to curb your herding dog’s barking behavior.
Border Collies also make great watchdogs since they bark as a way of alerting their owners to potential threats. However, this is not always a good thing, especially if you live in a busy place with many neighbors.
Keep in mind that all dogs bark to interact with the family and those around them. Dogs tend to bark when they are excited, frightened or being territorial.
Regardless of the reason why your Border Collie barks, it is an integral part of them communicating their thoughts, feelings, needs and wants.
All dogs bark, but continual or excessive barking is sometimes a sign that the dogs wants or needs aren’t met. Exercise, playtime, food, water, love and attention are some of the areas you should pay special attention to.
If you think all of these needs are being met on a regular basis, then it’s important to investigate other possible areas.
Firstly, you should find out if there’s something happening in their immediate environment. Is the neighbour’s cat continuously walking near their environment? Are there squirrels or other small animals in the backyard? Are there any exciting things happening where the dog can hear or see them?
Although Border Collies are naturally wired to bark frequently, owners can take advantage of their high intelligence levels and eager-to-please personality to train them when barking is appropriate and when it isn’t. Firm and consistent training can help treat nuisance barking.
One popular method is training a Border Collie to speak or bark on command. This training can then form the foundation for training them to be quiet on command. In the end, the dog will learn when it is acceptable to bark and when it isn’t.
Can Border Collies Be Calm?
Border Collies are anything but calm. They are particularly hyperactive dogs who don’t always make good family pets without proper training and the right living conditions.
Since they have a lot of energy and enjoy being busy, they bark a lot especially when they are not properly exercised and mentally stimulated.
Although calming a Border Collie barking can be a challenging task, it is still achievable with consistency and patience.
If your dog is too energetic, it may be because of an underlying health issue. Be sure to have any medical issue ruled out by a professional veterinarian before trying to calm him.
Here are a few ways to calm your Border Collie dog:
Once your vet has ruled out any underlying health problems that may cause hyperactivity, make sure to keep your pup on a goodie. Choose low-fat and low-protein dog food since high amounts of fat and protein can lead to excess energy.
Secondly, make sure your dog gets plenty of exercises each day. You can’t just take them out for a long walk every few days and expect him to stay calm.
You need to give your Border Collie plenty of exercises to expend their excess energy. This can be through activities such as walks, runs, playtime and visits to the dog park.
If you plan to leave your home, make sure to place your dog in a safe and spacious place where he can move and run around freely. Also, keep his favorite toys there to keep him busy and mentally stimulated, as boredom can lead to destructive behaviors.
Provide your Border Collie with plenty of interactive dog toys to keep him occupied and entertained. Never punish your dog, as they need mental stimulation, not punishment.
Teach and train your Border Collie vital lessons like respect and obedience to reduce the chances of a chaotic home.
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Why Does My Border Collie Bark Excessively?
If your Collie barks excessively, you have certainly asked yourself “why does my Border Collie bark so much?” Now, it’s extremely important to know why your pup is barking in the first place.
Border Collies were originally bred to be herding dogs, driving and controlling animals; barking was an integral part of their job. This means Border Collies are naturally designed to be barkers. Barking is their way to speak with you.
Border Collies bark as a way of communicating. They will bark to communicate with you, people and other dogs.
Since your Collie can’t communicate with you in your local language, he expresses his thoughts and feelings through barking.
In many cases, dogs don’t just bark for the sake of it, but to alert their owner of strangers, the mailman delivering mail or everyone else he thinks deserves your attention.
However, your Collie might also bark out of loneliness or boredom. Dogs left at home alone for extended periods can become sad or bored and will often bark to relieve stress. However, excessive barking can be annoying and a nuisance for you and your neighbours alike.
Fortunately, you can train your Border Collie to bark less. If ignored, their barking can be problematic, but with early and consistent training, it can be stopped.
Firstly, try and understand what kind of barker your Border Collie is and then start to tackle the issue.
Don’t try to totally eradicate all types of barking, but instead work to keep your dog’s barking at bay. Your pooch still needs a way to speak to you.
Can A Border Collie Be Trained To Stop Barking?
Yes, a Border Collie can be trained to bark less. However, you should keep in mind that this is a very intelligent breed, which might make it difficult for you to train him efficiently. Their stubborn nature can initially make them resist training.
However, each individual Border Collie will have their own unique traits. While Border Collies do bark frequently and rather loudly, it’s still possible to get one that is quite different.
Obedience training is a great way to teach your dog acceptable behaviors in various situations.
Barking, digging, scratching and jumping up on people are some of the bad behaviours you may want to correct through obedience training.
Proper training will allow your pup to know what is expected of him. Patience, consistency and dedication to training will help ensure success.
Showing your Border Collie who’s in charge is an important message that you should pass across during training. Praise, treats and other rewards should also be offered for acceptable behaviour.
You should keep training sessions short for your Border Collie since he may have a short attention span. Keeping each training session short and interesting can help make training easier for you and your dog.
After each training session, you and your Border Collie will need some exercises and playtime to release stress, have fun and strengthen your bond.
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How Do I Get My Border Collie To Stop Barking?
The goal is not to stop a Border Collie barking completely but to prevent excessive barking.
In order to prevent unnecessary barking, you should figure out what the triggers are. Is barking his way of protecting your family? Is your Border Collie hungry? Is someone or something scaring him? Is he bored? Is he seeking your attention?
If the excessive barking is due to any of these issues, then it can be prevented quite easily.
So if you find yourself shouting “HELP! My Border Collie barking a lot!” you would be pleased to know that there are several ways of preventing a Border Collie from barking too much.
Your Border Collie will require plenty of exercises to stay fit and happy. Get your Border Collie running, jogging and walking. Get him to chase a ball or toy. He will enjoy this. It will also give him something to look forward to each and every day.
Interactive dog toys and puzzle games are all great options! These will keep him busy and take their mind off unacceptable habits like unnecessary barking.
If you’re concerned about your Border Collie barking at strangers, invite different kinds of people regularly to your house. This will help your dog to socialize with your guests.
If you think you have done all you could to keep your pup’s barking in check and nothing seems to be getting you the results you desire, you should consider enrolling your puppy for obedience training.
A professional dog trainer can help you teach your best friend a command that tells him that it’s time to stop barking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Border Collies Barkers?
Yes. Border Collies can be quite protective, and can bark at new people or other dogs. Their bark is also quite loud, which helps to make them great watchdogs.
If you are concerned about your Border Collie’s barking tendencies, make sure to give him plenty of daily exercises and lots of mental stimulation. Proper training and early socialization is also strongly recommended.
Do Border Collies Make Good House Pets?
Border Collies do not make the most ideal house pets. This is simply because they need plenty of physical exercises and mental stimulation and will not do well in a locked up space.
They also require a lot of attention and human interaction. Therefore, they need regular access to an open space where they can run and pay around.
If you have a large space and time to provide regular exercise and walks, then the Border Collie can be a great choice for you.
Can Border Collies Be Left Alone?
Border Collies are prone to separation anxiety. While these dogs are truly adorable, they don’t like being left alone with nothing to do.
They need to be exercised well and given plenty of toys when you are not at home. This will keep them occupied and improve their mental wellbeing.
If you leave your Border Collie for many hours without any kind of exercises, you can expect numerous issues such as barking, chewing digging, or destroying your house.
If you tend to be away from home for long hours and cannot provide the required activities for this breed, then it advisable to choose another dog breed.
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Are Border Collies A Good Choice For First Time Owners?
No. Border Collies are not the most ideal choice for first-time owners because their requirements are very specific and they can be fairly demanding.
They are best suited to owners who are familiar with their needs and who have the resources and time required to dedicate to a very active and intelligent dog.
In Conclusion
The Border Collie is an active, fun-living and intelligent breed of dog that barks often and rather loudly. They are also protective and make great watchdogs.
Although Border Collies are naturally designed to bark often, you can take advantage of their intelligence and eager-to-please character to teach them when they should bark and when they shouldn’t.
Lots of exercises and consistent training will help keep your Border Collie’s barking under control.
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