Bulldogs are one of the most endearing breeds of dogs that you can think of as pets. They appear to be so dominant and yet so amiable. Though bulldogs are often quiet and display good behavior, sometimes they can get unruly and start barking for no specific reason. Although barking is common with most dogs, it can become annoying when it becomes a regular phenomenon. Especially, when there seems to be no rhyme or reason for such barking.
Lucky for you, if you’re a bulldog owner, bulldogs tend to be one of the quieter breeds and generally aren’t known as barkers, if trained well.
Do bulldogs bark a lot?
Bulldogs generally do not bark a lot. This makes them great apartment dogs as your neighbors won’t have to deal with unruly barking. The few times they might bark is when they see or hear something that startles them, hear other dogs, or you might hear muffled barks when they’re having puppy dreams.
What might drive a bulldog to bark?
Bulldogs are generally extremely well-mannered pets with a calm demeanor. They tend not to bark unless provoked and when they do, they can be quite intimidating and scary.
As reported by some owners, bulldogs bark frantically sometimes when a stranger approaches the door or if there is a new animal in the vicinity. While playing with some new toys, they may start barking out of enthusiasm. Bulldogs love to be treated with food, and you might see them barking with joy when you head towards them with their favorite food. They might also bark to get your attention , especially if you’re eating something yummy yourself and you’re not sharing it with them.
Bulldogs and dogs, in general, are very similar to small kids in terms of the way they communicate. Like a young one- or two-year old, bulldogs can whine and cry when they need something like food, rest, or water. It is important to pay attention to your bulldog when they are trying to communicate in case you are forgetting to give them something they might need.
Barking at visitors and strangers
Visitors and strangers might be the most common reasons for why your bulldog barks. They will bark at strangers and even known visitors when they approach the door. Imagine a pizza delivery guy cutting through all the traffic and reaching your doorstep to deliver your favorite pizza, only to be met with the frantic barking of a bulldog.
The bulldog is not at fault, he is just doing his job of warning his master of an unexpected encroachment. Bulldogs have a very peculiar kind of deep and extremely loud barking sound that will scare the heck out of anyone not expecting it.
How to stop your bulldogs from barking at strangers
Socialize your bulldog:
Sending them away to some other part of the house when they start barking at strangers is just a quick fix to the problem. Instead, take subtle steps to make sure your dogs are spending more time with new people.
The more time they spend with people and strangers the better. They will become more accustomed to seeing new people and faces around the house. But make sure they start meeting new people while they are still a young puppy so that it’s easier for them to get acquainted with the outside world.
Train your bulldog:
This is the most effective way to stop your bulldog from barking. Trying to stop a bulldog from barking is like telling an unruly kid to stop whining.
Start training your bulldog at a young age. They attain full maturity in about three years, so make sure to start before then. Even if they are a little older, it’s not too late. It might take a little longer for them to learn, but they will eventually come around.
The Quiet Command:
This training needs a lot of patience and consistent perseverance. Your bulldog will need time but once used in the right way they make most bulldogs behave much better. Whenever your bulldog barks at a stranger, allow it to bark for up to three to four barks and try distracting it. Once it stops barking, repeat the word ‘quiet’ in a calm and low voice. Repeat this every time they bark at intruders until they associate the “Quiet” command with the action of stopping barking.
You can make it more rewarding for them when they stop barking by giving them a healthy dog treat. After many training sessions, you can stop providing treats as encouragement as the “Quiet” command should become a habit.
Barking for communication:
Bulldogs are creatures of habit and instinct. It’s in their nature to communicate through making some noise.
You need to make sure you understand and anticipate their needs well to make sure they don’t bark. Create a routine that your dog can follow every day. By doing so, your dog will know when to eat, when to go to the bathroom and when to go out and play and so they won’t bark for something they are already getting.
Getting to know the signs and understanding their whining and whimpering is important because often they go on a barking-spree after brief periods of whining. Keeping your bulldog happy with all their needs fulfilled is the best way to keep them from barking.
Other reasons why a bulldog might bark
Apart from the reasons listed above, there are a number of reasons why your dog may bark. For instance, your dog will bark when they are happy and excited. Stopping them to bark in these cases means curtailing their happiness and joy.
As a good owner, you don’t want to stifle your dog’s joy. Your bulldog may also bark while they are playing and out on their strolls and exercising. Don’t worry about stopping these healthy and happy barks of your bulldog. There are however a few other reasons why your bulldog may be barking.
Danger signs and warnings:
Your dogs have a sixth sense. If you find your bulldog barking without any reason, it may be a warning of apparent danger. Timmy might be stuck in a well and your bulldog is trying to let you know, so don’t take these signs lightly!
Encroachment:
Bulldogs may act like the kings of their territories. If they sense or see any other new dog or animal from some other pack in their territory, they take it as an encroachment on their personal space and tend to bark rather ferociously. You should try your best to train this territorial behavior out of them.
Communication with others:
They might just be barking to communicate with their friends. So, when they were barking incessantly, they were probably just saying hello to their friends across the street.
Bulldogs – Better than the rest
If you compare bulldogs with other breeds, they easily win more points for being quieter than their counterparts. The Chihuahua tops the list of the top 10 most barking dogs and bulldogs don’t even make that list. So in general, you shouldn’t expect to see too much barking from your bully.
Bulldogs don’t bark too much unless they are provoked. No training will suffice to keep them pacified if their needs are not met. So, make sure your bulldogs are well-fed and well kept. Socialize and train them early on, and keep them on a routine, and you shouldn’t have to put up with incessant barking.
