Does It Hurt A Dog To Bark All Day?
April 1, 2021 2021-10-04 13:17Is your dog an incessant barker who will literally bark all day long? You probably wonder if it could hurt him to be barking that much. The short answer is yes – it can cause a sore throat and damage the dog’s vocal cords. In addition, the intense stress associated with prolonged barking can lead to a variety of behavioral issues.
Let’s look in detail at why dogs may bark for long periods and the results of this behavior.
Table of Contents
Barking all day long
First of all – it is not a natural or healthy behavior for a dog to bark for prolonged periods of time. Barking is an expression of excitement or stress. While short bursts of excitement and stress are normal and not a concern, this state should not continue for hours.
If your dog is barking incessantly, you need to find out what the cause of the barking is and how to stop it. Do not simply ignore the barking and hope it will take care of itself – it won’t.
Stress and consequences
A dog that is barking for long periods of time is in a considerable amount of stress. He is likely barking either because of external stressors (such as other dogs he is reactive to, scary noises or even rabbits and squirrels he wants to chase) or internal stressors such as separation anxiety or boredom.
The more your dog barks, the more worked up he gets and the harder it becomes for him to settle down again. This cycle continues and leads your dog to be more and more prone to barking, being reactive and ingraining unwanted behavior patterns.
The long term consequences of stress in dogs are worrisome as well. Dogs that are unable to calm down will often develop secondary problem behaviors, such as incessant digging, pacing, licking their paws or picking fights with other dogs of the household. If your dog barks several hours every day, this even makes him more likely to develop certain health conditions.
Does my dog’s throat hurt after barking all day?
While we cannot ask our canine friends if their throats hurt, dogs do get laryngitis from barking too much. In this condition the larynx gets inflamed from overuse. Just like for humans, laryngitis is painful for dogs and can take a while to completely heal.
If your dog’s vocal cords get damaged, his bark will also sound more hoarse than usual. Should you notice such a change, you can be certain that his throat hurts. This often goes along with a dry cough as well. Take your dog to see a veterinarian if you suspect an inflammation of his throat. It is important that this condition gets looked at and treated well.
Why does my dog still bark if it hurts?
As mentioned above, internal and external stressors cause your dog to bark. Unfortunately he will even keep on barking if his throat is already hurting. In fact, the pain may cause him to be even more stressed and anxious, which results in even more barking … this can be a vicious cycle!
You cannot just hope that your dog will stop barking when it hurts. Instead, only reducing or removing the stressors that cause him to bark will change his behavior effectively.
Is it ok to have a dog barking outside all day?
You should not leave your dog in the yard all day if something out there causes him to bark without pause. In fact, some dogs begin barking because of something specific (such as another dog passing by) but then just carry on out of boredom or habit. This behavior is not healthy or beneficial for your dog. Even if you do not have close neighbors who would complain about the noise, find another place for your dog during the day where he will not bark that much.
Many dogs do better in smaller, enclosed spaces. Instead of letting your dog have the run of your whole property, keep him in a smaller area when you are not around to check on him. Chances are that he can settle easier there, relax more and not bark as much.
The Bottom Line
A dog’s throat will indeed hurt after barking all day. In fact, it can even lead to an inflammation of the larynx which will require veterinary care. You should not put your dog in any situation in which he is stressed enough to bark all day long. This is not healthy or beneficial for the dog and will over time lead to other behavioral issues.
Many dogs bark if left alone in the yard for many hours. If you are gone during the day, consider keeping your dog in a smaller space during that time. Dogs can settle easier if they do not have too much space to pace around and bark. If you are in doubt about how to identify the trigger of your dog’s barking, consult with a professional dog trainer who can help you fix this issue.
