Veterinary behavioural specialists and dog trainers provide a detailed and contextual explanation for why dogs bark at other dogs. Here’s what the experts and research have to say.
Barking as Communication
Dogs communication with vocalizations and barking is one of their most versatile forms of communication. Barking is an expression of emotional states such as excitement, greeting, alarm, fear, or play. The intended message conveyed depends on contextual factors, pitch, and body language
1. Play/Greeting Barking
Dr. Shadi Ireifej explains that dogs often bark as a friendly greeting or excitement to play.
The American Kennel Club states if the dog’s posture is loose, has an open mouth and wagging tail or if the dog ‘play bows’, the barking indicates happiness and an invitation to play.
The Dodo also refers to similar social barking that occurs when joining on the barks of other dogs.
2. Territorial/Barking as Alerting
One common reason barking occurs is that it is territorial – generally used for warning intruders, specifically other dogs near windows or areas of daily walking.
The AKC explains that barking is territorial and can happen anywhere the dog perceives to be its territory including walks or cars.
HotBot states dogs typically bark in a territorial context where they are establishing dominance or repelling perceived threats, and display specific body language like stiff bodies and raised hackles when barking quite often in a territorial situation.
3. Fear, Anxiety, and Reactivity
Barking as a reaction to fear is a defensive behaviour. Some dogs view other dogs as threats, and to create space bark to make space/social distance.
Reactivity behaviour, like reactivity on a lead, often stems from frustrations, fear, and overstimulated dogs when they are on leads and unable to escape from perceived threats.
Redditors, who are professional observers of animal behaviour, have stated that typically you could view reactivity as an emotional release from fear/frustration and not typically aggression, and emphasized how important it is to time the distraction training before the dog becomes reactive.
4. Frustration (Barrier Reactivity)
Reacting out of frustration after being restrained via a leash or agreement is one of the most common triggers: dogs perceive they want to greet or avoid contact and when they are restrained, they bark as a means to symbolize frustration.
The AKC, reaffirms this: dogs perceive they want to approach, and are indisputably allowed if it wasn't for the restraining leash, and the barking and lunging occurs in repetitions.
5. Attention-Seeking Barking
Barking at other dogs quickly becomes understood by dogs as a means to get a reaction from their owners or other dogs to barking - once again created the buzz label for the behaviour.
Daily Paws takes it a step further by emphasizing this is one of the many reasons for socializing - that dogs may simply bark if it hears other dogs barking as well.
6. Poor Socialization
Barking may also be a result of poor early socialization period (3 - 14 weeks) where dogs bark because they are confused or afraid of other dogs. As they are exposed to these states, they may learn specific coping skills.
Socialization plays an incredible role in developing communication skills and building confidence thus all reductive measures correlated with fear based barking.
7. Breed Specific Idiosyncrasies
There are certain breeds with genetic dispositions toward barking manners - Yorkshire Terriers, Beagles, Chihuahuas, and dogs such as a Border Collie - these breeds may simply bark more due to their genetics.
The style of barking can also be associated with personality - Beagles tend to bark with excitement; Rottweilers operate in a more persuasive tone.
Behaviour Modification Information
- Tone, Distance, and Timing
Graeme Hall (The Guardian) says that it is important to use the appropriate tone and maintain distance when addressing reactivity; calm responses to barking are best encouraged with positive reinforcement (reward the dog for being calm).
- Desensitization and Counter-Conditioning
The experts (even the RD.com and DodoWell) suggest gentle desensitization approaches with rewards whenever they remain calm and gradually reducing distance.
- Positive Reinforcement
Pedigree UK, AKC, and behaviourists suggest rewarding quiet, calm responses to a potential bark. You can also teach responding cues, "watch me" or "quiet", whilst ensuring you never reward the bark response.
- Professional Help
As many experts recommend, if the bark is hyper, aggressive, or developed through anxiety, you need to work through it with a certified behaviourist or professional trainer. This is particularly important when the barking is hyper-aggressive or highly reactive.
Summary Table
Reason Expert Insight
Playful / Greeting Excited barking, happy play bows, relaxed loose play posture
Territorial / alert Authoritative warning tone, stiff posture, hackles raised
Fear / Anxiety Defensive bark; retreat posture, usually some stress signal
Leash/ Frustration Whining/barking/lunging because the dog can't reach
Attention Seeking Barking yields attention; reinforcing the pattern
Poor socialization Uncertainty leads to a fearful or reactive barking.
Breed Characteristics Yapper vs deep barker due to genetic influence.
Conclusion
Look at the dog's posture and what they are focusing on - tail, hackles, facial, etc. to find out the possible reasons why your dog is barking at other dogs. Document what manner of bark it is - tone, duration, who barked first. Uptake training; rewarding calm behaviour, practice being in close proximity and reduced distance with calm responses but ask for professional help if the barking is conditioned through anxiety or aggression.
Specialist consensus: dogs bark at other group form varying reasons, everything from play to fear factors to getting an attention response. The main take away is to make sense of what they are communicating, reward calm responses, and a structured behaved reaction where necessary.