Aussiedoodles are known to be extremely high in energy. In other breeds, this can be associated with an increase in barking. But, do Aussiedoodles bark a lot?
Aussiedoodles do not bark a lot in comparison to some other dog breeds. They are considered to be relatively quiet dogs overall. However, they may bark in certain situations, such as when they are very excited, or there is something wrong.
Let’s look at the genetics behind the Aussiedoodle to understand why they are not excessive barkers. We’ll also address some reasons why your Aussiedoodle may bark, to figure out how you can minimize excessive noise.
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Do Poodles or Australian Shepherds Bark a Lot?
Aussiedoodles are a hybrid breed, made up of a Poodle and an Australian Shepherd. Whether your Aussiepoo barks a lot is largely influenced by genetics.
Poodles bark quite a lot in comparison to some other breeds. They rarely bark for no reason though. They are considered to be a very intelligent breed, and if they are barking they are often trying to get the owner’s attention.
The reasons for this will differ, depending on the dog. Fortunately, their intelligence also means that you can train excessive barking out of them rather easily. Although, usually addressing the problem that they are alerting you to should stop the barking.
Australian Shepherds are bred to be herding dogs. The working lines of this breed may use their bark as a tool to keep the animals in their care in check. Like the Poodle, they are relatively clever dogs, and will often use their bark in an effort to communicate there is a problem.
If you consider the nature of both the Poodle and the Australian Shepherd, it’s easy to determine that Aussiedoodles may be quite talkative if there is a problem. But, their intelligence also means that it is quite easy to train them. If there is nothing wrong, you may rarely hear them bark.
It’s important to keep in mind that all dogs bark sometimes. You will never be able to train any dog to stop barking completely.
When Will Aussiedoodles Be More Likely to Bark?
Now that we have determined that Aussiedoodles rarely bark if there is nothing wrong, let’s look at some of the things that increase barking in these dogs.
Fear
Your Aussiedoodle is more likely to bark when it is afraid. This can be for two reasons. First, they may run to you, and the bark will be to alert you to the perceived danger. Otherwise, they may rush toward the danger while barking. This is more of a warning bark.
Fear can be triggered by anything. Sounds outside, people walking too close to what your Aussiedoodle perceives as its territory, separation anxiety, and more.
Boredom
The extreme intelligence of the Aussiedoodle means that they often get bored. Barking might be a mechanism that they use to entertain themselves. It might also be a way of getting your attention.
Mental stimulation is a critical component of keeping an Aussiedoodle happy.
Excitement
Aussiedoodles act a lot like toddlers. When they are very excited, they may get loud. If their favorite person arrives home from work or they are running around chasing a ball, a few loud barks may slip out.
This is nothing to worry about. A lot of first-time pet owners are unsure about these excited barks. But, in my experience, you learn to tell the difference between your dog’s excited or stressed barks. It may take a while with a new puppy, but you will pick up on it soon enough.
Once you know that it is because your dog is excited, you can decide if you need to take action, or if you can just let your dog continue as it is.
Pain and Discomfort
Your Aussiedoodle may be trying to let you know that it is in some form of discomfort when it barks. Often this is accompanied by whining and a change in behavior. This can sometimes be difficult to differentiate from when your Aussiedoodle is simply trying to get your attention.
It is important to monitor your dog’s body language to figure out if there is something physically wrong with it.
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It’s Hungry
Your Aussiedoodle will learn when it is time to eat. I’ve found that very intelligent dogs like these somehow learn to tell the time with their stomachs. If you get to mealtime and your dog starts barking, it may be very food driven, or you may not be feeding it enough.
How to Minimize Your Aussiedoodle’s Barking
Socialization
Starting with socialization when your Aussiedoodle puppy is still young can greatly influence how much they bark. If they are around other dogs, people, and places from a young age, they won’t be afraid, leading to less barking.
They will also be more confident when experiencing new situations later on in life and will develop the ability to listen to you while distracted.
Training
Aussiedoodles pick up on things with very little training. The sooner you start with training in general, the easier it will be for your Aussiedoodle to pick up on new things.
Training at a school has the added benefit of socializing your puppy at the same time. But, it is not always necessary.
A stern voice is often enough negative reinforcement for them to know they have done something wrong.
Giving them no attention at all will also work. If your Aussiedoodle is trying to get your attention or that of someone else through barking, and they see it does not work, they will get the hint and stop.
And, of course, these dogs respond very well to praise and positive reinforcement. Treats are great, but sweetly spoken words and a scratch will also do.
Enough Exercise and Stimulation
Aussiedoodles are very high-energy dogs. Sometimes, they can become very agitated if they do not let some of that energy out.
If you provide enough exercise and stimulation for your Aussiedoodle it will be calmer overall, and more likely to listen to commands.
If you find that you are not able to give your dog enough attention throughout the day, consider items like dog puzzles. Your Aussiedoodle can play with these without you needing to be present all the time.
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Basic Needs
Along with exercise, making sure that all of your dog’s basic needs such as food and water are met will ensure they do not bark. They will not bark at meal times if they are not starving.
Likewise, if they are not uncomfortable because they are too hot, they will be less agitated and will not be trying to let you know that there is something wrong.
Do Miniature Aussiedoodles Bark More?
Australian Shepherds and Poodles come in a variety of different sizes. Many smaller breeds bark more, and this has led to the misconception that smaller variations of all breeds bark more.
But, smaller Aussiepoos do not bark more than larger ones. There is no genetic difference between the smaller and larger varieties of Aussiedoodles that causes smaller variations to be more talkative than larger ones.
Instead, a smaller Aussiedoodle may bark more because the family that owns them thought they were getting a lap dog and may not attend to some of the exercise and stimulation needs of the Aussiedoodle.
All dogs bark, but if you take care of all their needs, and socialize them well so that they are not always overstimulated by everything that is going on around them, they will be less likely to bark.
If you notice that your Aussiedoodle is suddenly barking more than it has previously, something else may have happened that has created a trigger. With patience, you will be able to work through it.
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