Sometimes, it seems almost impossible to stop your dog from barking if that is what it has set its mind to. If you are considering a Goldendoodle, you might be wondering if you will have to answer angry phone calls from neighbors or spend many nights without sleep because there is a cat crying several blocks away.
But do Goldendoodles bark a lot? And what techniques can be implemented to prevent your Goldendoodle from barking excessively?
Do Goldendoodles Bark a Lot?
Goldendoodles do not bark a lot in comparison to some other breeds. But they are still dogs and bark if they are triggered to. Meeting the basic needs of your Goldendoodle and making sure that you catch the barking early will minimize it a great deal.
Let’s look at the genetics behind Goldendoodle barking so we can understand where it comes from. We’ll also examine some reasons why your Goldendoodle may suddenly start barking a lot.
Genetics of Goldendoodle Barking
Poodle Barking
Poodles were bred to be hunting dogs and needed a way to communicate with their humans. Although they do not bark for no reason, they can be very loud when they have something to say.
Poodles also suffer from anxiety when they are separated from their humans, or when they are left without exercise for extended periods of time. Both of which will trigger barking.
Golden Retriever Barking
Just like Poodles, Golden Retrievers were bred to be involved in hunting. This means that they are also very used to interacting with humans for extended periods of time.
Golden Retrievers are one of the noisiest dog breeds out there. They bark when they are excited, when they want attention, when they are hungry, and more.
Golden Retrievers also have a loud bark, which means they can cause a problem when they get started.
Goldendoodles Barking
When looking at the Poodle and the Golden Retriever, we can see that Goldendoodles probably bark a fair amount.
You should also notice that their barking is far more likely to be stimulus-based, rather than for no reason at all. Most of these stimuli tend to be associated with human interaction, due to the working dog heritage of the Goldendoodle.
Do Smaller Goldendoodles Bark More?
Goldendoodles come in various sizes due to the variation in the Poodle. Some people believe that smaller dogs tend to bark a lot more than larger ones, so it is natural to wonder if this would be the case within the Goldendoodle breed.
This is not true at all though. Smaller Goldendoodles do not bark any more than larger ones.
In fact, the entire belief is a misconception that is likely based on people noticing the slightly higher-pitched bark of smaller dogs more.
Positive Reasons Your Goldendoodle May Bark
Not all reasons your Goldendoodle is barking may be negative. Some of them are actually very good.
Although barking in general may not necessarily be something that you want to encourage, especially if you live in an apartment or another situation where you are very close to your neighbors, you do not always have to discourage it either.
Excited
Your Goldendoodle might be very excited. This could be when it is running around the backyard chasing after a ball, or it could be when you introduce it to agility. It might even happen at the dog park when your Goldendoodle sees one of its friends.
There is generally nothing you could do about this kind of barking, even if you wanted to.
Training
Some people take great pride in training their dogs to bark. This can be quite difficult to do.
Teaching your Goldendoodle to bark on command can be very rewarding though, and it’s one of many ways that you can help ensure your safety on walks late at night.
Required or Controlled Alert
Sometimes, your Goldendoodle is trying to alert you to a problem. If there is someone standing right outside your door who is unfamiliar, or if they are unsure about a situation, it is best that they tell you.
However, the key to this being a positive bark is the fact that it is controlled. If you can control your Goldendoodle with ease, getting it to be quiet after only one or two loud barks and then checking on the issue, then it’s great.
Negative Reasons Your Goldendoodle May Bark
Now, onto the negative reasons why your Goldendoodle may bark. Any kind of barking that is so frantic that you are not able to stop them and prevent them from going right back to barking can be seen as negative.
Separation Anxiety
Goldendoodles suffer from separation anxiety just as much as the Poodle and Golden Retriever do. They do not do well when left alone for extended periods of time.
They will often bark incessantly when they start to suffer from separation anxiety. And, because this generally happens when you’re not at home, it can be difficult to stop. You might not even know about it until you get an angry phone call.
You can use a Pet Camera to monitor your Goldendoodles behavior so you’re aware of any unnecessary barking.
Lonely
Goldendoodles can get lonely. This is slightly different from separation anxiety because they don’t have to be left alone for long periods of time for them to be lonely.
Instead, it’s when you don’t give your Goldendoodle enough attention, regardless of whether you are there or not. This barking may happen when it is on its own, or in the same room as you.
Afraid
When Goldendoodles are afraid it is generally because they are unfamiliar with the environment, person or animal that they are interacting with.
Barking may occur if they’re not used to experiencing new things and dealing with this uncertainty. Your Goldendoodle may also calm down after a few minutes, once it realizes that it isn’t going to die.
Pain
The only way that Goldendoodles and other dogs can communicate with humans is through their barking. Sometimes, when the dog is in pain, it might try to convey this. It may also bark as a warning if it is actively being hurt.
Barking may be a precursor to other violent behavior if your Goldendoodle is hurt, so make sure that you attend to it.
Hunger
Just like when it is in pain, your Goldendoodle may be trying to convey that it’s uncomfortable because of hunger or thirst.
If you notice the barking happens around mealtime, this may be the reason behind it.
Boredom
Boredom is one of the most difficult reasons behind barking to identify. This is generally because those who allow their Goldendoodles to get bored enough that they start uncontrollably barking do not understand what is happening.
Make sure that you check up on their exercise and mental stimulation requirements before getting a Goldendoodle. Otherwise, you may have to deal with boredom barking.
How to Prevent Negative Barking
Identify Cause
The first step to prevent future barking is to identify why your Goldendoodle is barking now. How long has it been since it has eaten? Are you feeding it enough?
Have you been very busy today? Have you left it alone for long periods of time? Are there any other indications that it may be in pain?
Ask yourself as many of these questions as you can to rule out possible reasons why your Goldendoodle may have started barking.
Take Care of Needs
Once you have identified the reason why your Goldendoodle is barking you can take care of its needs.
Remember, their needs are not just food and water. Your Goldendoodle needs exercise, mental stimulation, and a lot of love too.
Socialize ASAP
Socializing your Goldendoodle as soon as possible is one of the best things you can do to prevent barking. The sooner they start interacting with new animals and places, the less overwhelming it will be when they are several years old.
It’s generally recommended you wait until after your Goldendoodle puppy has had its last Parvo vaccine to start socializing. This will ensure that they stay healthy. Though usually, a puppy school is a safe environment to start socializing before this time – check with your local provider. I also started earlier by carrying my puppy to unfamiliar places or visiting family homes without other pets which meant there was no chance of picking up an illness.
Training
Training your Goldendoodle does not necessarily decrease barking immediately, but it can help you control it, and stop it quickly.
If your Goldendoodle learns to respond to commands like ‘leave it’ and ‘enough’ then their barking will no longer be uncontrollable.
Further Reading:
- Goldendoodle Generations Explained (F1, F1b, F1bb, F2, F2b, and more)
- Male Vs Female Goldendoodle Dog: Differences Explained
- The Pros and Cons of a Goldendoodle’s Temperament
- 11 Goldendoodle Health Problems To Know Before Buying
- How Big Do F1B Goldendoodles Get? (Size/Weight Guide)
- Making A Splash: Do Goldendoodles Like Swimming?
- Are Goldendoodles Protective: Are They Guard or Watch Dogs?
