If your dog has been barking out the window a lot, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about them.
So, why does my dog bark out the window? Likely reasons why your dog barks out the window are that it hears, smells or sees other animals or that it has learned that the behavior is rewarded.
There are likely to be a number of possible causes and it might be due to a combination of them. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Why does my dog bark out the window?
Below are likely reasons why your dog barks out the window and what would make each of them more likely.
Your dog hears or sees other animals
A likely reason why your dog barks out the window is that it can hear or see other animals outside. This would be especially likely if your dog tends to do it more when you know that other dogs have been around or when you can hear them barking. This is especially common when dogs bark out the window at night.
Protectiveness
The cause could also be that your dog is being protective. This would be more likely if your dog tends to do it when there are a lot of people or animals outside the window. It would also be a lot more likely if you happen to live on a busy street.
Your dog smells other animals
Another possible reason is that your dog is able to smell the scent of other animals. This would be more likely if your dog tends to do it more when other animals have been around recently.
Encouraging the behavior
Another likely cause is that your dog has learned that the behavior is rewarded. If you tend to give your dog extra attention, toys or treats, when it barks out the window, it will likely do it more in order to get more rewards.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main cause.
If your dog has always barked out the window
If your dog has not always barked out the window, it would help to consider what else happened when your dog first started doing it. If it started doing it suddenly, it could be due to things such as moving homes, other animals coming nearby or learning that the behavior is rewarded.
What is different when your dog does not bark out the window
If your dog tends to do it more at a certain time, it would also help to consider what is different about the timing. For example, if it does it more during the day, when people are nearby, it would be more likely that your dog is trying to protect its home.
What to do about my dog barking out the window
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Avoid encouraging the behavior
As mentioned above, it might be the case that your dog has learned that the behavior is rewarded. Instead, it would help to avoid giving it treats, toys or extra attention, when it barks, and to reward it when it does not bark.
Let it stay elsewhere
It could also help to allow your dog to stay in a different part of the house where it is less likely to start barking out of windows.
Give it distractions
It would also help to give it things to be distracted by such as toys or bones so that it is less likely to start barking out the window.
Why does my dog bark out the window at nothing?
The reason why your dog barks out the window at nothing is likely to be that it can hear other animals or that it has learned that the behavior is rewarded.
Why does my dog bark out the window at night?
The reason why your dog barks out the window at night is likely to be that it can hear other animals outside or that it has learned that the behavior is rewarded.
Why does my dog bark out the window when I come home?
The reason why your dog barks out the window when you come home is likely to be that it is excited to see you. It might also be because it has some separation anxiety. In this case, it would help to take measures to limit how anxious it is when you are not around such as by letting it pee, eat and get exercise before you leave it.