If your dog has been barking when you stand up you might be wondering why and what you can do about it. This post will show you common reasons why they do it and what you can do to get it to stop.
So, why does my dog bark when I stand up? Possible reasons why your dog barks when you stand up are that it is excited, hungry, it wants exercise or that it has learned that it gets rewards for doing it.
There are actually multiple reasons why it might be doing it and it could be due to a combination of them. However, there are also a number of things you can consider when figuring out the main cause. There are also multiple things you can do about it.
Why your dog barks when you stand up
Below are some common reasons why your dog might be doing it and what would make them more likely to be the main reason.
Excitement
The reason why it does it could be that it is excited. This would be more likely if it seems to do it more at certain times such as when you would normally walk it, feed it or play with it. If you want it to stop, it would help to avoid rewarding it with what it wants until it stops barking.
Hunger
The reason why it does it might also be that it is hungry and it thinks that you are getting up to feed it or it is reminding you to feed it. This would be more likely your dog tends to bark more when you have not fed it for a while or if it does it at around the same time that you would normally feed it.
Encouraging the behavior
It could also be the case that you have been encouraging the behavior by giving it things it wants when it does it. If you tend to give it things such as toys, treats or extra attention when it barks, it will likely do it more in order to get more rewards.
Instead, it would help to wait for it to stop barking before rewarding it and to stop rewarding it when it does bark.
It wants attention
Another possible reason is that it is doing it for attention. This would be more likely if it tends to do it when you have not been giving it much attention, if you tend to give it more attention when it starts barking or if it does it more at around the same time that you would normally give it attention.
Boredom
Another possible cause is that it is bored and it is reminding you to give it exercise when you stand up. This would be more likely to be the reason if it barks less after it has gotten exercise and if it does it more at around the same time that it normally gets exercise. It would help to make sure that it has been getting the right amount of exercise for its age and breed.
Separation anxiety
The reason why it does it might also be that it has some separation anxiety. This would be more likely if it does it more when it seems like you are leaving and if it becomes anxious when you are leaving.
Illness or injury
It could be the case that an illness or injury has been causing it to be in pain and it is letting you know. This would be more likely if it has started doing it suddenly, it has been acting unusually in other ways and if it has been showing signs of being in discomfort. In this case, the best option would be to take it to a vet.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider when figuring out why your dog has been doing it.
What else happened when your dog first started barking when you stand up
If it did not always bark when you used to stand up, it would help to consider what else happened when it first started doing it.
If it started doing it suddenly it might be the case that it started because it realized that it gets rewards when it does it or it could be because of things such as feeding or exercising it at different times.
What is different at around the time that your dog normally barks
If it seems to do it more at certain times, it would also help to consider if there is anything different when it does not do it since the timing could have something to do with it.
For example, if it tends to stop doing it after getting exercise, it could be the case that it normally barks because it wants you to give it exercise.
What to do about your dog barking when you stand up
Below are some options you have when getting your dog to stop doing it.
Positive reinforcement training
Positive reinforcement training involves encouraging your dog to behave the way you want it to by rewarding it for showing signs of behaving that way. Each time you reward it, you require it to do more in order to get the reward.
To use it to get it to stop barking when you stand up, you could stand up and sit down multiple times and reward it when it does not bark until it figures out that not barking results in it getting rewards.
Avoid encouraging the behavior
As mentioned above, it might be the case that it has learned that it gets things that it wants if it barks at you when you stand up. Instead, it would help to reward it when it does not bark and to use positive reinforcement training to get it to stop.
Deal with separation anxiety
It could be the case that separation anxiety has been causing the behavior. It would help to take measures to try to reduce how anxious it becomes when you are leaving. Things you could do would include feeding it, letting it pee and exercising it before leaving, making sure the room it stays in is comfortable and try to come back periodically.
It might help to follow the tips given in this book on Amazon which is about how to deal with dog separation anxiety.
Give it lots of exercise
It would also help to ensure that it is getting daily exercise and that it is getting the recommended amount for its age and breed.
Ensure that it is getting the right diet
It would also help to ensure that it is eating the right amount of calories for its age and breed, that it is eating the right diet and that it is not eating things that it should not be.
Take it to a vet
If it seems like it has been barking since becoming ill or injured, the best option would be to take it to a vet. By doing so, you should be able to get expert advice tailored towards your particular dog and to rule out the possibility of injury being a cause.
Get help
If you cannot get it to stop, another option would be to get help from a dog behaviorist or trainer in your area. By doing so, you should be able to see why it has been doing it and what you can do to get it to stop.