If your dog has been barking a lot, when you walk away, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about it.
So, why does my dog bark when I walk away? Likely reasons why your dog barks when you walk away are that your dog has separation anxiety, is bored, is hungry, needs to pee, or has learned that the behavior is rewarded.
There are a number of possible reasons why your dog barks when you walk away but there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause. There are also some things you can do about it.
Why does my dog bark when I walk away?
Below are likely causes and what would make each of them more likely.
Separation anxiety
The cause could be that your dog has some separation anxiety. This would be more likely if your dog shows signs of being anxious when you are leaving such as by whining, pacing or sulking. It would also be more likely if your dog misbehaves while you are away and if your dog only seems to bark when you are leaving the house and not just when you are leaving the room.
Boredom
The cause might also be that your dog is bored. This would be more likely if your dog only barks when you have not yet exercised them and if they tend to calm down afterwards. In this case, it is likely that your dog is barking to remind you to give them exercise. It would help to make sure that your dog is able to get the daily amount of recommended exercise for their age and breed.
Hunger
The cause could also be that your dog is hungry. This would be more likely if your dog tends to bark before getting fed or when they have not been able to eat for a while. It could also be a sign that your dog is not eating enough and it would help to ensure that your dog has been getting the right diet.
Encouraging the behavior
It could also be the case that your dog has learned that the behavior is rewarded. If you tend to give your dog things such as toys, treats or extra attention, when they bark, they will likely do it more in order to get more rewards.
Needing to pee
Another possible cause is that your dog needs to pee or poop. This would be more likely if they tend to bark at you when they have not been able to go outside for a while.
Fearfulness
It could also be the case that something has been causing them to be fearful. This would be more likely if they tend to do it more in situations such as when there are loud noises inside or outside.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main cause.
If your dog has always barked when you walk away
If your dog did not always bark when you used to walk away, it would help to consider what else happened when your dog first started doing it. If they did start doing it suddenly, it might be due to things such as you starting to leave them alone for longer time periods, getting fed or walked less or at different times or something that might have caused your dog to be fearful.
If your dog always barks when you walk away
If your dog does not always bark when you walk away, it would also help to consider what is different in the timing. For example, if your dog only seems to bark before being fed or exercised, it would be more likely that your dog is hungry or wanting exercise. Whereas, if your dog only seems to do it when you are leaving the house, it would be more likely that your dog has separation anxiety or wants to be let outside to pee or poop.
The body language your dog shows
It would also help to consider the way that your dog barks. If your dog does it in a way that shows excitement such as by wagging their tail being energetic, it would be more likely that they are trying to remind you to feed, exercise or play with them.
Whereas, if your dog does things such as cry, pace or hide, it would be more likely to be due to fear or separation anxiety.
How to get my dog to stop barking when I walk away?
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Positive reinforcement
Positive reinforcement training involves encouraging the beahviors that you want to see by rewarding them and not rewarding the behavior that you do not want to see. To use it to get your dog to stop barking when you walk away, you would reward your dog when they do not bark and avoid giving your dog things such as extra attention when they do start barking.
Exercise
If your dog is healthy, it would also help to ensure that they are able to get the daily amount of recommended exercise for their age and breed.
Ensure they are getting the right diet
It would also help to ensure that your dog is able to get the right diet for their age and breed and that they have been eating the right amount of calories.
Limit reasons why they might be anxious
If it seems like your dog has been doing it due to separation anxiety, it would also help to limit reasons why your dog might become anxious without you by doing things such as letting your dog out to pee and poop before leaving them and giving them food and exercise before being left alone.