Why Does My Dog Bark at Nothing?

Maybe this has happened to you: you've heard your dog barking and found it staring off into nothing. You have no idea what it's doing, but it seems very focused and won't stop.

Some think it's their sixth sense, seeing what we can't. But the truth is there are other, more plausible explanations tied to their keen senses. Other times, barking at nothing indicates a problem.

Do Dogs Have Powers?

When we say a dog barks at nothing, we mean it barks insistently, facing some spot where we don't notice anything at all that would justify its barking. That's why some people link it to dogs' ability to perceive what are considered paranormal phenomena.

These would go completely unnoticed by us. They'd be ghosts, presences, or even omens of impending disasters. It doesn't seem feasible to prove or disprove this hypothesis, but we do know for certain that several of a dog's senses are considerably sharper than ours.

This lets us scientifically explain their ability to hear sounds or detect smells at thresholds impossible for us. A dog barking at what seems like "nothing" to us could actually be responding to some noise, or anticipating an intruder's arrival, and so on.

What Does a Dog Say When It Barks?

Keep in mind that dogs, barring disorders, will always bark for a reason. Barking is one of their forms of communication. They can't talk, but they can bark, howl, whine, move their ears and tail, raise their fur, and so on, all aimed at conveying a message to us.

Barking doesn't always mean the same thing. A dog can bark as a cheerful greeting, an invitation to play, to scare off an intruder, to signal an alert, to get your attention, and so on. To interpret it correctly, the first step is observing the situation it happens in, since that's what can give us the key to its meaning.

But also, if we're going to live with a dog, it's very important to inform ourselves beforehand about the characteristics of its communication. This way, we'll avoid falling into misunderstandings. Don't forget the dog barks for a reason. Even if you can't understand it, you should still pay attention to it.

The Problem of a Dog Barking

Of course, if your dog's barking is excessive, or you're unable to determine what's going on with it, you need to see a vet. If it's a psychological issue, it can be resolved. Turn to canine behavior experts or ethologists. It'll take time and patience.

And keep in mind, although no one likes to hear it, the main problem with a dog's behavior is often us. In other words: we don't understand them, and as a result, we handle them the wrong way.

Misunderstanding Between Human and Dog

When the dog is barking at nothing, we approach and pet it to calm it down. In our minds, this makes sense. We understand it's nervous, and for us, physical contact is the best way to instill calm. But dogs aren't people. What they interpret is "great job with that bark, keep barking."

So, in an attempt to prevent a behavior, we're reinforcing it. The dog will keep barking, and it'll do so more often. And it won't understand why one day you lose your patience and get angry at it. That's why scolding it is also counterproductive.

Barking as a Behavioral Problem

In short, a one-off episode of barking at nothing shouldn't worry us. Most likely, the dog has picked up on a sound beyond our hearing range and will stop once it senses the "danger" has passed.

But if the dog repeats this barking at nothing very often, we could be facing a behavioral problem. For a vet to diagnose this kind of disorder, they first need to rule out an organic cause. That's why the first step is always a general checkup.

Once it's determined the dog is completely healthy, the case is referred to a canine behavior expert. They'll give us the most suitable guidelines to modify this behavior, but we can note some general tips:

• Review your dog's daily routine.
• Assess whether it gets all the exercise it needs, whether it spends many hours alone, whether you're providing enough mental stimulation, whether you've properly socialized and trained it, and so on.
• This way, gaps can be identified and corrected.
• A socialized, exercised, trained, cared-for, and entertained dog is less likely to stay barking at nothing.
• And remember, often we're the ones who, without realizing it, reward exactly the behavior we're trying to avoid.

Repetitive Behaviors or Stereotypies

When barking at nothing repeats as a compulsive behavior, we could be looking at a stereotypy. Stereotypies are behaviors that always occur in the same sequence with no function at all. In other words, barking has a purpose, but in stereotypy, it appears with no trigger at all. It's the escape valve of a dog that isn't doing well.

It's not a reaction to a smell or noise we're missing. The dog will bark staring at nothing for a long time, in a monotonous way. This kind of stereotypy is more common in dogs living in very poor conditions, confined or overcrowded in pounds. The good news is it's recoverable.

Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome or Canine Alzheimer's

Lastly, cognitive dysfunction syndrome, a disorder similar to Alzheimer's in humans, is another cause behind barking at nothing. It's due to brain aging, so it shows up in elderly dogs. It has no cure, but it can be treated, and above all, measures can be taken to improve the dog's quality of life.

Bibliography Signes, Miguel Ángel. 2011. Stereotypies in Canis familiaris. Portal Veterinaria.