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How to Stop Akitas From Barking?

How to Stop Akitas From Barking?

The Akita is a powerful, watchful working dog originally from Japan. Many people are fans of this breed because they are loving and loyal to their owners, docile and devoted, family-friendly, and adaptable to a wide variety of living conditions. They are also very protective, which makes them excellent watchdogs, not to mention they are large, strong, and athletic. But what’s unique about them is their barking. Unlike most household dogs, Akitas are relatively quiet, which has earned the name ‘Silent Hunters.’ This doesn’t mean they don’t bark but do so only when there’s a good enough reason like when they sense danger.

How to Stop Akitas From Barking? To stop Akita from Barking use barking controlling techniques:

  1. Implementing the use of commands
  2. Removing the trigger
  3. Meeting the dog’s need
  4. Providing mental and physical stimulation
  5. Be sure to refrain from using an aggressive tone of voice or physical punishment

There’s a misconception about Akita dogs and their lack of or inability to bark. These dogs do bark, just when there’s a reason to do so. Though relatively quiet, these dogs can raise the volume as guard dogs. When you hear your Akita barking, they’re probably telling you that something is not right. It could be a stranger approaching your house or they are bothered by another animal. These dogs are also very expressive and will groan, grunt, and moan as a way of communicating with you. While most Akita owners don’t have a problem with excessive barking, some might. Keep reading to find out why and what you can do to stop this bad behavior.

How to Stop Akitas From Barking?

All pet dogs communicate through barking, and it can indicate a whole range of things. However, while it’s completely normal for the Akita dog to bark, there are some instances when there could be a problem. For starters, when they continue to bark even after the threat has left the vicinity. Some Akitas will bark excessively from worry, feeling tired or lonely, attention-seeking, or separation anxiety.

Training Your Akita Not to Bark Excessively

Training your pup not to bark will be an easy task if you’re starting with a puppy that has never shown excessive barking. All you need to do is be consistent with socialization. But for an adult dog, the first step even before you start training them is to understand why your powerful friend has been barking so much.

Due to the quiet nature of the Akita, training this dog breed not to bark shouldn’t be that difficult. The first technique to use to control their barking is to implement the use of commands. Teach and familiarize your dog with phrases like ‘Quiet’ or ‘Speak.’ Entice implementing these commands with plenty of love and treats when your Akita remains quiet.

During training, keep their learning environment fun and positive. You want to break their attention away from whatever is causing them to bark. So, find what motivates them, whether food or a game, and use it to distract them and to keep them from behaving aggressively. If your dog has strong guarding instincts, you may have more success teaching them when to be aggressive rather than overcoming the instinct to bark altogether.

Don’t worry if your dog doesn’t get it right away. Remember, it takes consistent lessons and patience for a dog to be successfully trained. Most importantly, refrain from using negative reinforcement; this will do nothing but make the dog angry and frightened. Yelling or screaming at them when they are barking just sounds like you’re barking along with them, and your dog might think you’re encouraging that behavior.

How Do You Stop Nuisance Barking?

If your dog is frequently barking for long periods, it can become an annoyance for you and your neighbors. The good news is there are several ways to stop the nuisance barking, for starters:

Exercise Your Dog

Make sure your dog gets adequate amounts of physical and mental exercise every day. A tired dog will spend the rest of the day resting and sleeping and is less likely to bark from boredom or frustration.

Socialization

A dog may bark unnecessarily at people, other animals, or even sounds and sights if they haven’t been well socialized. So, try taking your dog to new places, to meet new people, so they can get used to seeing bikes, cars passing by, etc.

Provide Activity Toys

One of the reasons dogs bark unnecessarily is out of boredom, especially when left for long periods. In that case, keep your dog entertained and occupied with interactive toys.

Ignore the Barking

Sometimes, dogs will bark just to get your attention. Ignore them for as long as it takes them to keep quiet. Don’t talk to them, touch them, or even tell them to stop. Any response can make them think you’re encouraging the behavior. Timing is everything, be sure to reward them immediately after they keep quiet.

Teach a Quiet Cue

Teaching your Akita to speak and be quiet on command is a powerful way to control nuisance barking. The idea is to teach them that being quiet is a good thing that will be rewarded. This strategy empowers you to stop the barking in a controlled way rather than enter into a battle of wills.

Remove the Motivation

Stopping nuisance barking isn’t all about silencing the dog; you should understand the trigger factors that cause your pup to bark excessively in the first place. If they are barking out the window at everything that moves, then block their view. When these triggers are removed or corrected, the unwanted barking will stop or at least reduce.

Are Akitas Barkers?

While they will alert the owner of any impending danger or if a stranger is entering their territory, Akitas tend to be quiet dogs. As mentioned earlier, their barking will be for a good reason. Being excellent guard dogs with strong protective instincts, many would expect the Akita to be more vocal. So, why don’t they bark much?

First of all, this breed was bred as hunting dogs where they tracked and took down some big prey, like the bears. Due to their job, they could not make a lot of noise. They had to be much quieter with a stealthy disposition so they could sneak up on prey. Today they are kept as household guard dogs and also to do some police work, which still requires the element of surprise to offer protection. Barking is a breed-specific trait, so while some dogs bark excessively, some like the Akita, Golden Retriever, and Bloodhound barely bark.

Secondly, the Akita has a calm temperament that doesn’t lend itself to much barking. This doesn’t mean they don’t bark completely, as some assume; it’s just that they do it when necessary.

That being said, just because a dog belongs to a certain breed doesn’t mean it will or will not bark. Every dog is unique, and some Akitas will keep you up all night. Unhappy dogs will voice their concerns with barking. Sometimes a lack of baking or excessive barking can be a result of an underlying health condition. Either way, you should consider seeing a vet for advice.

Do Akitas Make Other Noises?

Aside from the occasional barking, Akitas are known for being expressive talkers. They produce various noises to express their feelings and mood, including grunts, groans, long-sadful moans, and sometimes whistling. Akitas can also howl if they are injured or due to behavioral or social issues, although not all choose to do so.

Why Does My Akita Bark at Me?

When a dog barks at you, they’re trying to communicate with you. For starters, they could be expressing a need. Your Akita will bark at you to let you know he’s hungry or thirsty or needs to go outside, among other things.

Secondly, they are barking to show happiness and excitement. Your Akita will bark at you when you arrive home because they are happy to see you or are ready to play.

It could also be that your Akita is trying to alert you to something like a stranger or animal outside, noises, or a smell.

Another reason for barking at you is they want attention, but you should ignore this. If you respond with cuddles and treats, you’ll be encouraging the behavior. Instead, wait until they are calm and silent and reward them with the attention they need.

Last but not least, they may be barking at you because they’re feeling threatened or territorial. It’s important to be careful in these situations since Akitas can become aggressive when resource guarding. Try to calm them down and de-escalate the situation.

As we’ve seen, the Akita barks for many different reasons and the fact that your dog is barking at you is usually no cause for concern. However, since you can’t speak canine, you need to look for clues that will help you understand what it means when your dog barks at you. It’s vital to consider the body language it shows when barking. Generally, if it’s wagging its tail, having wide-open eyes, and jumping up and down, it’s more likely that they are excited or happy. On the other hand, if it shows any signs of aggression like growling, a stiff posture, and snarling, it’s more likely that it’s being aggressive or feeling threatened. This is where the points I gave on how to stop Akitas from barking come into play.