When your pup startles you with a burst of barking, it’s pretty understandable to ask, “Why does my dog bark at nothing?” Did they see a ghost? Are they warning you of something real? Is there such a thing as puppy paranoia?
In this article, we’re going to cover all your questions about your dog’s seemingly random ruffs, and what it means when your dog seems to bark at nothing at all.
Before we get to, “why does my dog bark at nothing,” let’s remember why dogs bark in the first place!
Disruptive as it may be to humans, barking is a normal behaviour in all dogs. It’s just one of an array of communication methods, including whining, growling, or posturing, that a dog may rely on to send a message.
And as we covered in our article, What Your Dog is Trying to Tell You When They Bark, there are many different kinds of barks. Some, for instance, are meant to convey excitement, like when your pup’s favourite Dog Walker comes over. Other barks can be used as a warning sign that something is amiss. Barking is also a way for a dog to reinforce territorial boundaries—kind of like a neon sign on your home that says, “Fido lives here.”
And our understanding of doggie communication is expanding all the time. In an exciting field of behavioural research, for example, scientists are starting to use machine-learning to analyse dog barks. This will give us more information about what triggers our dogs to bark.
But, even with the fancy algorithms, most Dog Owners will tell you that they’re pretty good at understanding their dog’s different barks already. And if you’re asking, “Why does my dog bark at nothing,” we can bet it’s because your dog is barking in an unpredictable way. But even if the barking seems random to you, the most likely answer is that they’re not barking at nothing. So what’s going on here?
Why do dogs sound the alarm bark at nothing?
Let’s say you’re at home, snuggling your pup on the couch, when all of a sudden, your doggo jolts into action with a resounding fit of barking.
In addition to sounding off the woof alarm, your dog may also run to the door or window with ears and tail perked up. This is a pretty good sign that your doggo heard or picked up the scent of another animal, whether two-legged or four-legged.
And this is where the confusion comes in for many Dog Owners. Because, when you take a look outside, there’s no one around.
But, that doesn’t mean that your pupper is hearing things. Instead, it’s probably an indication that you’re not hearing things. Don’t take that as an insult, though. Dogs have three times as many muscles within their ears as we do. And thanks to their longer ear canals and specially shaped ears to amplify sounds, they’re simply better equipped to listen to the world outside.
Your doggo isn’t relying solely on their incredible hearing, either. As we covered in our recent article, Why Does My Dog Sniff Everything They Find?, we explained our dogs’ impressive sense of smell. The fact is, they can smell things up to 20km away, which is likely more than you’d be able to see by peeking out the window!
So, it’s easy to see why you may be asking “Why does my dog bark at nothing,” when your dog has actually pinpointed something specific. In fact, your pooch may be asking themselves, “Why doesn’t my human hear or smell what I do?”
Do some dog breeds make their Owners ask “Why does my dog bark at nothing?” more than others?
Absolutely! While all dogs are capable of a superior sense of smell and hearing, not all will be tempted to bark at what’s going on outside.
In fact, some doggos will almost never prompt their Owners to ask, “Why does my dog bark at nothing,” because they rarely bark at all! These breeds include the so-called barkless dog, the Basenji, and the Shiba Inu. You may notice them taking a curious peak outside if they hear or smell something interesting. But barking? Not likely.
Other dogs, particularly the ones with a background as guard dogs and certain types of hunting dogs, will start barking at the slightest rustle from a bird or passerby. Dobermanns, German Shepherds, as well as Cocker Spaniels and Poodles, all fall into this group.
Their alertness will have you wondering whether your pup is actually barking at thin air. But the reality is, they’ve been bred to bark whenever they hear anything out of the ordinary.
Sometimes it’s a good idea to bring the question, “Why does my dog bark at nothing?” to the vet
So far, we’ve established that most vocal doggos aren’t barking at nothing. With an excellent set of senses and a long history of barking as part of their job description, most dogs are simply doing what we’ve asked them to do for hundreds of years.
But, there is one other way to answer the question, “Why does my dog bark at nothing?” And it has to do with age.
Just like us, when our puppers reach the golden years, they start to lose the sharpness of their senses. For an animal so reliant on their amazing hearing and sense of smell, suddenly losing these abilities can be scary and confusing.
Dogs in this phase of life may seem to bark at nothing because they’re more easily startled when they do hear sudden noises. They may also be barking out of confusion or anxiety.
It’s important that Dog Owners of senior pups talk about their dog’s barking habits with their vet. They may be able to recommend some accommodations to ease these pupper’s nervousness in their old age.
It may be helpful to give these senior barkers some comfort and affection to help them feel secure when they start barking. Putting them on a highly nutritious diet may also help them to keep those senses sharp for longer. Make sure to take a look at a Mad Paws Dinner Bowl plan designed for senior pups!
Have you learned something new about your barky dog?
While your pup’s barking habits may seem random and even disruptive, the fact is, dogs don’t tend to bark at thin air. They can sense the outside world far better than we can, and each time they sound the alarm, it’s the result of years of breeding and instinct.
So, instead of asking, “Why does my dog bark at nothing?” we might thank them for using their super sensory skills to keep us safe!
