So, your Samoyed barks a lot. You’ll be happy to know that’s an issue faced by most Samoyed owners. In fact, Samoyeds are known to bark significantly more than other dogs, barking, on average, 52.8 times a day! But does this mean your Samoyed is a bad dog? Absolutely not.
Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to prevent/control Samoyed barking. Like any other spirited dog breed, patience is key with Samoyeds, but we’re sure you knew that already! So, here’s our guide to the excessive barking of Samoyeds and how to control it.
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Reasons For Excessive Samoyed Barking
As stated before, all Samoyeds bark excessively, not just yours. Like many Northern dog breeds, Samoyeds were bred and conditioned to be incredible human companions, meaning there was an emphasis on making them communicate. As a result, all Samoyeds are prone to excessive barking and are easily one of the most talkative dog breeds in the world.
That doesn’t mean your Samoyed is barking just because of breeding though. There are many different reasons why a Samoyed, or any dog, might bark: anxiety or fear, excitement, boredom, illness, excessive energy, or even territorial reasons.
The first step to getting your Samoyed to stop barking is to get to the root of the problem.
So, let’s have a closer look at each of the possible reasons for barking.
Anxiety or Fear
The Samoyed is a breed that easily develops anxiety, particularly when separated from its owner. You may have heard of this referred to as separation anxiety. As a highly sociable breed, your Samoyed requires plenty of social engagement, be it from you, other humans, or other dogs.
Watch out for signs that your Samoyed is suffering from separation anxiety. When you leave the house, if you notice it attempting to escape, destroying your things, or communicating excessively, there’s a high chance your dog suffers from separation anxiety.
In such a case, it’s advisable to consult a professional about the next steps. Remember, dogs are highly intelligent, emotional, and intuitive creatures. Instead of taking your Samoyed’s behavior as an annoyance, consider its needs as well as your own.
Illness
Another, more distressing reason for a Samoyed barking too much is pain or sickness. Perhaps your fluffy friend hurt themselves while playing outside, and you didn’t notice at the time. Or maybe, in addition to the barking, your Samoyed is moving unusually, isn’t eating as much, vomiting, or not sleeping as much. In each of these cases, consider checking on your Samoyed or taking them to a vet. They may be communicating about something hard to notice.
Excitement
Samoyeds, as we know, are highly social and communicative. If most of your Samoyed’s excessive barking occurs when you’re coming home after a long day, you can probably chalk up your Samoyed’s barking to excitement. If you notice your Samoyed is super talkative when you’re engaged in conversation with others, don’t be surprised by that either. That’s yet another sign that your Sammy is super excited just to be around you and to be part of your family or group of friends.
Boredom or Loneliness
As highly social creatures, Samoyeds quite understandably begin to bark when they are left alone for too long. They may be suffering from boredom, loneliness, or, as mentioned before, separation anxiety. Try to be there for your Samoyed as much as you can. If you need to be away from home for a long time, doggy daycare may be an option to consider.
Excessive Energy
One of the cardinal rules of raising a Samoyed dog is giving it ample exercise. A happy Samoyed is one that is resting comfortably at the end of a long day of play and socialization. Samoyeds can become destructive without this release, which can include excessive barking.
Territorial Reasons
Due to their genetics, Samoyeds are a very alert dog breed, but they are not particularly territorial. That said, a Samoyed which has not been adequately socialized, or one which does not receive sufficient exercise, might become territorial, which can, of course, include excessive barking. If there are other dogs in your neighborhood and you notice your Sammy developing an aggressive temperament, it’s a sign it needs to be socialized better.
How to Handle Samoyed Barking?
As we’ve established, when your Samoyed is barking, it’s usually an indication that it needs or wants something. As a responsible dog owner, it’s your job to figure out what that something is. Does it want treats or need food or water? Does it want to go outside or play with its favorite toy? Is it sick or hurt?
There are several things you can do beyond this, but it’s worth mentioning again that being patient is essential here.
That said, here are some strategies you can use to help with Samoyed barking.
Provide Sufficient Exercise
Incorporate physical activity into every step of your Samoyed’s life. Take it on a walk every day (or more!), buy it toys, let it mingle with other dogs at the local dog park. All of this needs to add up to 1-2 hours of exercise a day. If your Samoyed is sleeping peacefully by the end of the day, you’ll know you’ve succeeded.
Train Your Samoyed Not to Bark
The best way to curb excessive Samoyed barking is to stop the habit before it can even start. To do this, you need to train your Samoyed. It’s recommended to start as young as you can, even more so with breeds like Samoyeds that are more independent and free-spirited.
If you’re not comfortable training your Samoyed yourself, there are always dog training classes you can enroll in. Commands and rewards will be a big part of any training program though, so it’s important to be familiar with those commands and to have treats at the ready. That way you can train your Samoyed and reinforce its good behaviors with a reward immediately.
Create a Samoyed Safe Zone
Remember, Samoyeds love being around their family and thrive on companionship. They should not be left alone for long periods of time. So, if you’re being forced to leave your Samoyed alone due to work or other commitments, consider a dog-sitter or doggy daycare.
We realize that’s not an option for everyone though. In that case, you may want to set up a safe space at home for your Samoyed. This safe space should ideally be in a crate and not be near the front door, which your dog might associate with your departure. Fill the safe zone with your Samoyed’s favorite toys and treats, and provide comfortable bedding as well as clothes that smell like you. See how your Samoyed reacts to this method and make adjustments as needed.
Control the Situation
Even if Samoyeds are trained to be less vocal in the long term, that doesn’t mean they won’t react to a distressing situation by using their extremely piercing voices. At the end of the day, it’s important to understand that your dog is merely expressing itself, and stifling its natural mode of expression is not always the most humane thing to do.
Start by identifying the stimuli that caused your dog to start barking, then address as needed. For example, dogs will sometimes bark at silly things like a bug scuttling on the wall. Removing the bug should solve the issue. In a less silly situation like when your Samoyed is in conflict with other animals, you need to defuse the situation by removing your Samoyed from the scene.
Schedule a Vet Visit
If you’re still scratching your head about your Samoyed barking, it never hurts to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. They might have some insight into the behavior or catch a medical emergency you’re not noticing.
Final Thoughts
Untreated Samoyed barking can become a big problem, but with the right amount of love, patience, and technique, you can not only figure out the cause of the barking, but also put a stop to it. So, what do you think? Do you have a Samoyed barking problem? What methods have worked for you? Let us know in the comments below!