How to Deal with Samoyed’s Barking

The Samoyed is one of the most beautiful dog breeds. They are very kind and friendly, but they tend to bark excessively. The Samoyed has been listed as the ‘naughtiest dog’ by PEOPLE.com since they have an average bark of 52.8 per day. However, this should not stop you from getting one since the Samoyed barking problem can be easily controlled through proper training. Many Samoyed owners have said that their Samoyed’s bark can get annoying. However, they have dealt with it by properly training them from the puppy stage.

Do all Samoyeds bark a lot?

The Samoyed barking is something most Samoyed owners complain about. Whether it is the excessive barking or their high pitch vocalizing, this can be a problem. Loud, continuous barking is a common character in most Northern breed dogs. However, if you put in the time and skill to properly train your Samoyed not to bark, you can enjoy the company of these wonderful dogs. Read along if you want to know how to best deal with this problem and lessen the neighbour’s noise complaints.

Samoyed character and personality

Before we dive into how to stop Samoyeds from barking a lot, let us try to understand why they bark so much. The first thing to remember is that your Samoyed does not bark for no reason. Just as humans talk to each other, barking is a way of communication for dogs. The first step to understanding why your Samoyed is barking is to stop looking at it as something negative. If your Samoyed is barking, try to relate and understand what they are trying to tell you.

Are all Samoyed barkers? Well, the Samoyeds bark dates back to long ago, back in the snowy mountains of Siberia. During these times, the Samoyed was very much included as part of the family they lived with. The Samoyed was tasked with keeping the children warm during the night. These dogs were also bred to be herding dogs and one of their main tasks was to warn their owners of any danger. To do that, their communication skills had to be excellent. This is where they derived the habit of barking which most herding dogs have.

Reasons for barking

When your Samoyed begins to bark, the first thing you should do is try to access the situation and find the reason for their barking. There could be several reasons why your Samoyed is feeling uneasy and feels the need to voice it out. Some common reasons that might make your Samoyed bark are listed below:

1. Genetics – For some Samoyeds, excessive barking runs in their genes. If you are buying a dog from a breeder, it is best to inquire if the parents are known as excess barkers.

2.Barking as a greeting – If you have come back from being gone the whole day, your Samoyed may bark to communicate a greeting. They may get overly excited and start barking as a way of showing their excitement. This may also happen if you have any guest and your Samoyed may just want to be part of the conversation. As already mentioned, Samoyeds are social dogs who want to be with humans most of the time.

3.Barking when they are feeling anxious and scared – Many vets and owners have said that Samoyeds are very susceptible to anxiety. These dogs need companionship and attention almost throughout the day. Due to this, they are very vulnerable to separation anxiety. If your Samoyed is barking excessively, take them to a specialist who could diagnose them if they do suffer from anxiety and depression. It is important to not rub it off as their personality without getting them checked since these dogs can suffer if proper help is not given.

4.Barking when they sense danger – this is a common factor for all dogs. They will bark when they sense danger or an unfamiliar situation. When dogs meet new people, when they see new objects, they begin to bark to try to communicate with you that it may be dangerous. Samoyeds will always try their best to protect you from any danger.

5.Barking when they are not feeling well – like humans, when dogs are not feeling well, they become uncomfortable and restless. Since they cannot relay their feelings as humans do, they will automatically start barking. If they seem uneasy and are not eating and sleeping as they would normally do, the better take them to the vet for a check-up.

How to reduce Samoyed barking

When your dog is barking during an important call, it is normal to get irritated and to shout back at them to keep quiet. But this usually does the opposite of what it is supposed to do. Responding calmly is something very important when it comes to reacting to your Samoyed’s barking. Samoyeds tend to mirror the energy of the surrounding people. So if you are calm, chances are your Samoyed will be calm too.

• Exercise

If you are considering getting a Samoyed and have done your research on them, you would know these dogs need a lot of exercises. If your Samoyed begins to bark, a good way to use up that excess energy is to exercise them. If you exercise them well enough, odds are they will be too tired to even start barking. A Samoyed who gets good exercise regularly usually sleeps a lot and a sleeping Samoyed obviously does not bark. Another thing to remember is not to disturb them while they are sleeping. Try to keep the noise to a minimum. A cranky Samoyed will also bark excessively.

• Training: How to train your Samoyed not to bark

  Training plays a key role in reducing your Samoyed’s barking.

• Command phrase training.
  This training has shown the best results when it comes to Samoyeds. However, these dogs are very stubborn and it takes a very stern trainer to help them listen. Training mainly involves helping your dog understand what you want them to do. The best way to do this is through treats. When your Sammy starts barking, go get them a treat. Wait till they stop barking and use phrases like ‘quiet’ or ‘silent’. When they stop barking, reward them with praises and the treat. Continue this till your Samoyed begins to understand these command phrases.
• Using different tools.
  There are different training tools available in the market to help you while training your Samoyed. The water sprayer has shown good results in reducing barking. Bark collars are also available which are safe for your Samoyed and will help keep their barking in check.
• Commanding them to sit.
  If your Samoyed is trained to know how to sit and lay down, they are less likely to bark. This may not always work, but dogs respond well to sitting since it calms them down.
  

You can check out this video to summarize training tips.


• Emphasize the positive

  Most of the time, training your Samoyed not to bark usually means reacting when they are barking. We sometimes fail to praise and reward them when they are not barking. This is a very important thing to keep in mind when you are training your dog. Always reward them for good behaviour. Another thing you could do is ignore their barking. It is not always necessary to react to them when they are barking. Sometimes turning the other way is the best thing you could do.

Conclusion

If you are planning on getting a dog like the Samoyed, it is important to keep in mind the amount of energy it requires taking care of them. Barking is one of the few things you would have to deal with when it comes to Samoyeds. If you do not have the time to train them, then these are not the right choice of dog breed for you.

Related Questions:

What should I do if my Samoyed begins barking when I am not home?

It is never a good idea to leave your Samoyed home alone for the entire day. These dogs have a very strong attachment to humans and do not enjoy being alone. They also have bathroom needs and leaving them alone means they cannot go when nature calls. What you can do is to check in on them throughout the day. You may come home during your lunch break and let them out for a while. If you live with someone, you could take turns coming home for an hour or so to keep your Samoyed company. If this is not possible, then try to find a good daycare for them. They will enjoy getting to socialize with other animals.

What are some good bark collars to use for training your Samoyed?

Many bark collars emit small volts of electric shock. This may be a cruel way to train your puppy. Some collars (like the Pro Pet Works Dog No Bark Collar) only emit vibrations which is a better option. According to Business Insider, some top bark collars are SportDOG NoBark 10R Collar, DogRook Humane Anti Bark Training Collar, the Garmin Bark Limiter Deluxe. There are many more available collars. The best is to ask your vet for recommendations as they know best.