Do Pugs Bark? – The Basics
Why do Pugs bark? If you keep asking yourself if it’s ok to get a Pug to live with you in an apartment, if Pugs do bark, and if they’re barkers; this article is exactly what you need. In this article, we’ll answer this and more interesting questions about Pugs barking. In advance, we can tell you that, of course, Pugs bark; they’re dogs! But this shouldn’t prevent you from getting one as your pet companion.
Also, Pugs are not natural barkers to the point of being annoying, so if your Pug is, you should check for the reason for his barking. With that being said, let’s get started.
AKC – American Kennel Club
Do Pugs bark a lot?
Pugs are natural goofballs; they’re way too friendly, lovely, and innocent. They would approach anyone who baby-talks to them fearlessly, and you can reinforce this through training. Training makes them gain confidence and lets them know that not everything is a threat.
Pugs are also known to be faithful, loyal, and great little dogs with even bigger personalities. They love you more than anything in the world, they want to please you, and protect yours from any harm. That is the main reason for a Pug to bark; to protect you. You are indirectly reinforcing this if you don’t train them.
If you see that your adult Pug is barking a lot at strangers, sounds, cars passing outside the house, and other dogs or pets, it’s because of this reason. They can see anything as a threat to themselves and to you, so they will try to protect you by making you notice the threat. If you think about it, they do it because they love you, and it’s only natural for them. However, this is a sign that your dog lacked socialization while growing. If that’s the case, there are a few things you can do.
If they’re growing puppies under 6 months, there’s a little bit more room for new socialization training. Socializing your Pug is vital to avoid this. It’s important to note that not only Pugs are affected by this; all dogs are! Socializing your Pug is the best way of reinforcing their friendly nature.
“PETA’s caseworkers are flooded with calls from people who have been ordered to subject their dogs to a cruel surgery of convenience, called “debarking,” as a means to try to remedy their animals’ excessive barking. But barking is a dog’s means of communicating many feelings—fear, frustration, pain, boredom, or even happiness. This cruel procedure strips dogs of their natural ability to vocalize and communicate. Depriving them of their primary means of expression is unjustifiably cruel”
PETA
Why does my Pug bark so much?
Even though the reasons above (fear and protective traits) are the main ones, there are other reasons for a Pug to bark. Identifying them is crucial, and once done, the solution is quite obvious. Keep reading to know why:
- Fear and protectiveness: Socialized Pugs will develop a bigger tolerance and they will know how to tell if there’s a threat or not. Things like strangers in the street, other dogs, and pets shouldn’t trigger barking in them. However, you must know that they are always good at telling you there’s a threat around. If your Pug is barking at something inside an apartment or inside the house, he probably sees or hears something you don’t. How do we know this? Because it’s written in History! Pompeii saved a royal member of the Orange house by barking at his assassins while he slept. That’s a key historical fact of Pugs, so you better pay attention.
- Boredom or hunger: If they start barking and growling at you, this might not signal aggression, but boredom. If you haven’t taken them for a walk in a while or even if you break your daily routine and don’t play with them or feed them on time, they might bark at you expecting a reaction. How about these sassy little dogs, huh?
- High pitch noises: Kettle sounds, trains, doorbells, whistling, loud music, and other sounds can be highly annoying for Pugs. They will bark a lot if that happens. This is also a common cause for Pug’s barking. Dogs have a much better hearing sense than we do, so they hear things we can’t, making us think that there might be other reasons or that our dogs are simply crazy.
- Pain: If your Pug is barking while lying down while being sick or injured, he might be in pain. You’ll recognize if it’s pain what troubles him because he will bark or yelp when you touch a specific area of his body or while he walks/tries to get up. If that’s the case, take him to the vet carefully and as fast as you can.
- Excitement: If you went through a long winter without going out for a walk and you show him his leash and harness, or if you hid his favorite toy and gave it back to him after a while, your Pug will start barking. He’s excited, of course, he’ll bark! What happens if you left him alone for a while if you went away for a month or a week, and many other situations. It’s a simple reminder of how much they love you!
Even though it’s not common, a Pug may bark as a sign of aggression.
Common misconceptions with Pugs barking
There’s always a reason for a Pug to bark. It’s the only way they can communicate with us, which is why they will use it to try and get our attention. If your Pug is barking, you should pay attention to him, because he’s trying to tell you something.
Most Pugs bark when they deem it necessary. When you train them, you’re simply making them understand when they don’t have to bark. When they see other dogs, strangers in the street, and in other daily situations, they won’t bark. Still, if they see someone climbing through the window, of course, they will bark!
AVMA – American Veterinary Medical Association
Frequently Asked Questions – Do Pugs Bark?
Training an adult Pug is hard, but not impossible. To do it, you’ll need a ton of treats, patience, and time. But yes, you can train him. An easier solution is to eliminate the stimuli that cause barking by identifying it first.
Pugs separation anxiety is unfortunately very common and among other companionship dogs as well. Still, there are a ton of solutions you can apply.
You can only say that once you eliminate all the possible causes for his barking. Keep looking for the cause for his barking; we can assure you there’s one. If you can’t find what’s annoying him, you can always try to tire him down with a long session of exercise. Make sure to keep it safe though.
Conclusion
Learning to understand your dog is crucial to know what’s happening to him or if there’s a threat. Also, if you pay enough attention to the way your Pug barks each time he does it; you’ll know what means with it. It’s fairly easy to identify if a Pug is barking out of excitement, pain, or because there’s a stranger at the door. You just have to listen, as that is exactly what he wants you to do.
So, can you understand what your Pug means to “say”?
