Most of us have seen a dog howling at the moon, but have you ever wondered why dogs do this?
Dogs bark at the moon. That’s a fact. It’s certainly not because they’re hungry or want a bone. It’s not because they’re hot or cold. It’s not because they’ve never seen a moon before.
Dogs have been barking at the moon for as long as anyone can remember. It’s a puzzling behavior that often gets dismissed with a shrug and the explanation, “It’s just what dogs do.”
But when you look into it more closely, you’ll find that there are many interesting theories about why dogs bark at the moon.
One possible reason is that dogs were originally wolves and howling was their way of communicating with each other when they were out hunting.
Another theory is that dogs howl because it’s their natural form of communication. Still another theory is that dogs howl because they’re bored or lonely.
Dogs, like us humans, have a unique relationship with the world and other creatures around them, including the moon.
Why do dogs bark at the moon? It has nothing to do with chasing away evil spirits or anything like that. Dogs bark at the moon because they have an instinctual desire to protect their territory.
One possible explanation for dogs barking at the moon is that they are trying to alert their owner to something they see or hear in the distance.
If a dog sees a cat outside of its window at night, it may feel the need to protect its owner from the perceived “threat”.
Another possibility is that dogs bark at the moon because it reminds them of another dog or animal that they want to chase away or scare off.
Whatever the reason, it’s important to understand why dogs bark at the moon so we can help them stop this behavior and prevent it from getting worse.
Why do dogs bark at night?
Do you ever wonder why dogs bark at night? Sometimes it can be so irritating that it might just keep you awake.
You might even have to get up to go outside and see what is going on.
Here are some possible reasons as to why dogs bark at night:
- 1. Dogs are nocturnal animals, which means that they are most active at night.
- 2. They may be reacting to sounds we cannot hear, such as noises from the neighborhood or the moonlight reflecting off of something shiny like an animal’s eye or teeth reflected in water.
- 3. They could also be responding to other animals in heat nearby- this could include squirrels, raccoons, rabbits and even cats! In fact, if there is a female dog nearby who has recently given birth then she will often howl loudly when her mate returns home because this lets him know where she is so that he doesn’t accidentally step on any puppies while searching for food during his nightly hunt.
The best thing you can do if your pet is barking at night is try not to yell or punish them for doing so.
Instead, try playing with them before bedtime or giving them something else that keeps their attention away from whatever it was that caused them to start barking in the night.
My suggestion is to make them so tired that they will never wake up while you are sleeping!
Barking is a natural way to express fear, anxiety or any other emotion. Your dog feels vulnerable in the dark and when they see or hear something unusual they want you to be aware of it.
Dogs are pack animals. When they bark, they’re trying to communicate with the pack — which, in your house, is you and your family.
If your dog barks at night, it’s because something has interrupted its sleep (which is much lighter than yours) and it wants you to know about it.
Barking can be a sign of fear or aggression: Dogs will bark when they’re scared, as a warning to potential threats, or because they’re trying to scare something away from their territory. If your dog barks at night when it hears noises outside, this might be the reason.
Barking can also be a sign of loneliness or boredom. If your dog is barking because it’s bored or lonely, you should consider ways to help it feel less isolated — especially if you’ve recently added a new pet or family member who’s absorbing most of its attention during the day.
Do dogs bark more during a full moon?
The general consensus among veterinarians, animal behaviorists and dog owners is that dogs don’t bark more during a full moon. The idea that they do is simply a myth.
Why does this myth persist?
The notion that pets go wild during the full moon started with the belief that humans go crazy. According to lunar folklore, people are affected by the phases of the moon and experience everything from sleep disturbances to seizures, depending on which phase it’s in.
This belief led to the term “lunatic,” originating from the Latin word “luna,” meaning “moon.”
But science disproves this theory. In a study published in The Journal of Neuropsychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences by researchers at Ohio State University College of Medicine, no correlation was found between lunar cycles and seizures.
Similarly, according to research published in Science News magazine, there is no correlation between human or canine sleep patterns and the phases of the moon.
The lunar cycle really does affect ocean tides and some animals that depend on the tides, like crabs and fish. But it’s not going to cause your dog to bark more.
In one study by the Journal of Animal Behaviour, researchers explain that dogs are typically more active during twilight hours compared to night time which could be why people may have believed that they barked more during a full moon.
The researchers also state that barking at night is closely linked with social behaviour and can be used as a communication tool. Therefore, we are more likely to hear barks during twilight hours because this is when dogs are most social.
Should I ignore my dog barking at night?
We just read that dogs bark for a wide variety of reasons, from alerting their owners to an intruder, to wanting to play with a ball or other toy.
Some dogs also bark when they are bored, lonely or frustrated. While some barking is normal for dogs, excessive barking may indicate stress or anxiety.
If your dog is barking at night, check out some of the following tips and tricks to help quell their nighttime vocalizations and get everyone in the household a better night’s sleep:
- Ignoring the Problem Doesn’t Make it Go Away
Some dog owners mistakenly believe that they can ignore excessive barking as if it’s not happening.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t work! If you just ignore a problem behavior (and don’t communicate anything at all), your dog will most likely increase his unwanted behavior to get your attention.
- Understanding Why Your Dog Barks
While some dogs will bark simply because they are bored, others will bark because they are lonely. Dogs are social animals who need companionship and love, which is why many dogs do well with another canine buddy in the household.
However, if you must leave your dog alone during long periods of time, you can help decrease their loneliness by providing plenty of exercise before you go and leaving them with lots of interactive toys and dog puzzles, you can check some of them in a recent article we made.
Your dog barking at night, like any other behavior, is a response to something in the environment. The key to addressing night time barking is to try to identify what that “something” is and remove it.
If your dog sleeps in his crate, you can cover the crate with a blanket or sheet to muffle the sound of someone walking past outside. If he sleeps in your bed, keep him out of there while you’re not home.
On the other hand, if he’s barking because he’s excited or scared of someone or something, additional training might be necessary.
You can start by teaching him a “quiet” command and rewarding him for obeying it. It’s also important to reward him for being quiet when there’s nothing going on — which means you need to pay attention to what’s going on outside your house.
That way, you can teach him that only certain noises are worth responding to — like smoke alarms or strangers at the door — and he’ll learn how to ignore others.
How to stop a dog barking at night
If you want to know how to stop a dog from barking at night, then it’s important that you understand more about why your dog is barking.
If your dog barks all the time, whether at home, in the car, or when you are out for a walk, he may have an underlying problem like separation anxiety. If your dog is afraid of noises or other dogs, he may also be barking as a response to his fears.
Of course, if your dog is just being plain rude, then you need to address that issue and quickly!
The number one way to stop your dog’s excessive barking at night is to make sure he’s getting enough exercise during the day. Dogs are active animals, and they need a lot of activity to be healthy and happy.
Exercise tires out the body and helps relieve stress. It also helps eliminate boredom that leads to barking.
Unfortunately, most dogs don’t get enough exercise during the day (or at all). Even if you have a fenced-in backyard, that does not provide adequate exercise for your dog. It’s important for you as the owner to take your dog for walks on a daily basis, even if it’s just around the block.
If you think your dog is getting enough exercise during the day but he still wakes you up in the middle of the night with his barking, it could be due to an underlying behavioral problem. Some common behavioral problems include separation anxiety and compulsive barking.
If your dog is barking because of separation anxiety, for example, the solution is to train it out of him. If your dog is barking at a nearby dog in its yard, the solution may be as easy as closing your blinds.
If your dog barks at night because it wants to sleep in your bed (or on the couch), you may need to teach it “go to bed.” Place its bed in a quiet corner of the room, away from any doors or windows that may be causing excitement.
Then, when you’re watching TV, give the dog a treat if it stays in its bed. Then turn down the lights and slowly take yourself out of the room.
The next time you have friends over for dinner, have them quietly go into another room before you let your dog out of its bed.
Your dog will soon learn that staying in “bed” means tasty treats!
The problems and solutions vary widely: from bored pups that need more exercise to fearful dogs that need more training and socialization to those with physical afflictions that need medication.
Since we have no idea what’s going on in your house, we are trying to brainstorm you with this list of potential reasons why your dog may be barking at night and suggestions on how to solve the problem.