Written by Dr. Marcelle Landestoy, DVM
Corgis are sweet-tempered dogs that have been growing in popularity over the years.
There’s something about the stubby legs paired with a seemingly disproportionate torso that makes them so endearing (and let’s not forget the floppy ears and big googly eyes!).
If you’re considering adopting a cute little Corgi, you probably wonder how much these little furballs bark.
Corgis bark a lot since they were initially bred to be herding dogs. This means they’re more prone to alerting their pet parents of any perceived dangers. However, how much your corgi barks varies depending on their personality and training.
In the rest of this article, I’ll discuss in more detail why dogs tend to bark, whether barking has anything to do with a dog’s gender or age, what might cause your Corgi to bark excessively, how you can tell if the barking is aggressive, how to reduce barking in your pup, and what not to do when trying to get your Corgi to stop barking.
Why Do Dogs Bark?
Dogs bark because they’re bored, afraid, threatened, excited, anxious, in pain, or trying to get your attention. Barking is normal behavior for canines, and it’s how they communicate their feelings or needs to their pet parents.
Some dogs bark more than others, depending on their breed, age, gender, personality, etc.
For example, as I mentioned, Corgis tend to bark more than many other breeds because their herding instinct calls for it.
They bark to make sure you’re in a safe place and to warn you of any potential threats to your well-being.
I’ll detail the relationship between barking, age, and gender below.
Barking Behavior by Age
Now that you have a basic understanding of some of the things that cause dogs to bark, I’ll discuss how your dog’s age affects how much they bark.
I’ll also go over what’s a normal amount of barking for puppies and adult dogs.
Puppies
As I previously mentioned, barking is a form of communication for dogs.
As puppies grow, it’s pretty natural for them to want to explore their voice, as this is how your new pup will communicate with you and other dogs.
Puppies tend to bark when startled, hungry, excited, want attention, or bored.
If your puppy stops barking the moment you focus on them, it’s likely that they just want your attention.
If not, investigate anything else that could be causing them to bark.
Ask your local veterinarian for their two cents if you’re not sure.
Adult Dogs
Like puppies, adult dogs also bark as a form of communication.
Barking is especially prominent in dogs bred to herd other animals like Corgis.
After all, they need to communicate to their wards that they need to stay in line or stay away from potential predators.
Barking is 100% normal for an adult canine. However, loud barking can be irritating for you and anyone within earshot.
Also, like their younger counterparts, adult dogs bark when they’re scared, hungry, excited, bored, want attention, or are trying to warn you about a perceived danger.
Barking Behavior by Gender
Next, I’ll discuss the barking behaviors of male and female dogs.
Of course, all dogs bark to communicate their thoughts and needs, but does the gender of your pet affect how often and how loudly they bark?
Males
Male dogs tend to be more aggressive (especially if unneutered) and are more likely to bark at strangers who approach them.
Some male dogs are also more territorial of their home and pet parents, making them more likely to bark at anyone who shows up at your door.
Male Corgis are no different: Many of their pet parents say their pooch barks more than his female counterparts.
If your male Corgi is unusually quiet, it may be due to factors other than his gender, like how he was socialized growing up.
Females
Like their male counterparts, female dogs bark when they sense a threat or when a stranger approaches them.
Female Corgis are generally quieter than the opposite sex, though your dog may be an exception depending on her upbringing.
What Can Cause Excessive Barking in Corgis?
Now that you understand what can cause your dog to bark and how age and gender can affect this, it’s time to talk about what causes excessive barking in Corgis.
Several factors can cause excessive barking in Corgis, such as stress, fear, boredom, or simply wanting to get your attention. There’s no one reason why your Corgi barks a lot. However, identifying your dog’s specific triggers can help you minimize their barking.
Other potential stressors include a new home, new people, a new pet, or even strange noises.
If you suspect that any of these triggers might be the culprit for your dogs’ frequent barking, it’s good to address them as soon as possible.
For example, making sure your dog feels loved and gets plenty of exercise can alleviate their tendency to bark.
If you want to narrow down the exact cause of your Corgi’s barking, you should also check two things: when the barking began and whether it potentially indicates health problems.
When Did the Barking Begin?
The barking may have begun due to a recent change in your Corgi’s environment. For example, if you recently moved to a different home or introduced a new member to the household (e.g., a baby, another dog, or pet), that may be why your Corgi is barking.
It’s also possible that your Corgi is barking because they need exercise or not feeling well.
If you believe your Corgi is barking because they’re stressed by a move, make the new home a fun place with treats and comfy places to nap.
If you believe your dog is barking due to a new household member, do your best to make them feel comfortable with that new person or pet.
Let them interact with the newbie under supervision.
Reward them with treats or a pat on the head to show that you approve of that particular behavior whenever they do something nice for the new person or pet.
Can Barking Indicate Health Problems?
Barking may also indicate health problems in your dog. For example, a Corgi’s sudden excessive barking can be a sign of illnesses such as Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome or CDS. It’s worth noting that this illness is usually only present in older dogs.
If you feel that your Corgi’s sudden barking might be due to an underlying illness, it’s always good to have them checked out by your local veterinarian.
How To Tell if the Barking Is Aggressive?
As a dog parent, the ability to read your dog’s body language is essential.
For instance, your Corgi’s barking may also be a sign of aggression.
But how do you know that’s the case just by looking at your pet or if there’s something else going on?
You can tell if barking is aggressive by your Corgi’s body language. Aggressive body language can look like sudden stillness in their posture, deep growling accompanied by barking, baring teeth, snapping their jaws or nipping at people, or a trembling body.
If your Corgi appears to be exhibiting aggressive behavior, consulting a veterinarian or trainer is a great way to help get your dog’s behavior under control.
That said, dogs often bark aggressively when they’re stressed or scared.
So, do your best to create a calm and safe environment for your furry friend.
How To Reduce Excessive Barking
It’s normal for dogs to bark, but if you find that your pooch is doing so excessively, there are a few ways to combat this behavior.
- Identify what’s triggering the behavior. Observe your dog, and note what changes every time they bark. Over time, you should notice a pattern emerging.
- Give your dog adequate exercise. A tired dog is less likely to bark for no apparent reason than a dog that’s been cooped up in the house all day.
- Create a calm environment for your dog. The quieter the environment, the quieter your dog. Keep your Corgi away from loud noises like construction works if you can.
- Socialize your dog regularly. A well-socialized dog isn’t as likely to bark at people or to feel stressed when someone new has entered your home.
- Keep your dog entertained. A great way to do this is through interactive toys. I recommend the Outward Hound Dog Treat Puzzle (available on Amazon). This toy has compartments for you to hide treats in and will keep your pup entertained as they try to unlock the treats.
- Reward your dog when they don’t bark. If you notice your pet staying calm during a time that would typically trigger them to bark, giving them a treat is a great way to reinforce that behavior positively. It’s important to note that this is not the same as training your dog not to bark (which is a bad idea, as I’ll explain later).
Don’t be discouraged if the tips above don’t work on the first try.
Reducing how often your Corgi barks takes time, so you need to be as patient with them as possible.
Avoid These Pitfalls in Your Quest for Some Peace and Quiet
There are prevalent misconceptions about what methods work best to train a dog not to bark. (Hint: You cannot “train” a dog not to bark.)
As I mentioned, barking is natural for dogs and an important way to communicate with you and their kind.
Let’s take a quick look at some of the most common things people do to get their dogs to stop barking and why they won’t work for your Corgi — or any other dog, for that matter.
Punishing Your Dog
No matter how irritating your Corgi can get, you should NEVER punish your dog for barking.
Being non-humans, they likely won’t understand why you’re punishing them for expressing their needs or concerns in the only way they know how.
Instead, use positive reinforcement to encourage your dog to perform certain behaviors.
Making Your Dog Think You’re Going To Hit Them
Even pretending you’re going to strike your dog when they bark is a terrible idea.
Not only is this a form of abuse, this method of threatening your dog will only result in your pup being afraid of you and stressed out — causing them to bark even more.
Shouting and Verbal Aggression
You should never shout or threaten your dog verbally.
When you yell at your dog for barking, they can become afraid of you and will likely begin to avoid interacting with you out of fear.
Dogs may not understand your words, but they can understand that the tone of your voice when you’re angry or upset is something they should be wary of.
Barking Training
As I’ve mentioned before, barking is normal for dogs.
Just as humans communicate through words, dogs communicate with their pack members (i.e., pet parents) and other dogs through barking.
Also, like humans, being able to express themselves when they need to is vital to their overall health and well-being.
So if you try to tamp down on your dog’s natural behavior, you’ll only do more harm than good.
Barking Collar
One (unfortunately common) practice for those who have noisy dogs is using a bark collar.
This method is cruel, as it can hurt your dog physically and emotionally. Also, it’s honestly a lazy solution to the underlying problem.
As I’ve previously stated, barking is normal for dogs, and using a bark collar can cause your pup to be afraid of their voice.
Conclusion
Corgis are one of the breeds that tend to bark a lot. How much your dog barks depends on its personality and factors such as:
- Stress levels
- Excitement
- Hunger
- Boredom
- Fear
The best way to reduce your Corgi’s barking is to identify and remove as many triggers as possible.
Remember that barking is a natural behavior for dogs.
All breeds do it to communicate with each other and with you.
Sources
- Fetch by WebMD: Why Dogs Bark and Curbing Excessive Barking
- Pet Educate: Do Corgis Bark A Lot? [And What You Can Do To Limit Barking]
- Reddit: Do Corgis Bark a Lot?
- Corgi Adoption: Do Corgis Bark A Lot? (The Answer is “Yes”)
- Hound Games: Corgi won’t stop barking? (Here’s what to do!)
- Quora: Do Pembroke Corgis Tend to Bark Even Well Trained, Challenged, Exercised?
- RSPCA: Why Is My Dog Barking?
- PetMD: Why Do Dogs Bark?
- American Kennel Club: Pembroke Welsh Corgi
- The Spruce Pets: 10 Ways to Help Stop a Puppy Dog From Barking
- Hills Pet: Why Your Puppy Barks
- K9 of Mine: My Dog Barks at People Constantly – How Do I Make Him Stop?
- Reddit: Do Females Generally Bark Less Than Males?
- Pet Forums: Do Male Dogs Bark More?
- We Save Pets: Dogs and Aggression
- RSPCA: What Causes Dogs To Bark Excessively?
- SuperB Dog: Why Is My Dog Barking at Night All of a Sudden?
- ASPCA: Aggression
- The Ohio State University: Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome
- Corgi Adoption: Male Vs. Female Corgis – (Differences, Temperament, and Training)
Click here to read my post on whether or not Corgis are aggressive
 |
| Marcelle Landestoy Veterinary Hospital Director at UCE Dr. Marcelle is a general veterinarian with a Small Animal Medicine Specialty | Director of the UCE School of Veterinary Medicine | Certified by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society |
