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By Maria Morava
Relationships Reporter
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Bodhi, an almost 11-month-old golden retriever, is a regular at his local doggy daycare, known for his love of hard play.
But, according to a Reddit post, his enthusiastic communication style has recently landed him in trouble: he's been "barking too much in other dogs' faces," pushing him onto the daycare's "naughty list." This has left his owner wondering how to curb his vocal habits, especially since this behavior seems limited to his time at daycare.
The owner's concern, shared on the r/goldenretrievers subreddit, highlights a common challenge for dog parents: managing excessive barking.
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"Bodhi is almost 11 months old and loves our local doggy daycare," the owner, u/emmablume4, wrote. "Over the past week, they've started to complain that he barks too much in other dogs' faces. He's our only dog and while he does play in the neighborhood with some dogs, this behavior is limited to his time at daycare. So, I'm not sure how to address. He loves to play hard, and I can tell by watching the daycare camera he definitely is chatty. It looks like he's mostly just trying to get others to play."
Why Do Dogs Bark?
According to a blog post from the American Kennel Club (AKC), barking is a natural and complex form of communication for dogs, conveying everything from excitement to fear.
A common reason for barking at other dogs is playfulness—especially when it comes to young dogs like Bodhi. The AKC notes that "many dogs will bark when playing with dogs or people to show how excited they are. These playful growls are signs of happiness."
However, even playful barking can become problematic when excessive. While some dogs are naturally more vocal breeds, the AKC advises that understanding why a dog barks is the first step to managing it. Different motivations, like attention-seeking, territorial behavior, excitement or even frustrated greeting demand different approaches.
For Bodhi, whose barking is specific to the stimulating environment of daycare, it could be a combination of intense excitement and an attempt to initiate play with multiple dogs. The AKC GoodDog Helpline, a dog training consultation service, addressed a common question about how to stop dogs from barking. They emphasized that there's no "one-size-fits-all approach" because the reason for barking is so varied. For example, "a bored dog needs something to do, and an anxious dog needs to build confidence."
To help a dog like Bodhi, who might be overstimulated or just overly enthusiastic, the AKC suggested several techniques.
While directly applicable to an owner's home, some principles might be adapted or discussed with daycare staff. For instance, teaching a dog to be "quiet" on cue can be highly effective. The AKC advised rewarding silence: "Whenever your dog is barking, wait for them to take a break, even if it's just for a second. As soon as they stop barking, give them a delicious dog training treat." Over time, the dog learns to associate quiet with positive reinforcement.
While the owner is seeking advice to keep Bodhi off the naughty list, his case highlights that understanding the underlying reason for the barking, whether it's pure excitement for play or a slight overstimulation, is crucial.
Newsweek reached out to u/emmablume4 for comment via Reddit.
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