Dogs have various reasons for barking in the car. They range from anxiety to overexcitement:
1. Protecting their territory.
Dogs will bark to protect their territory. This territory includes in and around his home and what they recognises as theirs, this is generally anything that they strongly associate with being with you[1]. This territory is often your car, the walking routes you take together, and other areas where you bond with each other[2]. If they feel anxious/threatened when someone comes near the car they will bark to try and scare them off. This action is often amplified if the car is parked and people walk too close to them while they are stationary, because they are frustrated by the fact that they cannot escape and chase them away – especially if they are going fast, because that could trigger their prey instinct[3]. In addition, by being in a car they may feel trapped and scared, which could trigger their “fight” reaction and bark aggressively, because their “flight” reaction has been taken from them[4]. The dogs will often bark until the “intruder” disappears out of their sight. This encourages their “fight” reaction because they believe that their barking drove them away, so they will likely continue to bark in the car to protect their territory because it appears to work to deter them.
2. Frustration.
Dogs may excessively bark when they are put in a frustrating situation. This includes being unable to access things they’re desperate to reach (the territorial motivation for this is explained above). They may also see people or dogs they want to play with and get extremely excited to access them, but unable to get out of the car. This will increase their likelihood to bark to be allowed out of the car to reach what they will associate with playing[5]. This is called “barrier frustration” .
3. Excitement.
The dog may find the sounds of traffic, the new sights, and people on bikes or walking near by, especially if they want to greet them[6]. If you travel with more than one dog in the car, it is common for them to encourage each others excitement and bark together[7].
4. Anticipation of the destination.
As explained above, excitement can trigger barking. In this case, the excitement is due to the anticipation of where they will be going. This becomes a habit as they get more and more confident that the end of the journey will result in mental or physical stimulation and/or seeing a loved one.
5. Fearful of the destination.
Dogs may have severe anxiety over visiting the vet and associate the car with that traumatic experience. The owners may confuse this with excitement barking, but dogs will also bark when they are highly distressed.
6. Reinforcement by the owner.
When dogs bark in the car, some owners may shout at their dog (or possibly comfort them) to keep quiet. What the owner may not understand is that this response is giving the dog attention (even if it is negative) and could encourage continuous barking as they have learnt they receive attention from it. The owner may also be letting the dog out of the car while they are barking which may teach the dog that if they bark they are rewarded by being let out, especially if there is a high chance it ends with the dog going to the park[8].
7. Inherent in dogs.
Although barking may seem frustrating to humans, it is a natural behaviour in dogs[9].
[1] ASPCA. Nd. Barking. Available from: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/barking (Accessed 20 April 2021) [2] ASPCA. Nd. Barking. Available from: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/barking (Accessed 20 April 2021) [3] Purina. Nd. How to Deal with Excessive Dog Barking. Available from: https://www.purina.co.uk/articles/dogs/behaviour/training/excessive-barking (Accessed 20 April 2021) [4] Farricelli, A. 2021. How to Stop a Dog From Acting Protective of the Car. Available from: https://pethelpful.com/dogs/Dog-Behavior-How-to-Stop-a-Dog-From-Acting-Protective-of-the-Car (Accessed 20 April 2021) [5] ASPCA. Nd. Barking. Available from: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/barking (Accessed 20 April 2021) [6] Goebelbecker, E. My dog barks non-stop in the car. Available from: https://dogtime.com/dog-health/general/5618-dog-barks-car-eric-goebelbecker-faq (Accessed 20 April 2021) [7] DiLoreto, P. 2018. Why Does My Dog Bark While Riding In the Car? How Can I Stop It From Happening? Available from: https://k9resortandspa.com/blog/61778-why-does-my-dog-bark-while-riding-in-the-car-how-can-i-stop-it-from-happening (Accessed 20 April 2021) [8] Goebelbecker, E. My dog barks non-stop in the car. Available from: https://dogtime.com/dog-health/general/5618-dog-barks-car-eric-goebelbecker-faq (Accessed 20 April 2021) [9] Purina. Nd. How to Deal with Excessive Dog Barking. Available from: https://www.purina.co.uk/articles/dogs/behaviour/training/excessive-barking (Accessed 20 April 2021)
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