Why Does My Dog Bark When He Hears Cars?

Many dogs, despite being otherwise perfectly well behaved, may bark up a storm anytime they hear a car approaching. When it occurs in the middle of the day, you may dismiss it as simply neurotic behavior, but when it occurs in the middle of the night, when you're trying to sleep, the behavior can be extremely annoying. There are various reasons why your dog may bark at the sound of cars. Understanding what those are can help in changing this behavior.

  1. Function

    • A dog's bark is his way of communicating verbally. Like some people, dogs often bark simply because they enjoy doing so. However, sometimes a bark is trying to communicate a specific message, such as "Hi! Come play with me," or "Stay away. This is my territory."

    Excitement

    • If your dog is extremely friendly, the sound of an approaching car may make him excited at the prospect of meeting a new visitor. If his barking is accompanied by a playful demeanor, often indicated by a wagging tail, then it's most likely that Fido is simply excited. While keeping dogs indoor for the most part is safest, you also have to understand that it can get pretty boring for Fido in your home. The prospect of a visitor can send him into an excited frenzy.

    Nervousness

    • Some dogs are naturally more nervous than others. A dog who tends to shy away from new people, dogs and situations may become nervous when an unfamiliar stimuli---in this case the car---enters his environment. Thus, barking is likely to ensue. Some signs that your dog's barking is due to nervousness include pacing back and forth. He may walk up to a window looking onto the road, bark and then pace the house before repeating the behavior.

    Protectiveness

    • Dogs are naturally protective of their families and home environments. Some dogs are more protective than others. An overly protective dog may take the sound of passing cars as potential intruders and may see it as his job to bark as loudly as possible to let these potential intruders know that your home is his territory and that they should stay away. A dog that barks at passing cars out of protectiveness may do so while in an aggressive stance, with his ears back and the fur on the back of his neck standing on end.

    Solution

    • Changing your dog's behavior will take some training and patience. Handle a dog that barks out of excitement by using a word or sound to command him to stop. Do so calmly, suggests Ceasar Milan, a renowned dog trainer. You may also want to use your body to block the dog's access to a window if he is barking at the road. You must do this consistently so that Fido learns that you want him never to bark at the sound of cars. This approach will also work with a dog that barks out of protectiveness. A dog that barks at cars out of nervousness must be made accustomed to passing cars. Take him for walks in your neighborhood so that he can get accustomed to seeing and hearing cars regularly. Because walking is an enjoyable activity for dogs, your nervous dog will begin to associate passing cars with something he enjoys. Reward desirable behavior with praise and treats.