Dogs bark. There’s not getting around that. But as with many things about our canine friends, barking comes in various degrees, levels, and pitches. The old saw goes, this dog’s bark is worse than its bite. But when it comes to some dogs and their barks, you need to have nerves to steel to handle the noise they make.
Belgian Malinois bark and they bark like there’s no tomorrow. If you could speak their language and ask them about their favorite pastime, the answer would invariably be, “to bark and bark until the cows come home.” This frequent barking is often either an expression of boredom, health problems, being lonely, or just seeing a stranger.
But we’re just scratching the surface here. The Belgian Malinois is the type of dog that would bark at the moon, the moon’s reflection in the pond, and all the fish in the sea. So what makes them such a noisy breed? Most importantly, how can you identify the causes of the barks and do something about them? Unless you live in the wilderness, chances are this consistent barking will get on your nerves. Here’s everything you need to know about the Belgian Malinois barking.
Belgian Malinois’ Barking Habits
Unlike cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, and all other small domesticated animals, dogs stand out with their tendency to make their presence known using their vocal cords. Some dogs breeds bark more than others. But none, it seems, more than the Belgian Malinois. As we said, they bark for the most trivial excuse and sometimes they don’t need a reason. They just bark for the heck of it.
They don’t even have to see a squirrel or a deer or their archenemy the postman. The Belgian Malinois, make it a way of life to bark at everything or nothing at all. It’s raining, the dog barks. It’s sunny outside and the flowers are swaying in the breeze, the Belgian Malinois is chasing them and making a raucous. You go check that the water bowl is full and that there’s food when it gets hungry. But the dog is neither thirsty nor hungry. It’s just barking.
And let’s be clear about one thing. Even though the Belgian Malinois is known for its boisterous nature, that in itself isn’t always considered a bad thing. It might be if you live in an apartment building. But when you’re living in a rural area where the next house is miles away, then having a barking dog is a great advantage.
But in most cases, you would want your Belgian Malinois to just calm down, tone down their excited vocal cords and let everyone sleep. Most importantly, you’d want to know why the dog barks so often and how to resolve the issue and ease the dog’s stress or cause of anxiety.
Why Do Belgian Malinois Bark a Lot?
Which brings us to the main point of this article. Why on earth do they bark so often? Is it your fault? Is it something you did or didn’t do? There’s no simple answer to that question.
In fact there’s a litany of grievances and annoyances that can irk your Belgian Malinois and send it on a barking session that can go on and on. And just when you think it has calmed down, it will pick up where it left off and keep barking.
So why do Belgian Malinois bark a lot? Well, as it turns out, the reasons are too varied and the triggers are multiple. So let’s dive into them and find out what triggers these dogs and send them on a barking frenzy that doesn’t seem to end.
The Important Barks: How to Recognize Them and What to Do About Them
If you’re new to this species, you might find the barking of the Belgian Malinois besides being annoying, also confusing. They seem to bark all the time and you can’t tell why. But as you get used to the dog and learn more about its habits and different voices, you’ll come to realize that they don’t always make the same barking. Some are high and shrill, others are nervous. There are playful barks. There are relaxed barks. And there are the bored barks.
So many barks. As it turns out, the Belgian Malinois has a complex language and their barking is more often than not has a good reason behind it. The key is to identify the sound of the bark, investigate its cause so that the next time you’ll respond more promptly and address the cause of the problem without delay. That’s what all good pet owners do.
Boredom That Leads to Barking
The first type of barking that you’ll notice from your Belgian Malinois is the boredom barking. It’s a long drawl of a barking, that is winding but subdued. There’s no agitation here or tension. At least not the kind of excitement as when he’s barking at a butterfly or chasing a squirrel. This is a different bark.
The dog usually makes this bark when it’s bored and restless. It’s overcast outside and it cannot go to the park or even the backyard. It may have lost its favorite toy, misses its best friend, or just doesn’t know what to do since there aren’t many activities or games available. So what can you do? Give it something fun to do. Play fetch, or take it to the park if you can.
Barking at Strangers
That’s the trademark of all dogs regardless of the breed or species. Dogs see a stranger, they bark. Some do it out of being protective of the household, while others are just asking the stranger to become their friend.
The solution here is quite simple. You either see why there’s a stranger in your front yard, or just tell the dog that this is an old friend and not a stranger at all. The dog will go quiet when they see you talking to the stranger.
Playful Barking
And then there’s the playful barking. The dog is happy and in a good mood, so it barks. It probably wants to attract your attention. That’s fine. Or maybe it wants you to share the lovely day and enjoy the moment together.
This barking is usually a happy one with jovial undertones and no stress about it. When you hear your Belgian Malinois bark this way, it’s time to leave whatever you’re doing and join in on the fun.
Not Enough Socialization
This is similar to boredom barking. Both in tone and conditions, it resembles boredom barking. But unlike boredom, this one is caused by lack of socialization.
Dogs are social animals that get along with other dogs or other pets in a hurry. They don’t waste time to make friends. But when you keep your Belgian Malinois alone all day, it gets restless and suffers from social withdrawal. So the best solution is to take it to the park where it can hang out with other dogs and build some friendships.
Health issues
Dogs also bark as a way of expressing some annoyance, pain, or communicate that something doesn’t feel right. A sick dog will bark to get your attention.
You might notice other symptoms, but usually it’s the barking that gets your attention. The dog is telling you that it’s not feeling well and as its guardian human you should do something about it. There’s pain in the bark and it is usually weak and lacks the forcefulness and gusto that other barks have.
“Illogical” Barking
And finally there’s the illogical barking. There’s nothing wrong with the world. The dog’s health is fine. There are no squirrels nor postmen. It has enough food and water. It just got back from the park an hour ago. All is well with the world. But your Belgian Malinois is barking. That’s alright. Just let it get it out of its system.
Training a Belgian Malinois Not to Bark
So what can you do to make the Belgian Malinois bark less? Well, for starters, you need to build a strong bond with the dog. Don’t admonish it for barking, since that’s its nature. Once you have that strong bond, then you can start to train the dog to bark less.
Use a gentle and level voice when talking to the dog. Don’t scold or show that you’re upset. Give the dog treats as a reward. Also make sure to solve the issue causing the barking in the first place.
Do Belgian Malinois Make Other Noises?
It’s not all just bark with this dog. Sometimes it whines and moans. Especially as expressions of pain or when they’re not well. There’s also the welcoming noises they make when they meet you after a long day away from the house. One thing about this breed, they are very articulate.
What Does the Different Voices of Belgian Malinois Mean?
Barks are the most common noises that come out of the dog’s mouth. As we mentioned they have different types of barks and you will learn what each means and what it signifies. You’ll learn the difference between a happy bark and one out of pain or boredom.
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