If you have noisy Labradors, then you may have wondered how to get your dog to stop whining or barking.
However, before you can get your Labrador Retriever to stop making noise, it is crucial that you learn first why your Labrador is noisy.
After all, it takes a couple of steps before you can command your noisy Lab to stop.
Here are some important things you should know.
Are Labradors noisy?
In general, Labrador Retrievers are not noisy as compared to other dog breeds.
However, there may still be noisy Labradors as a result of the fact that a lot of Lab owners respond to every little noise that their dogs create.
Labs, like other animals, may learn that the only way they can get your attention and get what they want is if they make some noise.
However, don’t fret. The good news is that Labrador Retrievers are a typically quiet dog.
Hence, you still have a great chance at getting your noisy Labs to stop.
Whining vs. Barking
Your Lab may express themselves through whining or barking for the most part.
Hence, it is important to know the difference between regular barking and whining.
Barking a few times a day is completely normal for dogs. Dogs cannot speak, so they bark to express themselves.
Your Labrador may bark at strangers, when an intruder enters your home, when there is a person at the door, or when they want to greet you when you come home, among other instances.
However, Labrador whining can be very different from barking. Whining can be considered bad behavior since it involves excessive barking.
Your dog may whine too much throughout the day, so your dog is just noisy and not considered to be trying to communicate with you or other animals.
As we’ve mentioned earlier, however, it is not in the nature of Labs to be noisy.
In fact, legitimate breeders actually make sure their Labs do not get the “noisy” genes. So, if you have a noisy Labrador Retriever, it may be because of a backyard breeder or they are whining.
Why your noisy Labrador whines
1) They feel anxious or uncertain.
If your dog feels unsure or anxious, they may start whining. They will try to share their discomfort with you.
For instance, if there is a strange person in your home, your dog may whine out of uncertainty.
If there is a thunderstorm, your Lab may whine because they feel anxious from the loud noise. It would be best to find a way to comfort them. That way, they may whine less.
2) They want attention.
Labradors are smart dogs, so they get bored rather quickly. If your dog has nothing to do, they may start to bark to grab your attention.
Labradors are loving dogs that love people. They may bark to try communicating with you.
For instance, they may bark when you come home to say hello to you. They may also bark when you put food in their bowl to tell you that they are happy and excited.
4) They want to tell you something.
Whining is not always bad. Your Lab may be whining because they are trying to tell you something.
For instance, a dog may whine, howl, or yelp if they feel pain. They have no other way to express themselves other than different behaviors, so they may whine when they see you to let you know they are in pain.
How to make your noisy Labradors bark less
1) Don’t encourage your noisy Labrador’s behavior.
You may not realize it, but you or another household member may be encouraging your Labrador to bark.
If your Labrador feels encouraged to bark, they will think that there is nothing wrong with being noisy.
When you notice that you praise your dog each time they bark, you should stop doing that.
If you give them a reward to stop barking, they will think barking is good. Therefore, you would need to stop giving them rewards for barking unnecessarily.
2) Keep them entertained.
Labradors will get bored and bark, especially if they feel like they have nothing to do.
You can leave out lots of toys for them to play with whenever they want. That way, they will stay entertained when you cannot give them attention.
3) Exercise
Exercise is crucial for Labs because they are energetic dogs.
They tend to exhibit hyper behavior like jumping and barking. If they do not get enough exercise, you can be sure that they will find another way to burn their excess energy.
Most Lab puppies will need 5 minutes of exercise for each month of their lives.
For example, they can exercise for 20 minutes if they are 4 months old. Of course, you can increase or decrease the time depending on their personalities and needs.
Adult Labradors should get at least 1 hour of exercise daily. If your Lab is laidback, they may be fine with 45 minutes of exercise. On the other hand, energetic adult Labradors may want as much as 2 hours of exercise a day.
4) Comfort your noisy Labrador.
As stated earlier, a Lab may bark if they feel uncertain or anxious. You should avoid scolding or punishing them if that is the cause because it could make your Lab feel worse.
It would be better to find a way to comfort them so they will stop whining.
For example, you can sit near your Lab, pet them, and speak to them softly. Your presence and affection can help them calm down.
You can also try other calming techniques like wrapping a blanket around them.
Wrapping a big blanket around your dog can help them feel more secure. You can also hug them after wrapping the blanket around them to make them feel extra secure and loved.
To conclude
By nature, Labradors are not noisy dogs.
However, anxiousness, uncertainty, boredom, pain, and more can make your Labrador noisy.
You can follow any of the tips above to keep your Labrador from being so noisy.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for suggestions on what to do with a Labrador that doesn’t bark, you can check out our post about them here.
