Do Broholmers bark a lot?

Broholmers are becoming more and more popular family dogs. If you are thinking about getting a Broholmer but are unsure because you don’t know if Broholmers bark a lot, you have come to the right place.

Broholmers do not bark for no reason. They are relatively calm dogs, but they bark when something unknown approaches their territory. They are watchdogs, and that is their job. However, too little exercise, in the long run, can lead to frustration which results in excessive barking.

How often do Broholmers bark?

Broholmers are, in typical cases, very calm dogs that do not bark for no reason. In our house, they bark shortly only once, when the doorbell rings or when a disturbance is caused by our neighbors’ guests passing by.

If something happens in front of our garden, they usually check first if it is really necessary to bark.

If you have another dog at home, which barks faster, it could be that the Broholmer feels compelled to bark out of concern that he has missed something.

This is indeed the case with us. Our Cane Corso barks more often when something is going on behind the fence. Our Broholmers join in.

Why do Broholmers bark?

Since Broholmers are classic watchdogs, their genes make it natural to alert them to danger by barking.

But there could also be situations outside when you are walking with your Broholmer that he barks, e.g., if something seems suspicious to him.

We once had a situation where a runner ran past us, stopped and started a conversation with me, and came slowly toward us. That was too much for my dog, and she loudly barked to ask him to keep his distance.

Since it was already slightly dusky and I was out in the fields, it gave me a safe feeling to have such a great protector.

The bottom line is that Broholmers only bark to draw attention to something unusual or in case of perceived danger. But that is precisely what they do. They do not bark for no reason.

Reasons for excessive barking!

Of course, there are exceptions and a few reasons when your Broholmer barks excessively.

Too little exercise and activity

If your Broholmer is not well exercised, both physically and mentally, he will start to develop bad habits, including excessive barking.

But also destroying or chewing things that are not meant for him (e.g., shoes, skirting boards) are symptoms of too little exercise.

You have trained him to bark!

Another reason could be if you animated your Broholmer to wake up when he was a puppy. If you praise your Broholmer every time he barks because the doorbell rings, he will repeatedly show this behavior.

With watchdogs, this is not necessary but rather counterproductive. It may be that later when the age-appropriate guarding instinct kicks in, he will exaggerate and bark too much.

Lack of training

It is essential to train your Broholmer from the beginning. An important point in training is frustration tolerance training. If your Broholmer doesn’t learn to deal with frustration, he may start barking at anything later.

Too low a frustration tolerance leads to restlessness and irritability, which can degenerate into excessive barking. An untrained Broholmer may become aggressive toward other dogs.

Pain

If your Broholmer suddenly barks more than usual, he may be trying to alert you to something. It could be that he is in pain due to an injury or illness.

If you feel this or are unsure, you should have him examined by your veterinarian to be sure.

Fear

Fear of thunderstorms or fireworks can be why your Broholmer barks more in this situation. There is nothing you can do about it at that moment. It would be best if you didn’t pamper him excessively. This only confirms his behavior. Just stroke him calmly and try to calm him down.

When dogs are petted, they produce the feel-good hormone oxytocin, which helps them relax. You can also give him a chew toy like a Kong*, which is also great for stress relief and distracts him simultaneously.

Treats from the table

If you always give your Broholmer something from the table when you eat, he will eventually take it for granted and bark when he doesn’t get anything.

Tips to reduce extreme barking in a Broholmer!

Before we get to the tips on how to make your Broholmer bark less, you need to be aware of the following:

Dogs bark. It’s their way of communicating. Guard dogs or Watchdogs bark when there is danger or to alert you to something unusual. That is their job. So you will never have a Broholmer that does not bark at all.

• Provide enough exercise and activity. Even though Broholmers need less exercise than many other breeds, daily walks are mandatory.

• Training and socialization from the beginning are necessary. An untrained 130 lbs (60 kg) Broholmer can be dangerous. If you are unsure, you should book an experienced dog trainer or online dog training*, so you know what exactly to do.

• Accustom your Broholmer slowly but surely to thunderstorms or fireworks. To do this, you can find a suitable video on YouTube and play it over and over again for a few minutes. First, quietly and, from time to time, a little louder. So your dog gets used to the noise slowly.

Consequences of excessive barking

• If your Broholmer barks in every situation, it means stress. Stress has a negative effect on the immune system, and your dog becomes more susceptible to diseases.

Related Broholmer Posts:

• Do Broholmers shed a lot?
• Are Broholmers cuddly?

• But you can also have problems with your neighbors. You can keep a Broholmer in an apartment. But if your huge dog barks all the time, the neighborhood’s peace will eventually be in danger if you don’t get the situation under control.

Conclusion: Do Broholmers bark a lot?

Broholmers tend to be a quiet dog breed and do not bark very much, at least not without reason. However, they are watchdogs that bark to alert you of danger or something unusual. That is their job.