Do Border Collies Bark a Lot? Vet-Verified Facts & Advice
Every dog is an individual—some are quiet, some are vocal, and some are a bit of both, but no matter which breed you get, they all make noise to an extent. There’s no way to know how vocal a dog will be until you get to know their personality, but generalizations can certainly give us a heads-up as to which breeds may be louder than others. One of the breeds with a reputation for being rather “outspoken” is the Border Collie.
In this post, we’ll explore the Border Collies’ barking habits, what may trigger them to bark, and share some tips on how to reduce excessive barking if this is what you’re dealing with.
Do Border Collies Bark a Lot?
As mentioned, there’s no way to predict how an individual dog will behave, but, in general, Border Collies are anecdotally known for being somewhat vocal. Border Collies are very smart, sociable, and full of energy—these are not the kinds of dogs to enjoy lounging about all day or spending a lot of time alone. For this reason, they may communicate with you by barking to get your attention or express a variety of emotions.
The Border Collie’s mental aptitude can make them prone to boredom and destructive behavior if they’re not physically and mentally stimulated enough. If your Border Collie barks excessively, it would be worth asking yourself if they’re getting enough mental stimulation and physical exercise on a daily basis.
Moreover, they were originally bred as herding dogs and even a Border Collie that has never set foot on a farm or ranch will have received certain predispositions from their ancestors. Herding breeds have a tendency to be very alert and to alert their owners to things, so your Border Collie may be very sensitive to various stimuli and interpret certain sights and sounds as something they need to let you know about.
For example, a Border Collie may perceive a passing car, an approaching stranger, or a strange new object as things to alert you to. It all comes down to their vigilant and protective nature, as well as training.
Top 5 Tips on How to Stop Excessive Barking
Though barking is normal canine behavior, it can become a problem when it’s in excess. If your Border Collie barks an awful lot, there are several potential causes, including separation anxiety, boredom, trying to communicate their needs to you, being too responsive or reactive to stimuli like strangers, things going on on the other side of a window, and certain objects and noises.
Once you’ve identified what causes your Border Collie to bark excessively (a vet or behaviorist can help you with this if you’re unsure), here are some tips for reducing the behavior:
1. 1. Check Their Needs Are Being Met
If your Border Collie barks a lot, only at certain times, they may need something from you. For example, if their food or water bowl is empty, they might bark to let you know. Or perhaps they need to be let out to go to the bathroom.
It’s a good idea to check these things regularly—for example, even if you left plenty of water out in the morning, it may have spilled over or gotten all gunked up by the afternoon. Change out the water regularly, feed on a schedule, and make sure your Border Collie is getting enough bathroom breaks during the day.
2. 2. Keep Boredom at Bay
Dogs sometimes bark because they’re feeling bored. If this is the case, provide both mental enrichment in the form of daily interactive play sessions and by providing mentally stimulating toys (like obstacle feeders) for your Border Collie to get stuck into while you’re out of the house.
Physical exercise is another crucial way to reduce your Border Collie’s frustration. Is there a park nearby where your Border Collie can play off-leash with other dogs and run free in a safe environment? Or a place to take them for a day-long hike? Many Border Collies will also thrive in various sports such as agility and scent work. Any one of these can really help them burn off that pent-up energy. Border Collies need around 2 hours of exercise per day at a minimum.
3. 3. Praise Relaxed Behavior
If you’re providing enough mental stimulation and physical exercise every day but your Border Collie barks at you often, they may be trying to get your attention because they want to play. If you respond to this by giving them attention, it will encourage the behavior. Instead, ignore your Border Collie when they bark at you and praise and reward them with a game when they calm down.
4. 4. Block Distractions from View
For Border Collies spending a lot of time at the window barking at passers-by, cars, or whatever is going on outside, you’ll need to remove those distractions. This may mean closing the curtains or putting up blinds to prevent your Border Collie from becoming constantly overstimulated. Have interactive play sessions and offer toys like puzzle feeders to keep your Border Collie busy.
5. 5. Desensitize Your Border Collie
If certain objects or sounds trigger your Border Collie, desensitizing them to these objects and sounds is key. For example, if the sound of a siren sends your Border Collie into a barking frenzy, try playing a siren sound effect at a low volume, rewarding your dog’s calm behavior and gradually increase the volume over the next days and weeks until they no longer react to it.
Just be careful not to start too loud too soon, as this could stress your Border Collie out. If they do get stressed, turn off the sound effects and start again at another time at a lower volume.
Final Thoughts
Border Collies are known for being prone to barking, but you can curb this behavior with proper socialization, plenty of physical exercise, mental stimulation and training—ideally as early as possible. Though excessive barking can be frustrating, it’s important to never punish your dog, as this will damage the bond you have with them.
Instead, try to figure out the root of the problem and take steps toward changing the behavior. If you’re having trouble getting your Border Collie to stop barking excessively, it’s well worth contacting a professional trainer or a veterinarian for support.
Featured Image Credit: JGaland, Pixabay
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Kit Copson is a freelance writer and lifelong animal lover with a strong interest in animal welfare. She has parented many furry beings over the years and is currently a proud cat mom of two—one very chilled (unless hungry) Siamese and a skittish but adorable Domestic Shorthair—and dog mom of one—an adopted Bichon Poodle cross. When not writing about or spending time with pets, Kit can be found drawing in her sketchpad, reading, or more often than not, drinking tea.
2 Responses
Thank you for your article. My Scotch Farm collie is generally a very good dog however, there’s a little dog behind us that barks inside his house and that gets my dog going like crazy. He gets lots of exercise in the yard daily and we go for one to 2 mile walks daily.I’m not sure what to do about this because I can’t control the little dog that’s in his own house behind our yard. I appreciate any comments or tips.
Hi Carol, Thank you for sharing about your Scotch Farm Collie, it sounds like he’s happy, well-exercised, and loved! Since you can’t control the neighbor’s dog, the focus is on helping your collie manage his reaction. You might try redirecting his attention with a favorite toy or treat when he starts reacting, or teaching a “quiet” or “look at me” cue. Consistent training and positive reinforcement can help him stay calm despite outside noises.
