Help! My Yorkipoos Bark At Everything I Do! (Vet Answered)
This question has been answered by a vet
Veterinarian & Animal Behaviorist
With nearly two decades in veterinary medicine, Dr. Paola brings hands-on experience across multiple species. A graduate of the University of Guadalajara, she specializes in preventive care, animal welfare, and positive reinforcement training.
The Question
“Dear Dr Paola,
Our 2 dogs, 7-year-old Yorkipoos (brother and sister), bark at me in an unfriendly manner all the time. When I move in my chair, stand up, leave the room, go through a door, leave the house, etc.
The female, Abby, was my mother-in-law's dog until last July. When Mom died, Abby joined her brother, Bailey, with us. She has barked incessantly since then, and now has Bailey doing it too. It's not just annoying; it's way beyond that. It’s been over a year, and it's constant. Could she be blaming me for taking her away from her home? Or could there be another reason?
Help!”
- John and Kathleen
Quick Info about Abby and Bailey
Dear John and Kathleen,
Gosh, this sounds very stressful!
It is very unlikely that Abby is blaming you for not taking her back to her previous home. Dogs do not assign fault in that way. What is much more likely is that the loss of her previous caregiver, the move into a new household, and the adjustment to a different daily routine created stress and uncertainty. Over time, barking may have become her default response whenever something changes around her. Bailey has likely learned the same pattern by following her lead. Think of it like a car alarm that becomes overly sensitive. It may have started in response to something meaningful, but eventually it goes off whenever a truck passes by or a door closes nearby.
The key is to identify what Abby is doing in the moments just before she barks. Does she glance at you, lift her head, perk her ears, remain quiet for a second, stay on her bed, or hesitate before vocalizing? Those are the moments to reinforce. For example, if you stand up and Abby looks at you without barking, immediately reward that calm response. If you walk toward a doorway and she remains seated or keeps four paws on the floor, reward that. If she chooses to stay on a dog bed, relaxes her body, or turns her attention to a chew toy instead of following and barking, those are excellent alternative behaviors to encourage.
The goal is to teach her that calm observation, staying on a mat, sitting quietly, or engaging with a toy are more rewarding than sounding the alarm. We often focus on the unwanted behaviors, but we can be far more successful if we shift our attention to rewarding and reinforcing desired behaviors.
Because the barking occurs during predictable events such as standing up, changing rooms, or leaving the house, these situations become valuable training opportunities. Start with movements that trigger only mild barking and reward the smallest signs of calm behavior before the barking begins. Over time, Abby and Bailey can learn that your movements are not something they need to monitor or comment on. If either dog has not had a recent veterinary examination, it is also worth ruling out pain, hearing changes, vision changes, or anxiety-related conditions, as these can lower a dog's threshold for reacting to everyday events. I hope this helps, and wish you good luck.
- Dr. Paola