Bugs are bad enough, but when your dog barks at insects and then doesn’t stop when you tell them to it’s just so frustrating! Why does your dog bark at bugs? What does it mean if your dog barks at insects in the house? Why does your dog like chasing bugs? And does it mean anything different if your dog barks at bugs outside?

Today, we’re going to answer all of the questions you have about this troublesome issue. And obviously, we’ll tell you exactly how to stop your dog barking at insects for good! Soon, you’ll never have to worry about this ever again. Keep reading below for our article “How to Stop Dog Barking at Insects!”

How to Stop Dog Barking at Bugs

To stop your dog barking at bugs, they need to learn to become quiet when told. To do that, take your dog somewhere you know they’ll want to bark such as the park, with plenty of dog treats. Keep them on their leash and stay far away from the other parkgoers.

Once your dog begins barking, say “quiet” in a positive and calm voice. If they pay attention to you, then immediately reward them with praise and a treat. But if they quickly start barking again or never quit, then you should place a treat inside your hand.

Place your hand right next to your dog’s nose. Your dog will still be able to detect the treat even inside of your hand and will stop their barking to investigate the scent. Once they’ve become quiet and are also giving you their full attention, again issue the “quiet” command and then open your hand to give them their praise and a treat.

If your dog keeps staying silent, keep rewarding them with praise and a treat. But if they start barking again, regardless of whether it’s at you or at someone at the park, repeat the steps of placing a treat in your fist, putting it next to their nose, and then pausing until they’ve gotten silent.

Be sure that you’re pausing until your dog has gotten silent before you give them any rewards. This forms a positive connection in your dog’s mind with giving you their attention and being silent any time you say “quiet.” Reward them with praise and treats immediately when your dog is responding well.

With patience, practice, and repetition, your dog will get quiet just by you giving them the command, and you won’t need to place your hand near their mouth. You should then begin lengthening the amount of time before you reward them. Start with just a few seconds, then move that up to 5 seconds, and so on.

It won’t be long before the food rewards and praise will no longer be needed and your dog will quit barking at insects or at anything else and all you’ll have to do is give the “quiet” command.

These steps will get your dog to stop barking at insects, but it’s important to remember that the underlying behavioral issues (anxiety, dominance) that were causing all of this to begin with will still be present. And until you address those, any positive changes you see are only going to be temporary.

“Well, how do I make these changes stick?”

By getting your dog to truly choose to follow your direction, that’s how. I tried many times to write out how you can do that before deciding it made more sense to just link you to the free video series that explains it better than I’d ever be able to.

The series is by a man named Dan who is one of the world’s leading dog obedience trainers. In it, he teaches you how to put an end to things like when your dog barks at insects and all other misbehavior using his fast and easy-to-follow methods.

In the first video, Dan will reveal to you why the two most common methods of dog training only doom you to failure. You can watch the video now by clicking here. Follow the proven system he’ll show you in his series and you’ll never have to spend another second worrying about your dog barking at insects ever again!

Why Does My Dog Bark at Bugs?

Your dog barks at bugs because they’re likely annoying them or making them anxious, and they respond by barking or even chasing after them. This will be particularly true for hunting and sporting breeds. This is more probable to occur with dogs who are lacking in mental stimulation.

Ensure that your dog is getting plenty of exercise and playtime, and also be sure that they have a quiet toy to keep them occupied when you’re busy or not home. Dogs barking at bugs or chasing after them can in some cases turn into obsessive-compulsive disorder if they do not receive a proper outlet for their energy.

If your dog is barking at bugs and ignoring you when you tell them to stop, however, then they are clearly disrespecting your leadership in the home. This is something that needs to be addressed immediately because if you don’t do so, you are essentially telling your dog that it is okay and their problem is only going to grow and escalate.

You’ll soon find your dog barking at all sorts of things, both inside and outside of the home. Your dog will bark at tarantulas, bark at mice, bark at a centipede, or bark at a snake. Some of these would merely be annoying, while others could provoke a dangerous attack, which is why it’s so important to get a handle on this now.

To learn how to stop your dog barking at bugs while also teaching them to give you respect, go back to the first section now where we’ll train you on the exact steps to follow.

Dog Barks at Insects in House

Dogs bark at insects in the house because they’re annoying them, and in some cases, they may even see the insect as a threat. This makes them anxious, and they will then respond by barking at the insect in your home, and likely also chasing after it.

In some cases, your dog may even eat the insect if they successfully catch them. While most bugs will not pose a threat to your dog if eaten, some feed on feces and could be toxic to your dog. That’s why it’s important that you teach your dog to keep their distance because though the risk is low, it still exists.

Why Does My Dog Like Chasing Bugs?

Your dog likes chasing bugs because something running from them enacts their predator instincts, and they naturally respond by running after it. It’s fun for your dog, and also a normal part of their behavior which has been learned over thousands and thousands of years.

Be careful, however, about allowing your dog to chase bugs, as some feed on feces and will be toxic to your dog if they are caught and eaten. Most bugs will not pose a threat, but it’s always best to err on the side of caution when our dogs are involved.

Dog Barks at Bugs Outside

Dogs bark at bugs outside because they may be annoying them, or their odd behavior and appearance confuses them and makes them anxious. In either case, many dogs will then respond by barking at the bugs outside or even chasing after them.

I’m sure you’re looking forward to your dog staying calm if they see a bug, so I’ll let you begin now. Good luck with everything, and thank you for reading our article “How to Stop Dog Barking at Insects.”