Do English Setters Bark A Lot? Answered!

Barking is a normal dog behavior.  They bark to communicate various things with humans as it’s the only means of communicating they have besides body language. However, some breeds do bark more than others. If you’re looking to avoid getting a dog breed that barks a lot, you may be considering an English Setter.

Do English Setters bark a lot?

English Setters do not bark a lot, and they are not yippy, yappy types of dogs that will bark at the slightest noise or their own shadow.  That being said, English Setters do bark when they need to tell you something important, like there is an intruder.

English Setters are a very well mannered, even-tempered dog breed.  They are friendly, pleasant, and calm.  Thankfully their desire to bark is only when there is something vital to tell their loved ones.

Alert by nature and breeding, the English Setter will bark when an intruder or something very important happens.   As a sporting, hunting dog breed, they had to be alert to what they needed to do and what was happening around them in their immediate environment.

Regarding being a Setter, the English Setter is likely the noisiest of these types of dogs.  They are smart and quick learners in training, and their eagerness to please their humans and perform the task makes them easy to train.

This dog breed is highly intelligent, and they can and should be trained when it is appropriate to bark and not.   Proper training is vital for their happiness and behavior as they thrive best when they have something to do.  The English Setter dog breed is part of the sporting class of dogs.

Barking is normal behavior for all dogs regardless of dog breed.  Barking allows the English Setter to communicate what they think and feel inside, and it also allows them to communicate about what’s going on in their environment.

Barking can become a problem for some dogs, but in most cases, this will never be an issue for an English Setter.  If barking does become an issue, there is much that can be done to remedy the problem.

What are some reasons why an English Setter might bark a lot?

English Setter might bark a lot, including being territorial and protective of their home and family.  This is the top reason why an English Setter will bark a lot.

Other reasons an English Setter might bark a lot include if they are lonely.   Leaving an English Setter alone is not a good idea, at least for long amounts of time.   English Setters are sporting dogs, but they are also companion dogs today.

Their need for companionship and closeness to their loved ones ranks very high on their list.  They thrive best and feel most happy when they are close to their loving family and active.

Traditionally all dogs at one time were pack animals.  Even though they don’t run in dog packs anymore, they still consider their family of humans their pack.  If their pack goes off without them, they can feel several things, from depression to loneliness and anxiety.

Separation anxiety can be an issue for the English Setter, who can express it through excessive barking and other bad behaviors.  Separation anxiety is manageable for most dogs if changes are may to the home environment and circumstances causing it.

If your English Setter barks a lot, it could be a way to get some extra love and attention.  Dogs will learn from their humans and environment; whatever works to get them what they want is what they will do to get it.

If they start barking a lot and it gains your attention, this can cause them to repeat the action later, creating a habit.  I bark a lot, mom pays attention to me more, and so it goes.  Before you know it, you have an English Setter bouncing around the house, barking whenever they feel neglected and need extra attention.

How to stop an English Setter from barking a lot?

Training is the best way to stop an English Setter from barking a lot.  Training your dog, whether professionally or doing it yourself, is a great way to teach them what is expected.

Like children, English Setters need to learn how to behave; since they are smart, this usually isn’t a problem.  At certain points in their life, they will need a refresher course here and there, so they remember.

After training, ensuring the English Setter has a happy, content, and well-rounded dog life is best.  A well-rounded life will mean that your English Setter has no reason to bark at you.

They are fed plenty of healthy food; they have toys and someone to play with.  The English Setter goes for walks and takes car rides, and they go to the dog park and have a comfortable place to sleep.

Whatever it is that makes their life content is good.  If they are content, there is no real reason to bark unless it’s a true emergency.

Next on the list is ignoring the behavior.  If you find that your English Setter won’t stop barking for some reason, it can be tempting to talk or reprehend.

This can be counterproductive.  Anything you do can encourage the behavior, and it’s best to ignore it unless there’s a clear reason why you shouldn’t do that.  What can be good at this time is a distraction.

You can distract the English Setter with new activity as you ignore the behavior.  Like with children, sometimes redirecting their attention changes their thought process and makes them stop barking.

English Setters are very smart dogs, and they will follow right along in most cases.  Come, mommy wants to take you for a nice walk.  They love to be with you and enjoy being active; there is a good chance they will forget what’s happening around them and eagerly tag along.

That said, almost all English Setters bark when there is something to bark about, so in most cases, the parent should take a moment to address the issue.