When my dog keeps barking at the corner of the room, I immediately think he’s seeing a ghost. What other logical reason would he be barking at the corner of the room? Well, actually, there are many reasons a dog may bark at the corner of the room.
Why Does My Dog Keep Barking at the Corner of the Room?
Barking is communication for a dog. That means, when a dog keeps barking at the corner of the room, he’s trying to communicate something. It’s our job as humans to figure it out.
Reasons a Dog Barks at the Corner of the Room
Let’s dive into the reason a dog barks at the corner of the room.
Fear
Most of the time, your dog is afraid of something and is turning around towards the corner as a way to feel safe. With the walls almost around him, a dog may feel much more comforted but at the same time trying to say, “HEY! I’m so scared.”
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Ghost
Yes, some dogs can see ghosts and they may be communicating with them. That’s what scientists who have studied whether dogs can see ghosts have discovered.
Playing
Dogs are like children and sometimes, they just want to play around. They look at the wall, bark and may run around in a circle. They aren’t really barking at the corner, they happen to be barking in that direction.
Bugs
Your dog may have seen a bug that is now long gone. He’s trying to communicate to you there was something there and you need to do something about it. Unfortunately, you can’t do anything about it now that it’s gone.
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Sight Issues
Some dog owners have discovered their dog has sight issues because of behavior such as barking at the corner of the room. Dogs that keep barking at the corner of the room may think they are barking at something else.
Unknown Noises
There may be a noise that your dog can hear that you cannot come from somewhere in the corner of the room. He’s trying to communicate that there is something making a noise and it needs to be investigated.
What to Do About a Dog Barking at the Corner of the Room
Now you know why a dog keeps barking at the corner of the room, but what about stopping it? You can stop your dog from barking at the corner of the room in a few ways.
Distract Him
Whenever your dog goes to the corner to bark, call him over to you by name and give him a lot of praise when he listens. Repeating this will make him learn to avoid the corner.
Inspect the Corner
Your dog is trying to communicate that there is something in the corner that you need to check on, so you might as well do it. Your dog may feel better knowing you looked and didn’t find any problems.
Provide Comfort
Your dog may be afraid, so provide comfort. Spend extra time with him. Give him a favorite treat or toy. Just make him feel more at ease.
Put Something in the Corner
Consider putting something in the corner of the room. It may distract your dog or it may stop whatever it is that your dog keeps barking at.