Jack Russells bark to communicate their internal states, information about their environment, and because of various health conditions that cause discomfort. To stop your Jack Russell from barking, train your dog the ‘Quiet!’ command and learn how to react to discourage the behavior. Using bark collars is also an option.
Jack Russell Terriers are active dogs that love to bark. This behavior is controllable if you manage to understand it.
Learning what your dog is trying to tell you is essential to stop the behavior. Being able to differentiate between various types of barking also helps.
Do Jack Russell Terriers Bark a Lot?
Yes, Jack Russells bark a lot. Humans bred Jack Russells to hunt, teaching them to instinctively bark in certain situations. This includes barking to protect territory, their owner, or when they detect a threat.
With a 200 years-long history of hunting, Jack Russell Terriers inherit their love of barking from their ancestors. As hunting dogs, this habit was a part of their job.
Related: Do Dogs Get Tired of Barking?
Why Do Jack Russells Bark?
Jack Russells bark for three reasons:
- To communicate their internal states
- To communicate information about their external environment
- Because of various health issues
Related: Jack Russell Behavior Issues
1. To Communicate Their Internal States
Barking is a means of communication specific to domesticated dogs. This includes Jack Russells. They have developed this skill to communicate their internal states to humans and other dogs.[1]
Here are some of the internal states Jack Russells try to communicate:
- Fear and anxiety
- Need for attention
- Loneliness and boredom
- Excitement
Fear and Anxiety
Jack Russells bark at things or people they are scared of in an attempt to intimidate them.
Situations that make Jack Russells uncomfortable often cause anxiety. Some studies suggest thunderstorms, fireworks, and other loud noises trigger anxiety in dogs.[2]
Jack Russell Terriers get tense due to separation anxiety. This can trigger barking.[3]
Barking for Attention
Jack Russells are active dogs who need interaction with their companions. If you don’t spend enough time with your dog, they can engage in barking as attention-seeking behavior.[4]
Barking Out of Loneliness and Boredom
Jack Russell Terriers have a long history of fox hunting in packs. Constant activity and interaction with other dogs are part of their nature.
They form a strong bond with their owners. When left alone for long periods, a Jack Russell barks to release energy.
Excited Barking
Jack Russells use barking as a greeting or to tell humans or other dogs they want to play. This breed is highly energetic and finds it difficult to withhold emotion. They bark when they are happy and full of positive emotions.
2. To Communicate Information About Their External Environment
Jack Russells use barking to send information about their external environment, such as that their territory is in danger, or an external threat is present.
Their Territory Is in Danger
Despite their small size, Jack Russell Terriers are among the most territorial breeds. They make good guard dogs because they pay close attention to their surroundings.
By barking, Jack Russells let potential intruders know the territory belongs to them. they also bark to alert the owner or other dogs of the presence of an intruder.
Territorial behavior can be triggered by anticipation and fear. As a reaction, dogs have a strong response that can not be interrupted by yelling. For this reason, your Jack Russell is not always responding to your punitive reaction.
An External Threat Is Present
Jack Russells are fearless. As prominent hunting dogs throughout history, they have evolved to pay attention to their surroundings. They bark when they identify a possible external threat to let others know about it.
Besides being fearless, Jack Russell terriers are protective of their loved ones. They bark if they are threatened by another person or animal.
3. Because of Various Health Issues
Certain health issues are responsible for Jack Russell Terriers’ barking:
- Canine senility
- Pain
- Brain issues
- Bee stings
If your Jack Russell keeps barking for no apparent reason, take them to a veterinarian to make sure it is healthy.
How Jack Russells Bark and What It Means
Jack Russell Terriers bark in different ways, depending on the information they want to communicate. Barks have different patterns of acoustic structure, such as pitch, repetition, and harmonics. these patterns differ according to the context. [5]
Dogs have the same language regardless of the breed and they can recognize the signals they give each other. You can understand why your Jack Russell is barking by paying close attention to the pattern.
If you manage to understand what your Jack Russell is trying to tell you, you can stop them quicker.
Jack Russells’ barking is defined by duration, frequency, and pitch:
The duration offers information on mental stability. This indicates whether they perceive a situation as hostile or non-hostile.
The frequency differentiates between barking because of danger (quick barking) and barking because they hear unfamiliar noises (lazy barking).
The pitch indicates your dog’s emotion. A low pitch indicates a perceived danger and a high pitch indicates positive emotions.
The most common types of Jack Russell barks are:
- Uninterrupted fast high-pitch barking
- Continuous barking with pauses
- Rapid high-pitched bark
- Bark that has a rising pitch
- Hesitant bark at an average pitch
Uninterrupted Fast High-pitch Barking
Uninterrupted fast and high-pitched barking indicates your Jack Russell is trying to warn you about the presence of a potential threat.
Continuous Barking With Pauses
Continuous barking with pauses indicates loneliness or separation anxiety. This type of bark can be used when you are leaving the house.
Single or Rapid High-pitched Bark
Single or rapid high-pitched barking indicates pain. If this happens, make sure to identify the problem and take the necessary steps to keep them safe.
Barking With a Rising Pitch
This type of barking starts at a low pitch and rises progressively. Jack Russells bark like this to show joy and excitement.
Hesitant Bark at an Average Pitch
Your Jack Russell is happy and willing to play when they bark like this. If this is accompanied by tail wagging, they are energetic and want to engage in activities.
How To Stop Your Jack Russell From Barking
The next table will help you identify and understand the cause of the barking, as well as how to stop it.
| Behavior | Possible Cause | Required Reaction |
| Barking at passersby at the window | Fear, protecting territory | Remove the motivation stimulus by closing the blinds. |
| Barking to go outside | Signalling they want to go out | Remove the motivation by teaching them to ask differently. |
| Barking when confined in crate | Seeking attention | Ignore them. |
| Barking at other dogs | Fear or excitement | Desensitize them to the stimulus. |
| Barking at visitors at the door | Happiness and feeling playful | Engage in incompatible action. |
| Barking at noises | Fear, protecting territory | Desensitize them to the stimulus. |
To stop your Jack Russell from barking, teach it the the “Quiet” or “Stop” command. You should also learn how to react when it’s barking at other people, animals, or when the doorbell rings.
While training your Jack Russell not to bark, try to avoid yelling. Yelling is the same as barking, which will make them want to join in. This will result in more barking.
Avoid punishing your Jack Russell for barking. Teach it to engage in alternative behaviors instead. Then, reward these behaviors.
Teach your family how to react to specific types of barking. This provides consistency and avoids confusing your dog.
It is essential to address the cause and not the behavior to stop your Jack Russell from barking.
Depending on the cause, you can react in the following ways:
- Ignoring the behavior.
- Removing the motivation.
- Desensitizing the dog to the stimulus.
- Engaging the dog in an activity incompatible with barking.
Ignore Your Jack Russell When It Is Barking
ignoring your dog is needed if they are seeking attention. If you identify this as their motive for barking, do not respond in any way. With time, it will understand that barking won’t get your attention.
Removing the Motivation
Dogs repeat reworded behavior. To stop them from barking in a certain situation, make sure to remove their motivation.
For example, if your dog barks every time it wants to play with you, don’t engage with it until it has stopped barking.
Desensitizing Your Jack Russell
Desensitizing in dogs works the same as in humans. By exposing your Jack Russell to a stimulus, such as seeing other dogs on the street, you will get them to calm down. The key is to act calm and distract their attention when stimuli occur.
Engaging the Dog in an Activity Incompatible With Barking
Actions incompatible with barking are eating or holding something in their mouth. By training your dog to keep a toy in their mouth when a friend comes by, they will stop barking.
Train Your Jack Russell to Stop Barking on Command
The ‘Quiet!’ command will let your dog know you want them to stop barking. It can be used in the majority of situations.
When your dog stops barking, give it a treat to praise the behavior.
Repeat the process every time barking occurs, but say the ‘Quiet!’ command and place a treat in front of their mouth first. This makes it difficult for your dog to bark, as they are busy eating.
Bark Collars
A bark collar can be useful if nothing else works. Bark collars spray the dog with a harmless substance when it starts barking. It can also make noises that make dogs uncomfortable. This teaches your dog not to bark.
These collars can’t differentiate between happy and sad barking and can inhibit your dog’s positive emotions.
How to Prevent Barking
To prevent your Jack Russell from barking, make sure they engage in physical activity during the day. Reduce separation anxiety by petting your dog before leaving the house.
Keeping your dog tired reduces their anxiety levels and prevents them from barking. If you are gone for a prolonged period, pet them before you leave the house and have a friend or family member visit them.
When Do Jack Russells Learn to Bark?
Jack Russells start to bark around the age of 7 or 8 weeks old. Some dogs learn how to bark later on and can go up to 4 months without barking.
Around 2 to 3 weeks old, Jack Russell puppies begin using their vocal cords and having vocalizations. These vocalizations consist of whines and grunts.
Despite the breed characteristics, each dog has a personal temperament, making them less or more communicative. This can influence when they learn how to bark.
Are Jack Russells Loud?
Yes, Jack Russells are loud. They are known as one of the loudest small breeds.
While hunting, Jack Russells had to let the hunters know when they found prey. As they were used for small, burrowing prey, Jackie’s needed a loud bark so their owner could find them and take them out of burrows.
The loudness of their bark evolved as a survival mechanism because. If their owners failed to find them, they would die.
Final Thoughts
Jack Russell terriers bark a lot. You can stop this by identifying the reasons why your Jack Russell barks and applying a few training methods. Remember that some barks are happy and are a means to communicate happy emotions.
