Seeing your dog suddenly staring, growling, or barking at a wall can certainly startle you, and it is only natural for you to want to know what is causing him to act in such a way.
Your Dog Is Sensing Something Supernatural
When we talk about “supernatural,” we often mean things that don’t seem rational to us.
You might think that your dog is barking because of a mouse hiding in the wall, but could it be because he sees a “spirit”?
It’s hard to know for sure what causes your dog to bark, but there are some things that could be supernatural that your dog senses.
For example, many dogs are able to sense when someone is in trouble, and will alert their owners.
Despite the lack of scientific evidence, it is intriguing to think about whether dogs are capable of sensing the supernatural.
What if your dog was barking not just because of a noise, odor, or drop in barometric pressure rationally explained by a thunderstorm? It doesn’t sound so bad to have a four-legged ghost detector, wouldn’t you agree?
It’s no secret that dogs have senses that we humans don’t have. When a dog feels threatened by a supernatural force or senses danger, he will bark incessantly.
While science may not be able to explain these phenomena, there are many dog owners who do believe that their canine friends can sense the presence of ghosts and other supernatural entities.
If you suspect your dog is reacting to something supernatural, keep a log of the times your dog starts barking. Analyze that information to find patterns.
Critters in the Walls Catches His Attention
It’s true, dogs have amazing hearing. They can hear sounds that humans can’t, and they can detect things that humans don’t even realize that they exist.
But it’s not just hearing that makes dogs so amazing; their sense of smell is also top of the notch.
They are able to hear and smell animals that are hiding in the walls easily. The truth is, dogs are so good at smelling things that they can smell things that we don’t even know exist.
A small animal like a mouse, cockroaches or even spiders can find its way into your home through the smallest of openings and if they start hiding in your walls, your pet will hear them scratching even if you cannot discern a thing.
And when he hears something, he will want to alert you to his finding and that is when he will start barking at the wall.
Considering that dogs are territorial and predatory by instinct, they will take the unusual sound as a threat, resulting in an apparent battle with the wall.
As a way of demonstrating his dominance, he may even bark or growl at the critters hiding in the wall. His focus is usually on the area in between the walls where critters crawl around.
Dementia Is Affecting Your Dog
Dementia in dogs involves a loss of brain cells, causing changes in behavior, cognition, and personality.
A dog that seems like he is having trouble remembering things, appears disoriented and confused, starts barking at walls and furniture and becoming aggressive toward family members could be experiencing some form of dementia.
Some other common signs of dementia in dogs include:
- A change in behavior such as exhibiting signs of depression and lethargy.
- A change in their eating habits, including eating less than before.
- Loss of the ability to recognize family members (memory loss).
- Increased barking, chewing, or destruction of objects.
- Change in sleeping habits.
- Loss of interest in other activities, such as playing.
- A change in how they interact with family members, including aggression.
This disorder usually happens in older dogs and can develop gradually or appear suddenly.
As the disorder progresses, your dog may forget how to do simple tasks like going upstairs or getting into the car. He may not even recognize you!
Dementia in older dogs can be a serious condition, and there is no cure. But, there are ways to help “control” it, including medications and behavioral therapy.
The Behavior of Seeking Your Attention
Attention-seeking behavior is a normal part of a dog’s personality. Dogs are pack animals, and they need to be part of a pack. They need to know that they are valued members of their families, and that they are appreciated and loved.
Therefore, if you have been neglecting your dog for quite a while, it is natural for him to try all his means to seek attention and love from you.
Though attention-seeking behavior is not always a bad thing because this shows your dog’s affection and loyalty to you, but when this behavior becomes a habit, it could indicate a problem – separation anxiety.
Excessive attention-seeking behavior can cause your dog to become aggressive or defensive.
In fact, attention-seeking behavior in dogs is most commonly seen in puppies. Puppies have been shown to exhibit more of this behavior than adult dogs because puppies are still learning social skills, and this is a way of testing these skills.
Some common attention-seeking behavior include: whining, barking at the wall or air, and jumping on people. These are just a few examples of the many ways that dogs show their need for attention.
Dogs with separation anxiety (especially the very needy) are prone to attention-seeking behavior.
They will do anything to get your attention, and it is not uncommon for them to bark at a wall, door, or even at the air just to get their owners’ attention.
They don’t understand the concept of “bad attention” and as long as they are able to get their owners to focus on them, that will be a rewarding experience for them.
It is therefore imperative not to acknowledge your dog when he is barking at the wall, since this may give him a false “signal” that you love him performing this behavior.
It is best to ignore him if he behaves this way. You’ll teach him that barking at the wall gets your attention if you ever pay attention to him.
Reward him only when he stops barking so that he understands that you will only pay attention to him when he is behaving well.
Always keep in mind that when you scold your dog for growling at the wall, you’re in fact giving him the attention he is seeking for.
You’re actually making him feel like he’s doing something right. He may feel that he needs to perform this act more often in order to get you to notice him and this can be a rather frustrating experience for you.
Work on easing your dog’s boredom will certainly help to stop this behavior from happening. This can be accomplished by making sure that your dog gets to play and run around during the day.
Bring him out for a 30-mins walk daily and get him involved in physical games such as tug of war and playing fetch. These activities will help him to release his pent-up energy.
In accordance with the adage, “A tired dog is a good dog”, your dog will be less likely to misbehave when he is physically and mentally tired.
Of course, you will not want to overtire your dog, so make sure that you plan for him to have enough rest time between activities.
You might also want to consider getting your dog a playmate to keep him company.
Compulsions Are Evident In His Behavior
Dog breeds such as Chihuahuas and other small breeds often display strange behavior that borders on compulsiveness and incessant growling at the wall is one of such behavior.
In some cases, this behavior involves licking a particular spot on the wall repeatedly. The environment of your dog may be responsible for his abnormal behavior.
A change in his routine may have thrown him off balance, or he may be feeling anxious. When dogs are under a great deal of stress, repetitive behaviors are more likely to occur.
Consider making changes to your home and your dog’s routine to make it less stressful for him.
Compulsions can also be a sign of an underlying medical condition, so it’s important to pay attention to them.
Housing Structural Issue He’s Warning You About
Many homeowners may not realize that there is a flaw in their home’s wall till their dogs warn them through persistent barking at a specific spot on the wall.
The crack, holes or gaps in the walls could be a sign that there is a problem with the structural integrity of your house and the problem might be dangerous.
Flaws in the wall can be classified as structural or cosmetic. Structural flaws are typically more serious than cosmetic flaws and can happen as a result of water leakage, insect infestation, or other problems.
If you suspect that you have a structural flaw in your home, you should hire a professional to inspect your home. This is an essential part of maintaining your property.
Some of the most common building structural flaws include:
- Improperly installed roof trusses, which can cause serious damage to the building.
- Faulty chimneys, which can cause damage to the structure.
- Insufficiently insulated walls, which can lead to moisture problems.
- Improperly installed or constructed windows and doors, which can allow moisture and pests into the building.
- Improperly installed electrical wiring, which can cause fire or electric shock.
- Deteriorated structural supports such as foundation walls and beams.
The inspector will check for any defects and propose a solution should they find something wrong.
Many people are unaware of the potential hazards that are waiting inside their homes until it’s too late, so do not overlook this problem.
The inspector will be able to identify problems that you haven’t noticed yet and provide solutions that will make your home more comfortable and safe to live in.