You’re enjoying a pleasant afternoon relaxing in the yard, listening to the soothing sounds of the birds singing or the water feature trickling. But Fido suddenly starts barking like crazy at nothing more than the air. Or maybe you didn’t even get that far because your pup constantly barks at anything and everything. It’s frustrating, and I hear you. And your pup.
Barking is important because it’s how our dogs speak to us. It’s just part of owning a dog. But unnecessary, extreme barking is not. So, if you’re trying to figure out how to stop your dog from excessive, nuisance barking, you’ve come to the right place. I walk through why dogs bark and the common reasons for excessive barking. More importantly, I explain how to correct your pup’s barking problem if it becomes a nuisance. You’ll learn plenty of tips to end your pup’s barking if it annoys you or your neighbors.
Barking Is How Dogs Communicate
Let’s start by saying that dogs are meant to bark because it’s how they speak. Like us humans, some dogs are more vocal than others. It’s important to realize that the goal is not to stop your dog from barking completely. How would you like it if your parents prevented you from ever speaking again? Nope, you wouldn’t.
The goal is to stop excessive, nuisance barking and tone it down to appropriate barking levels. Having the gift of the gab is fine when it doesn’t encroach on your or your neighbor’s sanity. But when they bark like crazy at nothing, it can ruin relations or mean having to pay fines depending on your local laws or tenancy agreements.
When a dog barks, they are trying to tell you something. Some dogs bark to announce the arrival of someone on their property, which can be useful. Others bark when they need to go outside for a pee or poop, which is also helpful. The last thing you want to do is eradicate barking completely. Because then you’ll find other problems on your hands. As with most things in life, it’s all about balance.
Start Training Young
It can be challenging to teach an old dog new tricks, but instructing a puppy through new tricks can be much easier. The best way to prevent excessive, nuisance barking is to teach dogs that it will be ignored early on. Only calm, relaxed behavior is rewarded with praise and treats. If you are forever giving in to your new pup because they are cute, you are setting both you and them up for disaster.
The socialization process also goes a long way toward preventing excessive barking. Socializing your dog early teaches them how to behave correctly, exposes them to new situations, sounds, and objects, and builds their confidence. More manners and confidence mean less barking at anything and everything.
7 Common Reasons For Barking
Dogs can’t speak to us in our language. How easier would life be if they could? Think of your dog as a newborn baby. Babies cry when hungry, want attention, are ill, or are scared. Babies can’t tell their parents the problem; they can only make a noise. And for dogs, their noise is barking. Let’s take a look at the most common reasons for barking.
1. Excitement
Excited barking usually comes with a waggy tail and wiggly butt. Spinning in circles or tapping their paws are also signs of excitement. They look alert, generally pleased, with their ears held high. Packs of dogs bark and howl when excited, and it’s just your dog’s way of saying they’re happy.
Examples of excited barking are when you come home after work or say the word ‘walkies.’ This type of barking only lasts a minute or two at most or until the desired outcome happens. For example, when you pay them attention or take them out. Usually, this type of barking is rarely an issue because it is normal and short-lived.
2. Attention Seeking
Barking is how dogs communicate. If your dog is barking for attention, the barks are usually short, sharp, and monotone. There is usually a pause between each bark, giving you a chance to react. Their body language is usually more relaxed, with a slow wagging or stiff tail and natural ears. Examples of this could be barking because they want to be stroked or need a pee or poop break outside.
This type of barking can be problematic depending on why your pup wants attention and whether you give it to them. For example, barking because your pup needs to pee is good and should be acted on. You could also try bell training for toilet needs. But if your pup is barking because they want a treat, and you give them a treat, you are rewarding that behavior. And you can be sure they’ll do it again and again.
3. Anxiety Or Loneliness
This barking type is common for dogs who are bored and anxious at home while their family works all day. You might not be aware of this problem until your neighbor or indoor camera alerts you to the problem. It might not be a problem for you, but it can be a big problem for your neighbors that needs solving fast. This type of barking is your dog’s way of calling out to anyone who can hear them because they want comfort.
It could be consistent, loud, and proud throughout the day if they are barking because they are anxious. Some dogs howl, and some mix it up with both barking and howling to keep everyone on their toes. Anxious dogs often drop their ears and tails and look generally uneasy. Trembling is also common for severely anxious dogs.
If you suspect your dog is barking out of anxiety, why not check out our calming treats for dogs to see if this simple solution helps the issue?
4. Fear & Being Territorial
This is a defensive barking style, and it is usually caused by a stimulus. For example, they might bark because a stranger is walking towards their family or doing something they shouldn’t be doing. It could also be a reaction to loud, scary noises or something they have never heard. This is your dog’s way of telling you that you both need to be ready for this potential problem.
Fearful barking is deeper and louder in sound and is usually continuous and excessive until the stimulus is removed. If they are fearful or unsure of the stimulus, there might also be an aggressive growl in there for good measure. Their unsure body language usually includes low head posture, raised hackles, and holding their tail between their legs.
If they are barking because they are territorial, their head and tail usually rise, making them appear larger and stronger. A growl and bared teeth warn that they are ready to bite and that whoever or whatever is annoying them should back up. Their barks are likely to be loud and proud, literally acting like the alpha male. This is problematic and potentially if they are constantly being territorial.
5. Boredom
This type of barking is one of the most common reasons dogs bark. If a dog is mentally or physically unstimulated, they often bark or howl. This is their way of sighing or telling us they’re fed up. This type of barking is straightforward to correct. Excessive barking from boredom is usually the precursor to problematic behavior, so you must address it quickly. The simple mantra here is that a tired dog is a happy dog.
Some dogs bark, and others might gruff rather than bark. Like attention-seeking, they want your attention and to play with you. The barks or gruffs are short, with gaps in between to allow you to play. Or if they are super bored or a natural howler, they might howl, too. To make it obvious, some pups might carry their toy over to you. And some play bow (front legs down, booty in the air) to let you know they are ready for action.
A flirt pole is a great way to play with your dog and a simple way to physically and mentally stimulate them.
6. Reactive
This is another common reason for excessive nuisance barking, and a stimulus always causes it. For example, your dog might be barking at a cat sitting up a tree in your yard. Or they could be barking at someone or something walking past their house. It’s their way of saying, ‘Hmmm, I’m not sure how to handle this situation,’ or they want to investigate it further.
It could also be something as simple as a sound they don’t like, such as a siren outside. Or it could be because something annoys them, for example, when you run a vacuum around the house. Reactive barking is loud and continuous and usually won’t stop until the stimulus is removed. It’s very similar to the fear and territorial barking, but not necessarily because they want to guard you or feel fearful. It could be that they think it’s a game and want to join in.
7. Pain
This type of barking usually occurs during play or fighting, resulting from being in pain or the shock of what has just happened. If your pooch is in pain, they do whatever they can to tell you. This is their way of shouting out, asking for assistance, or informing the other dog or human to stop what they are doing. You see this a lot with puppies learning how to play and testing how hard they can bite their littermates without hurting them.
You can usually tell the difference between this type of barking and all other types because it genuinely sounds like they are in pain. The bark is usually high-pitched or whimper-like and usually stops after a few barks. But if your dog continues to bark in pain, it’s a good idea to take it to the vet, as it might have broken something.
Teach Your Dog The Quiet Command
Teaching your dog the quiet command is integral to getting your dog to stop barking. Although you might think your dog is past this point, you’ll be surprised that it works with most dogs. The best part is that you start by teaching them to bark, which they’re already good at. There are two steps to the quiet command.
- Teach Them Speak. Capture the moment they bark, and repeatedly say the word yes and reward when they bark. This is easier to do when they’re in a happy state, such as playing. Do this repeatedly, and reward them. Once they do this consistently, you can say the word speak the moment before they bark. Over time, they quickly learn to speak.
- Teach Them Quiet. Now that you’ve got the speaking element down, you can teach them to be quiet. In between the speaking, say the word quiet. After a while, there will be pauses between the bark and reward. Once there are a few moments of silence, say quiet again and reward your dog. After a while, you can reintroduce the speaking element as well and reward them when they speak. That way, they learn the difference between quiet and speaking.
Use high-reward dog treats for training, such as liver treats. My dogs go crazy for my DIY freeze-dried liver treats, and I share this recipe along with other favorite freeze-dried options.
5 Ways To Correct Barking Habits
If you are looking to curb bad habits, the good news is that there are steps that you can take for each type of barking. Most of the steps to correct barking behavior are similar, and they should be done in a way that does not upset your dog or cause any mistrust between the two of you. Let’s look at how you can end this annoying behavior before it gets out of hand.
1. Correcting Boredom Barking
If your dog barks out of boredom, they simply need more stimulation, such as indestructible dog toys, chew sticks, interactive games, and more exercise. Many dog owners make the mistake of saving their exercise after returning home as a treat to look forward to. But Fido’s brain isn’t wired that way. Instead, exercise them vigorously before you leave them. This way, they’ve already burned their excess energy, leaving them with less energy for barking.
But what about if you are working all day and aren’t there to address it? Unfortunately, something needs to change unless you want more problems on your hands. Is working from home or mixed hours an option? Or maybe you could ask a friend or a neighbor to go in and play with them for a little while. If not, you need to hire a doggy walker or take your pup to doggy daycare.
2. Correcting Attention-Seeking Barking
This is one of the simplest barking correction methods. However, it is usually the one people struggle with the most because owners feel guilty for ignoring their barking pooch. Whether barking to get you to play or barking because they don’t want to be in the crate, all barking dogs require the same treatment: ignore them.
Negative attention, such as telling them off or to be quiet, is still attention. So, ignore them until they are calm. Otherwise, you are simply rewarding them for barking despite wanting them to stop. If you know that your dog doesn’t need a pee break or water, wait until they are quiet. Once they have shown you that they can be silent, reward them by letting them out and giving them attention.
The trick to this correction is consistency and a strong will. You must show your dog that quiet wins rewards, not barking. This may take a while, especially if they are used to you coming to them when they bark. If, after a while, it still isn’t working, try giving them something to do to occupy them, such as a toy. Pay them attention when they are playing with the toy rather than barking.
3. Correcting Reactive Barking
This is one of the most difficult barking problems to correct because reactive barking is usually your dog’s natural reaction to something or an ingrained reaction that has never been challenged before. Like before, you need to be consistent and stronger-willed than Fido. Remember that reactive barking always starts with a stimulus, so you must figure out the stimulus.
For example, say your pooch barks at passersby when sat by the window. Now, you can’t stop people walking past your house, but you can install a blind or set of curtains to block their view. Remove the stimulus, and you should prevent the barking. If your dog barks at that pesky cat up the tree, call your pooch inside as soon as they begin to bark. It sounds simple enough, but you must act quickly to create the desired effect.
If your pooch is barking at visitors or the doorbell, you need to remember that you probably don’t want to stop them from barking completely. Ideally, you want your dog to bark once to alert you, then back off and let you deal with it. Watch this informative video on how to stop your dog barking at the front door by desensitizing them.
4. Correcting Anxiety Or Loneliness Barking
The first tip is to always leave your puppy alone for short periods during puppyhood. Otherwise, they become dependent on your constant company. Start with 15 minutes, and gradually increase it until you can leave them alone for a few hours. Never leaving your puppy’s side is the leading cause of separation anxiety, and it can be challenging to correct this.
However, this is no help if you are trying to correct the excessive, lonely barking now. This issue also ties in with boredom when you are not there. So, always exercise your pup vigorously before you go out to leave them feeling tired. Leave them with toys and activities to keep their minds occupied, too. More often than not, this can solve the problem altogether. If it doesn’t, your pooch is probably anxious that you are not there. Invest in a crate and spend time crate-training your pooch. Once they are comfortable with their new crate, always reward them for being relaxed and quiet when inside.
You should also consider hiring a dog walker to take your pup out halfway through your absence or dropping them off at a doggy daycare center. Even if it is a few times a week rather than every day, they are less likely to be bored and bark all day long. You can also try turning on a familiar sound to comfort them, such as the radio or the television. There are many benefits of playing music for your dog.
5. Correcting Fearful Barking
Training out a dog’s natural reaction is often tricky but not impossible. If you can change their way of thinking, it can immensely improve your life and your dog’s life. Correcting fearful barking takes time and patience. Never scold a dog for being afraid because it might make matters worse. Sometimes, dogs are not barking out of fear. Instead, they might only be barking at a once-feared thing because they are just used to barking.
If your dog is scared of, say, the vacuum, leave it out in the room. Let your dog sniff and investigate it for a few days. Treat them when they go near it. Then, turn it on, leave it stationary, and let them explore it again. Your dog will probably bark at this point, but try using the quiet command. Make the interaction with the feared stimulus as positive as possible. This method slowly desensitizes them and makes them realize there is nothing to fear.
Sometimes, things are scary for no reason. Like some humans, nothing can convince them that house spiders or the dark are nothing to fear. The same goes for Fido and their seemingly strange phobias. If you cannot convince them that the stimulus is not scary, avoid it when possible. If it’s impossible, you should speak to a qualified canine behaviorist.
2 Things NOT To Do With a Problem Barker
Now that you know what to do with an excessive nuisance barker, here are the two things you need to avoid at all costs. Doing any of these things can make matters worse and cause even more barking. In addition to educating Fido, you need to educate yourself.
1. Yell At Your Dog
This is the most common mistake that dog owners make when trying to stop excessive barking. You’d think that telling a dog off for barking would make them stop, but no. Fido’s brain isn’t wired like that. Remember, your pup cannot understand what you are saying. And they think you’re shouting with them, leading them to believe their ‘shouting’ is acceptable. Positive reinforcement training is much more effective at teaching better habits than punishment. So, ignore the barking and reward your dog when quiet and relaxed. Never, ever yell or scold a dog for barking.
2. Praise Your Dog
Another mistake dog owners make is to praise their dogs for barking. This is a big no-no. Petting your pooch to ‘calm them down’ is seen as praise to them. It doesn’t comfort them in any way. Instead, it bigs up their ego to carry on barking. Ignore them, teach them the quiet command.
4 Additional Tips For Problem Barkers
Here are a few other tips and tricks from the non-barking trade that you and Fido might find useful. They might work on their own, or they are often effective when using them in addition to the barking training above.
1. Familiar Sounds
Dogs are creatures of habit. If you know your dog barks when you are out, try using a familiar sound to distract or calm them. Sometimes, it’s the silence that drives dogs crazy, not the loneliness. Put the radio or the telly on when you leave. The sound of human voices and calming music can be enough to ease the tension and reduce barking. Put the radio on when you are there so that when you aren’t, the familiar sound comforts them.
Alternatively, some dog owners find success with a doggy monitor. This is similar to having a CCTV system inside your home designed for you to interact with your pooch while you are gone. Some systems, such as Petcube, even dispense treats. Remember to only speak to Fido when they are relaxed and calm. Otherwise, they might keep barking until they hear your voice.
2. Noise Correction
The noise correction techniques are saved for owners who cannot distract their pooch or redirect their barking behaviors with toys or other activities. If Fido completely ignores you despite your commands or silliest voice, you need the help of something more distracting. It needs to be something other than your voice and something that startles them so they cannot ignore it.
Find something that makes a loud, startling noise, such as a horn or a tin can filled with coins. Rattle it as soon as your pooch barks, and the noise disrupts the barking. When they look at you, you can use your quiet command and treat them when they obey your instructions. Although this doesn’t follow positive reinforcement training, it might be the only way in some circumstances.
3. Anti-Bark Collars
Some canine experts use anti-bark collars to prevent barking, and we have a comprehensive guide on the best bark collars for dogs of all sizes. There are three types of anti-bark collars:
- Shock Collars
- Citronella Collars
- Sonic Collars
They act similarly in that they trigger a response when the dog barks. They either shock, release an unpleasant spray or startle them with a sound. Citronella spray is harmless, but the substance is unpleasant. Ideally, you should only use them as a last resort when other training methods do not work, as they do not deal with the underlying cause.
4. If All Else Fails, Call The Experts
Nuisance barking is not only annoying, but it does affect your and Fido’s quality of life, as well as everyone else around you. So, it’s worth the time and effort to resolve it. Finding the right dog trainer can be tricky, especially when there are so many to choose from, and not all are up to the job. Learn how to find the right dog trainer for your needs and the best online dog training options.
If you have tried all of the above and your pup still shows no sign of giving up the barking ghost, it’s time to call in the experts. Sometimes, the cause of excessive barking is so deep-rooted that it requires someone with extensive knowledge and training expertise to deal with it. If you cannot link your dog’s barking patterns, there could also be a chance it is caused by an underlying medical concern, such as dementia. Learn more about doggy dementia and ways to tackle it.
Whatever the rhyme and reasoning for your dog’s nuisance barking, do not feel like you have failed your pup in any way by speaking to a professional. Sometimes, things are just the way they are. Getting in touch with a certified dog behaviorist is the best thing you can do for your pup and everyone’s quality of life. When searching for a trainer, be sure to do your research and find out whether your dog insurance covers training costs. Work with a trainer who uses positive reinforcement-based training and has verifiable qualifications.
Other Ways To Improve Fido’s Behavior & Wellness
There are plenty of ways to improve your dog’s behavior, your relationship with them, and their overall wellness. There is a wide range of bad doggy habits, and we cover other undesirable behaviors, such as chewing, digging, and biting, as well as how to stop them. And if you’ve got a really dirty dawg, we have ways to stop dogs eating poop. If you want to improve their health, we have a guide on the best dog probiotics. They have many health benefits and can help them feel their best and ensure they have any nutrients they might be lacking.
Does your dog bark so much that you always have a headache? Have you tried our dog barking training tips above with success? We love to hear from our readers, so please let us know in the comments section below.
Why Trust Canine Journal?
Emma is a mom to two rescue dogs, Bonkers and Chips. Bonkers hardly ever barks, but Chips, being a Doxie, is a barking champion. Thankfully, Chips already knew the quiet command when she was adopted. Emma has a passion for writing about and sharing her knowledge and years of professional dog experience with her readers. She works with a dedicated team at Canine Journal, who work tirelessly to bring the best and most accurate information as a trusted source for all things dog.
