How To Stop a Dog From Barking
Mastering Dog Barking Solutions
Is your furry friend's barking driving you crazy? Don't worry; you're not alone! Many dog owners grapple with the same challenge. In our ultimate guide, we'll help you put an end to the barking blues and create a harmonious home for you and your four-legged companion.
Discover the Reason Why Your Dog Barks
Dogs communicate in various ways, and barking is one of their primary ways to express themselves. To expect your dog not to bark at all is the same as expecting a newborn not to cry. How else can they communicate their needs and worries, right?
However, in some cases, excessive barking becomes a real problem not only for the pet parents but also for their furry friend, as it can lead to heightened stress levels, strained relationships, and even neighborhood disputes.
So why does this happen?
Dogs are quite simple creatures; they do what works. If, for example, they were barking to get your attention, they could get it if you: started talking to them, petting them to try and calm down, or even if you started to scold them. Subsequently, they’ll do it more often as it has worked before. And the more the behavior happens over and over, the more annoying and difficult it is to deal with.
Another common situation is barking at other dogs and people. If barking helps the stimulus go away (e.g., a dog appears in the distance but then disappears), your pooch learns that their behavior is working.
Apart from that, dogs may also bark out of frustration (e.g., when not used to being home alone), to protect their territory, as well as out of fear (e.g., a sudden noise has startled them), and even out of pain (if the behavior has appeared suddenly and there’s no obvious reason, make sure to consult your vet).
Some dog breeds (Toy breeds, Beagles, Huskies, German Shepherds, Spaniels, Dachshunds, etc.) are simply more predisposed to barking. If you’re the owner of one of these, you just need to be aware and pay more attention to their needs-based training, socialization, and environmental factors. If you need a personalized training plan, download the Woofz app and set yourself up for success!
After you’ve discovered the reason, and it isn’t related to any health issues, you can start correcting the behavior with the tips below.
Just remember, the first rule of barking behavior modification is to make sure you never reinforce barking.
Stop Your Dog Barking for Attention
When your dog barks, and you respond by talking to them, petting them, or even making eye contact, you're unintentionally rewarding their behavior with attention.
This teaches your dog that barking gets them what they want – your attention. To change this behavior, it's essential to ignore your dog when they're barking.
Wait at least 30 seconds after they stop barking before giving them any attention. If you find it challenging to ignore them, consider giving them a brief time-out by leaving the room or placing them in a quiet area with no toys or fun distractions for less than 5 minutes.
Stop Your Dog Barking at Other People and Dogs
If you’re walking with your dog and they start barking when they see another dog or a person on the horizon, most likely they’re barking because they’re scared and are trying to alert you as well. To address this issue, you'll want to help your dog become more at ease with what scares them.
Here's how to go about it:
Begin by gradually exposing your dog to the scary thing while offering plenty of positive reinforcement. For example, if your dog is afraid of men, start by keeping them at a safe distance. Reward calm behavior every 3-5 seconds using a marker word like “Yes” and a treat.
Once your pet starts feeling comfortable, you can slowly reduce the distance between them and the source of their fear. Always keep the dog's comfort in mind, and don't let strangers touch your dog unless your dog initiates contact. Continue reinforcing their good behavior frequently, every 3-5 seconds.
Boosting your pet's confidence through mental stimulation games and teaching new commands can be incredibly helpful when addressing such issues.
As your dog becomes closer and more comfortable with the situation, you can gradually decrease the frequency of rewards, knowing that they've made positive progress.
Territorial Barking
If your dog tends to bark when visitors arrive due to territorial behavior, you can teach them to stay on their designated bed or mat when strangers come over. Once your dog is calm and relaxed on their mat, you can allow them to see the new person or animal.
If the visitor is comfortable with dogs, you can even ask them to reward your pet with a treat, playtime, or some petting if your dog remains calm and friendly.
Stop Your Dog From Barking at Night
To address excessive barking, let's first figure out why your dog is barking. Is it due to external noises, a desire to be closer to you, or is it happening for no apparent reason?
External Noises: If your dog barks because of outside noises, try soundproofing your space and encourage them to do something else, like going to their bed.
Desire to Be Closer: If they want to be near you, you can let them sleep nearby (but on their own bed) and gradually move them to their designated sleeping spot to reduce separation anxiety.
Continuous Barking: If your dog is barking non-stop and there’s no obvious cause, it could be related to fear of being alone or some kind of discomfort. Investigate and address the underlying issue accordingly.
Barking Out of Separation Anxiety
Many dogs become anxious when separated from their favorite person or another pet they're closely bonded with. This anxiety often leads to whining or barking when that person or animal isn’t present.
To help your dog feel more at ease with separation, try short practice sessions throughout the day. When your dog starts barking, only open the door once they've quieted down. This way, you avoid reinforcing the undesired behavior.
Additionally, it's a good idea to change your dog's routine to prevent them from associating specific actions with separation anxiety. For example, don't let your dog sleep with the person or animal they're anxious about at least twice a week.
Mix up your leaving habits so your dog can't predict when someone is leaving or not (e.g., if your dog starts stressing already when you’re putting your shoes on, you can do this randomly throughout the day to make this activity completely boring for your pet). Establish daily routines for walks, meals, training, and mental stimulation to provide structure and comfort to your furry friend.
More anti-barking life hacks you’ll find here.
Bark Collars
Despite varying opinions, we strongly discourage the use of methods like barking collars, as they only frighten the dog and fail to address the underlying issue.
Wrap Up
To wrap it up, tackling excessive barking in your furry friend is crucial for a happy bond between you and your canine companion. Consistent training typically brings noticeable improvements in as little as two weeks. So, be patient, stay consistent, and use positive reinforcement to help your pup bark less and understand you better.
Written by
Woofz Content Manager with a deep passion for dogs and a strong affinity for positive reinforcement training methods.
Reviewed by
Certified dog trainer, exclusive positive reinforcement methods & tackling aggression problems.