Dogs bark for many reasons: To get you to notice or pay attention to them, to communicate to you and others, responding to sights and sounds, fear, stress or anxiety, frustration, boredom, and desire for human interaction. While barking is a totally normal dog behavior, this article will help you understand:
- What is triggering your dog to bark
- How to train your dog to stop barking
- What other pet parents are asking about barking
Let’s get started!
What is triggering your dog to bark?
Dogs bark for many reasons ranging from responding to sights or sounds, to communicating fear and anxiety. There are five loose categories of barking that may help you understand what’s triggering your dog to bark:
- Attention-seeking barking. Typically higher-pitched, and your dog will be looking at you.
- Anxious barking. Typically higher-pitched and continuous.
- Alert or “watchdog” barking. Typically lower-pitched and results in your dog going to the door or in the direction of the “thing” they’re barking at.
- Distance-increase barking. Typically lower pitched and intended to help your dog create space from a person, place or thing, and may be accompanied by moving back and forth towards the perceived threat.
- Frustration or boredom barking. Typically higher-pitched and the result of your dog not getting enough exercise or mental stimulation
How to train your dog to stop barking
To get your dog to stop barking, you need to first understand why they’re barking. Once you understand why your dog is barking, you’ll be in a better position to manage their barking behavior. If your dog is:
- Attention-seeking barking the best way to get them to stop is to teach them a different behavior to get what they want. To do this, totally disengage from your dog as soon as they start barking. Once your dog stops barking, wait five seconds and then bring your attention back to them. Start playing a game with your dog or give them a toy before they start barking again. Over time, this will teach your dog that being quiet results in good things.
- Anxious barking try not to leave them alone longer than they can handle. This could mean bringing your dog along when you go to the store or when you’re visiting a friend. Over time, by practicing brief departures and progressing at your dog’s speed, their tolerance for alone time will increase and their barking will decrease.
- Alert or “watchdog” barking incorporate gentle music or white noise into your dog’s environment, and use a gate or other barrier to limit your dog’s access to the door or area they’re guarding.
- Distance increase barking then create more distance between your dog and the person, place or thing they’re barking at. Once your dog is under threshold (i.e. not barking) then give them a reward. And, if possible, give them a reward every time they see the person, place or thing that triggers their barking. By doing this, you will help your dog develop a neutral or good association with the person, place or thing that triggers their barking. This is because, over time, they will see the trigger and think, “Oh! I’m about to get a reward.”
- Frustration or boredom barking then provide your dog with more physical exercise and incorporate mental exercises into your dog’s routine. We love puzzles, snuffle mats and work to eat toys such as the Toppl and KONG classic toy.
Frequently asked questions about barking
How do you stop nuisance barking?
If your dog is barking excessively:
- Reduce your dog’s exposure to the things triggering their barking
- Give your dog more physical exercise
- Incorporate mental enrichment, like puzzles, snuffle mats and work to eat toys, into your dog’s routine
- Change your dog’s reaction to the things that cause them to bark, by providing them with a special treat or toy, every time you expect a triggering event to happen
How can I get my dog to stop barking at things?
To get your dog to stop barking at things, use positive reinforcement to change their underlying feelings about the things they’re barking at. Do this by providing them with a special treat or toy, every time you expect a triggering event to happen. For example, if the food delivery person is about to ring the doorbell, and your dog barks at the doorbell, provide them with a work to eat toy (like the Toppl) right before the delivery person arrives.
Can you really train a dog not to bark?
You can help your dog to feel better about the things triggering them to bark, and doing so will result in your dog barking less. To help your dog feel better about the things triggering them to bark, pair the trigger with something your dog loves. For example, if your dog barks at people on skateboards, give your dog a treat every time they see a person on a skateboard. Over time, this practice will help your dog develop a positive association towards skateboards and they will bark less.
Why does my dog bark so much?
Your dog is barking because they are:
- Seeking attention. Typically higher-pitched, and your dog will be looking at you.
- Anxious. Typically higher-pitched and continuous.
- In “watchdog” mode. Typically lower-pitched and results in your dog going to the door or in the direction of the “thing” they’re barking at.
- Uncomfortable and need distance from a person, place or thing. Typically lower pitched and intended to help your dog create space from a person, place or thing and may be accompanied by moving back and forth towards the perceived threat.
- Frustrated or bored. Typically higher-pitched and the result of your dog not getting enough exercise or mental stimulation.
Determining why your dog is barking is the first step to managing their barking behavior.
Is it bad to use a bark collar to stop my dog from barking?
At Petcademy we believe in, and teach, positive reinforcement based methods, and are consequently opposed to fear/pain based tactics such as shock collars, prong collar, bark collars or any other techniques rooted in punishment. Our approach is inline with organizations such as Best Friends Animal Society, the ASPCA and the Humane Society of the United States. Read more about our training methods and beliefs here.
