How to Get Your Dog to Stop Barking

If you have a dog or recently adopted one, you may have noticed that they bark. A lot. And you’ve probably already Googled this, but if you haven’t, we encourage you to resist that urge. There is too much dubious information about quick-fixes on how to stop a barking dog, but that uninformed information can be unhealthy, ineffective, or even dangerous. 

In extreme circumstances, seek the advice of a veterinarian certified in understanding animal behavior. But in most cases, once you determine the root cause of your dog’s barking, there are several proven training hacks that will remedy the noise. We all do want to do our best by our dogs, so here are some helpful suggestions for you to consider.

Why do dogs bark?

Dogs can use barking as a way to communicate with their people and other dogs. One of the main reasons they bark at you is because they don’t have opposable thumbs. But imagine if they did. Dogs would be able to open the fridge to eat, fill up their bowls with water to drink, or let themselves outside when they need to relieve themselves.

Of course, I’m exaggerating to make a point: Your dog sometimes barks, because they rely on you to help them get things done. They need you to interpret their “voices” and understand their needs. If your dog is barking, it’s their way of telling you they need help with something. Dogs also bark to convey their feelings. It’s one of the many ways they express themselves in different situations. So, if dogs use barking to communicate with you (and other animals), should you seek to stop the behavior? Understanding why dogs bark — from their perspective — is a more productive long-term solution. 

So instead of asking “how” to stop attention-seeking barking, barking when alone, or how to stop boredom-barking, your relationship with them is better served if you figure out the reasons “why” they are barking. 

Identify the cause of your dog’s barking

Learning the underlying causes behind your dogs’ barking helps you stay ahead of the behavior, and will ultimately reduce their need to make noise. In this way, you can prevent the behavior from becoming a persistent problem. Before exploring some ways to manage and improve the behavior, let’s first look at the more specific reasons dogs bark:

• They are hungry or thirsty.

• They want to go outside to poop or pee.

• They are happy and excited.

• They are bored.

• They suffer from separation anxiety.

• They seek to alert you to danger.

• They are experiencing barrier frustration.

• They crave your attention or affection.

How to stop a dog from barking

There are different types of barking, ranging from playful to reactive to aggressive. Let’s go deeper into the various underlying reasons for barking, as well as suggestions for helping your dog.

Boredom barking

Boredom barking occurs when a dog is left alone, with not enough physical exercise and/or mental stimulation. If they don’t have access to the outdoors to get their steps in and keep their brains busy, they will try to entertain themselves — often in ways we don’t appreciate, such as chewing and destroying furniture and clothing. Keeping dogs in a crate to mitigate this only ends up making the barking worse and even causing frustration and depression.

Here’s how to stop boredom barking

Consistent daily walks are essential to prevent excessive barking. Taking several walks throughout the day is recommended rather than one long walk. But if you can’t take your dog out due to other responsibilities or physical limitations, ask a family member, friend, or neighbor for help. Alternatively, consider hiring a dog walker if it’s financially feasible. If you have a backyard, letting your dog out may be tempting, but walking them on a leash around the neighborhood adds better enrichment and helps break up their day. 

If you work from home, try enrichment toys or a treasure hunt. They can help your dog focus attention and bust boredom-barking. For instance, set up seek-and-find games and puzzle games. These require problem-solving skills (a natural need in dogs), with the added bonus of tiring them out. It really doesn’t take much, and there are lots of engagement toys on the market, including the manners-minder treat dispenser. You can even make your own toys, by freezing bone broth in a Tupperware bowl, hiding treats in shoe boxes around the house, or throwing a cup of treats onto a small shaggy rug to encourage seek and find.

Barrier frustration

When dogs are left alone with nothing to do for too long in the home, alone in the backyard, in cars, or even on leash — they may become frustrated and start barking. This is called barrier frustration, or a response to being at an arm’s length (or more) away from exciting stimuli. Dogs are generally social creatures. And depending on their personal learning history and stage of life, most like to be around other dogs and people for stimulation. Still, life happens, and even though you love your canine bestie, it’s understandable that sometimes you simply have to leave your dog home alone for a few hours.

Here’s how to stop barrier-frustration barking

Instead of perching them up on the window to watch the world go by — which can reinforce barking — provide them enrichment away from the window. For instance, give them a hollow toy stuffed with food, or frozen bone broth in Tupperware. You can also play calming music engineered to reduce barking, or have them watch a dog-centric television program to reduce their stress by keeping them engaged as they wait for you or their dog walker. 

Food-related barking

Most dogs are restricted from access to food. This can be stressful or upsetting for them, especially if they’re not being fed enough to account for their metabolic needs. Food restriction-related frustration can result in speed-eating, which can negatively impact their digestion. Or they can even take on aggressive, barky behavior towards other pets or humans who come too close to their food, as well as barking while you’re eating your food.

Here’s how to stop food-related barking

Each dog is different. Their stage of life, nutritional needs, and exercise expenditure will vary. Instead of free-feeding them with a conventional bowl, provide portion-controlled meals using engagement activities at various periods during the day (breakfast, snack/lunch, or dinner). These may include puzzle bowls or snuffle mats. But also, don’t forget to reward good behaviors throughout the day by hand-feeding them treats. 

If they’re still barking a lot, speak with your veterinarian about your dog’s food intake. They may be at a stage when they need a little extra food because they are active and growing. I’ve seen many clients limit their dog’s intake, only to cause frustration due to hunger — and ultimately the reason for excessive barking. 

Separation anxiety

Separation anxiety barking happens when a dog is alone, and it’s usually coupled with other behaviors such as peeing or pooping inside, and destruction around doors and windows. In this case, barking is a symptom of the underlying fear of separation from their favorite people, which must be addressed. Some dogs with this condition also suffer from sound sensitivity and claustrophobia, and should not be kept in a restricting crate. 

Here’s how to stop separation-anxiety barking

Start by trying enrichment strategies (toys or treasure-hunting), combined with calming aromatherapy and pheromone products, such as Adaptil, which may reduce mild distress in the short term. If that doesn’t work, contact your veterinarian to determine if the condition is a physical issue or psychosocial. They can refer you to a qualified behavior consultant, certified separation-anxiety trainer, or board-certified animal behaviorist, if necessary. A professional will help evaluate your dog to determine if they suffer panic attacks stemming from phobias or a temporary condition that will tease out over time. They may even prescribe medications if necessary. 

Demand barking

Demand barking is when a dog’s vocalization grows in intensity and frequency, to get your attention. It’s important to take a step back on this one, because some people overlook the fact that perhaps their dog’s basic needs are unfulfilled. They may be hungry, thirsty, want to be taken out for some air and smells, or desire emotional support after having a hard day. We unknowingly set up our dogs for failure by not staying on top of these needs. At the same time, although it’s natural for us to attend to our barking dogs, we end up reinforcing the behavior over time. 

Here’s how to stop demand barking

In general, try to maintain a consistent routine and reward your dog for being calm instead of being noisy. If your dog barks at you, and you can’t figure out why — walk away from your dog. Turning your head and walking away communicates that a behavior is not acceptable. Go pour yourself a glass of water, and take a minute to drink it. This space of time also allows your dog an opportunity to display calm behavior which you can reward instead. It likewise gives you time to decompress and figure out if their needs have been met.

Alert barking

Alert barking is triggered by unknown sights and sounds. A dog’s hearing is one of their superpowers — they’re able to hear sounds at a far longer distance and lower decibel levels. (They can detect sounds at 66,000 Hz, whereas humans can only hear at 20,000 Hz). But this can be a mixed bag, especially for adopted dogs. Living in a new space can be a jarring experience for them, which requires more time to acclimate. The sounds they hear could make them anxious, especially for sounds they’ve never heard before. 

Here’s how to stop alert barking

To manage alert-barking, you can use bio-acoustic music to mask sounds and create a relaxing environment. It’s also helpful to reduce visual stimulation by keeping blinds closed or using opaque plastic on windows to allow natural light to shine through. Place your dog’s bed or resting area away from windows and doors to help reduce noise, since entry and exit points can trigger barking. 

Try conditioning your dog to the sound of a soft, elongated “sh” while simultaneously feeding them a treat. This technique helps calm the amygdala, or the part of the brain responsible for fight-or-flight reactions. When they hear the sound, they may come to you expecting a treat with a closed mouth instead of barking at an unknown noise. This is a simple and more effective strategy than shouting at your dog to stop barking. 

If your dog constantly barks at certain times of the day due to people coming and going, try distracting them with a stuffed Kong toy to create a positive association with these sounds. Using pheromones such as Adaptil and aromatherapy products can also promote calm behavior. If you need more help, contact your veterinarian or a qualified professional to help with exposure therapy and other psychosocial techniques to improve the behavior. 

Dog barking training: What if none of this works?

Consider a trainer or behaviorist. Ask your vet for recommendations, or check out some certified consultants at the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. If you’ve done all you can, it’s important to remember that pets are individuals, and your home might not be the right fit. If you’re considering finding a new home for them, check out Rehome. It’s Adopt a Pet’s safe, simple program that lets adopters safely adopt a pet directly from their current pet parent or caretaker. So pets can find new loving homes without entering a shelter.

References

Barking in Domestic Dogs: Context Specificity and Individual Identification

Ethology of Barking — Why Do Dogs Bark?