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As a primary form of communication, barking is a normal behavior in dogs. It can signal that your pet is excited, stressed, anxious, bored, or alerting you to a change in environment. However, if your furry friend seems to bark at everything, it can feel frustrating enough to make you say woof.
The good news is with a bit of training, your dog can curb their barking habit and still express their needs.
“As a well-versed dog trainer and service dog instructor, I believe that a dog who barks a lot should not be defined or written off as a ‘barker’,” says Taylor Reardon, CPDT-KA, Service Dog Instructor. “When solving excessive barking, we are simply breaking the cycle of inappropriate behavioral patterns—not breaking the dog’s spirit.”
Here’s what you can do about dog barking, from immediate steps to long-term training plans that can help over time.
How To Stop Your Dog’s Barking Right Away
If your dog barks at everything from passersby to doorbells, it can be challenging to know how to respond in the moment. According to Reardon, pet parents can choose between “management mode” and “training mode” to lessen a dog’s barking.
Remove your dog from the trigger area (management)
Management mode means removing your dog from the situation to prevent them from continuing barking. For example, if there’s a landscaping crew working in your neighbor’s yard, you might settle your dog with toys, chews, blankets, and other favorite things in another part of the house—one that doesn’t have a view of strangers.
As Reardon explains, management mode is best for when the timing is inconvenient for training or the scenario is too advanced for your dog to work through. It’s not a long-term solution to barking, however, since you can’t remove your dog from every trigger. Plus, your dog can often hear noises you can’t, and that’s hard to prevent.
Management also won’t solve nuisance barking if you’re not around. Most dogs find barking reinforcing, meaning barking is rewarding, and it will be a long time before your dog gets tired of barking.
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Redirect your dog’s attention or behavior (training)
Training mode redirects your dog to an alternative behavior, pulling your dog’s attention away from the stimuli that make them bark.
For example, if your dog regularly barks at houseguests, you might keep your dog on a leash when a guest arrives at your home, allowing them to greet the newcomer from a distance. As they begin to say hello without barking, reward them with their favorite tasty treat.
“If you are readily available to work your dog through a situation, choosing training mode is key,” says Reardon.
High-value training treats are a good way to reward your dog when they react to something without barking. “I recommend cutting up small pieces of plain boiled chicken or mozzarella string cheese,” says Reardon.
Training Tips to Stop Dog Barking
“Barking is often performed as emotion-based behavior, meaning your dog is physically responding based on their emotional state,” says Reardon. Once you’ve identified the root cause of the barking (like fear, frustration, or excitement), you can use management mode and training mode to create a plan of action.
The following tips should help for most barking scenarios, from alert to boredom barking:
1. Try clicker training
While clicker training requires time and dedication, Reardon says it’s one of the best ways to train a dog or a puppy not to bark. The quick, snappy sound helps dogs know exactly which behavior earned a food reward. “I do not see nearly as great of success with clients that rely solely on verbal markers. Plus, when using a clicker, you don’t need to be in a rush to grab a treat!”
2. Know the triggers
Understanding why your dog is barking is key. Reardon says that it’s worth spending “significant time observing your dog” to understand their perspective and anticipate their decisions.
For example, if your dog sleeps in a separate room and usually barks at night, they might be distressed over being left alone. In this case, a pet parent might ensure their dog is tuckered out before bed and use a sound machine.
3. Use a sound machine
Noise-sensitive dogs might bark out of stress and anxiety at certain sounds. Whether it’s an annual occurrence like Fourth of July scary fireworks or a daily occurrence like a blender, a white noise machine can be a great tool for blocking out disturbances.
For a long-term solution, it’s possible to train away a dog’s aversion to certain noises with sound desensitization training.
4. Prepare for new visitors
If your dog barks at the doorbell, consider putting a sign on the front door letting delivery services know not to ring or knock. You might also ask friends to text you upon arrival.
To train long-term skills, invite a friend over to practice ringing the doorbell, rewarding your dog before they can bark. With practice, they’ll start looking to you for a snack instead of barking.
5. Create a go-to quiet zone
Like humans, dogs need time to relax and decompress. Creating a safe dog space where your pup can be away from common barking zones (like doors and windows) gives your dog the option of a soothing environment during stressful situations.
6. Encourage exercise and play
If your dog isn’t getting enough exercise or engagement, they might start barking for attention. Increasing your dog’s activity with puzzle toys and walks can help calm an attention barker.
7. Stick to high-value snacks
When training, Reardon adds that you shouldn’t switch to lower-value snacks. Instead, focus on asking more from your dog when they choose to pay attention instead of barking.
“Start and stick with this specific treat when modifying barking. Over time, you will be able to realistically expect your dog to perform more impressive behaviors to earn a food reward.”
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Infographic by Rover
What Not To Do When Your Dog Is Barking
Creating long-term change can take time, training, and TLC. It’s easy to be discouraged, but Reardon warns against letting frustration or embarrassment get the best of you. It’s important to keep in mind that barking, at its core, is a natural and normal form of communication!
As you work with your dog to reduce reactive barking, stay away from harmful training methods.
- Avoid punishing your dog by yelling, scolding, or roughly tugging at their leash.
- Refrain from using electronic collars, bark collars, or pinch/prong chain collars.
- Never inflict pain or fear as a training device.
- Be mindful of how you reward your dog with treats; don’t reward them for barking.
- Don’t continue training methods that aren’t working for your pet. Consider working with a licensed, fear-free dog trainer if excessive barking persists.
sanjagrujic via iStock
The Importance of Prevention
Unfortunately, if a person, sight, or sound causes your dog to bark, it’s easy for this reaction to become a learned behavior. Letting your dog bark can lead to more barking because barking is self-reinforcing, aka self-rewarding. It’s crucial to be proactive with bark training.
For example, if your dog tends to bark while window-watching, you might use a pet camera to correct and reward your dog even while you’re away. Another method might be keeping your dog away from the most “active” window when you’re home at home, or blocking it with a screen.
If walks are a source of trouble, using the right equipment can help keep your dog safe and allow you to guide them away from bark-worthy stimuli. Reardon suggests the following walking supplies:
How To Get Help
For more complicated situations, such as a non-food motivated dog or a dog with big feelings, the above tips may not work as fast as you’d like. When a management or training strategy isn’t working for your dog, Reardon suggests calling in the professionals.
“A Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) can teach you how to implement hands-on training techniques and adjust your dog’s training plan as needed,” she says.
“And if your dog is exhibiting fear, aggression, or compulsive behaviors, consult your vet. Pain can be an underlying cause of undesirable behaviors, like barking. I recommend bringing your dog to their veterinarian to rule out any potential illness or physical discomfort.”
Reardon, a certified dog trainer since 2020, says that certified dog trainers can be thought of as counselors for dogs.
“We don’t prescribe medication or diagnose, but we are educated and qualified to implement effective training solutions. We can assist you in learning to read your canine’s body language signals so that you can become an effective handler, trainer, and advocate for your dog.”
