Barking is natural for dogs. But sometimes, it can get a little excessive — which can lead to frustrated dog parents and neighbors.
How much dog barking is too much? Everyone’s answer will be different, but in general, excessive dog barking involves repeated barking for prolonged periods of time.
If your dog won’t stop barking, don’t worry: there are a few things you can do to help soothe your pup, and bring some peace and quiet to your home. Read on for helpful tips and techniques.
Why Do Dogs Bark So Much?
If you’re struggling with a dog who barks excessively, first try to understand what’s causing their behavior. Dogs use barking to communicate that they need something: to go outside, to play, because they’re hungry, or because they’re concerned.
While some barking is normal, excessive barking may be a sign that your dog is stressed, or that their needs aren’t being met. Many pups turn to barking when they’re feeling bored, lonely, anxious, or frustrated. There’s always a reason for barking — and as a pup parent, it’s your job to figure out what your little chatterbox is trying to tell you.
Your pup may also turn to excessive barking in response to things going on in your neighborhood. Historically, it was the job of many dog breeds to guard their owners’ homes or properties, alerting them of any intruders. While present-day dog parents may find this “alert barking” frustrating, it’s important to remember that this behavior is natural for dogs. Be patient, and try the techniques in the following sections.
Remove Distractions
If your dog spends their days barking at people, other dogs, or cars in your neighborhood, limiting their access to these triggers may help to reduce (or even eliminate) their excessive barking. Try closing the blinds or curtains on your windows, and turning on a white noise machine, music, or the TV to help muffle the distracting, bark-inducing noises outside.
Develop Alternative Behaviors
It can also be helpful to teach your pup alternative behaviors to excessive barking. What does this mean, exactly? Here’s an example: say your dog barks excessively whenever the doorbell rings. You can teach them to respond to this trigger in a different way, training them to run to another area of your home when the doorbell rings instead of barking at it. Whenever they do so, you reward them.
To teach this behavior, have a friend or family member ring your doorbell (or use a doorbell recording online). When the doorbell rings, get your pup’s attention with a treat and quickly rush to another area of your home, verbally encouraging them to follow you. If they do, reward them with delicious training treats, like our Jinx Beef Training Treats or Chicken Training Treats. Repeat this interaction multiple times over several sessions — with practice, you may be able to replace your dog’s barking response with this much quieter one.
Increase Enrichment
Your pup may bark simply because they’re bored. Dogs are curious and energetic creatures who need lots of mental and physical activity. When they can’t expend energy through toys, exercise, or playtime, they may turn to unwanted habits like excessive barking.
In addition to making sure that your dog gets enough physical exercise through walks and active playtime, it’s important to keep your dog mentally engaged (and therefore, not barking) through enrichment toys or puzzles.
If you know that your pup barks whenever they’re left at home alone, make sure to play with them lots before you leave, and provide them with mentally-stimulating enrichment toys to keep them occupied while you’re away. It can also be helpful to have a friend, family member, or dog walker visit your pup while you’re out, breaking up the amount of time that they’re left alone.
Why Is My Dog Barking At Me?
Some dogs will bark at you for attention. This is known as “demand barking,” and it usually occurs because your dog is frustrated or bored.
If you want to reduce your pup’s demand barking, simply ignore it. Giving them attention of any kind teaches them that by barking at you, they will get a response. Rather, reinforce good behavior — praise your dog when they stop barking, and engage them with toys and play whenever they’re quiet.
The idea is to reward your dog when they’re not barking at you, teaching them that this is the actual solution to getting the attention they desire.
Don’t Punish Your Pup
Having an excessive barker in your household can feel stressful at times, especially if your neighbors complain about your dog. It can be tempting to get loud yourself — scolding and yelling at your pup.
The thing is, this usually won’t solve the problem. The louder you yell, the louder your dog will bark — escalating the situation instead of calming it down.
If you find yourself getting frustrated with your dog, take a beat. Try to recognize that your dog isn’t barking to make you mad. Rather, they’re communicating a need or desire in the only way that they know how.
Punishing your dog by yelling at them, or by using a shock collar, citronella collar, or ultrasonic machine that produces unpleasant sounds doesn’t address the underlying issue of excessive barking. Not only are some of these punishments cruel, none of them help your dog learn anything. Instead of simply punishing excessive barking behavior, offer your pup an alternative. Use the techniques discussed earlier in this article to teach your dog the right way to alert you or get your attention, and reward them when they do so.
Breed Considerations
Generally speaking, some dog breeds are known to be more vocal than others. Certain breeds tend to bark more because of the jobs that they were bred to do (like guarding), and some dogs (like large breeds) will have louder barks than others. It’s important to keep these things in mind before getting a dog — especially if you’re sensitive to barking or live in an apartment with shared walls. If you have a breed that is naturally very vocal, you’ll need to be especially attentive to supporting them through lots of engagement and training.
Why Do Dogs Bark? Key Takeaways
Expecting a dog to never, ever bark is like expecting a human to never, ever talk — it’s unrealistic. However, excessive dog barking can be stressful to deal with.
That being said, the first step to reducing excessive barking is trying to figure out the root cause. What is your dog trying to communicate to you? Are they alerting you to something going on in your neighborhood? Are they feeling bored, lonely, or frustrated? Perhaps their breed is known to be more vocal.
Training your dog to bark less will take time and practice — but with the positive reinforcement techniques discussed in this article, it’s very possible. Stay patient and consistent, and know that quieter days are in your future. Seek out guidance from a certified dog trainer if you need extra support.
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