Why it happens
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A warning about strangers
The dog barks at footsteps on the stairs, a neighbour's door banging or a passer-by beyond the fence. This barking is sudden and loud, and the dog stands tense, looking towards the sound. Some breeds, such as shepherds and spitz types, were bred for exactly this kind of guarding.
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Asking for attention
The dog looks straight at you and gives short, repeated barks: it wants to go out, to play or a treat. If it once got what it wanted after barking like this, it has learnt that barking works.
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Boredom and pent-up energy
A dog that gets few walks and has nothing to do barks simply out of boredom – monotonously, for a long time, sometimes at nothing at all. You see this especially in active breeds shut in a flat or a kennel run for long stretches.
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Frustration
The dog can see another dog or a cat but cannot reach it, because the lead, a fence or the balcony railings hold it back. This bark is higher, and the dog shifts about, whines or pulls.
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Play and joy
In play, or on meeting a favourite person, a dog barks happily: its body is loose, its tail wags, it bows on its front legs and invites you to play. There is no need to stop this barking; just help the dog settle down.
Barking at night
At night you hear what daytime noise drowns out: hedgehogs, cats, the neighbours' dogs, footsteps on the stairs or car doors in the yard. A dog kept in a yard or on a balcony reacts to everything that moves beyond the fence. A puppy or young dog may bark at night because it needs to go out. An older dog sometimes barks because its sleep and sense of direction are failing – that is a question for a vet. A longer evening walk, a last trip outside just before bed, a sleeping place away from the front door and the windows, and a quiet fan or a low radio to mask the noises outside all help. A yard dog settles better sleeping indoors at night, in a porch or in a kennel that does not face the street.
What helps
- Work out why it barks For a few days, note when your dog barks and at what: at sounds outside the door, at you, or only when left alone. What helps depends on the cause, and a dog that barks only when alone has a different problem.
- More exercise and things to do Walks long enough to include sniffing time, games and food puzzles tire a dog out in mind as well as body. A tired, contented dog barks less.
- Do not reward demand barking If your dog barks for attention, do not look at it, talk to it or give it anything until it goes quiet. The moment it stops, praise it and give it what it wanted. At first the barking may get worse as the dog tries the old trick, so the whole family needs to do the same.
- Block the view and the noise If your dog barks at passers-by it sees outside, cover the lower part of the window with frosted film or a curtain, and the balcony railings with dense netting. Quiet background sound at home masks noise from the stairwell and the yard.
- Reward calm When your dog hears a sound and stays calm or looks at you, praise it and give it a treat. Shouting does not help: to the dog it sounds as if you are barking along.
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When to see a trainer or behaviourist
If your dog barks at people or dogs while tense, with its hackles up, growls or lunges, or if the barking goes on despite your efforts, see a qualified trainer or behaviourist who uses reward-based methods only. In the meantime, avoid the situations that set off the barking, do not punish your dog and do not use anything that causes pain or fear.
When it is a question for a vet
See a vet if your dog suddenly starts barking much more or stops barking altogether, or if the bark has become hoarse, weak or changed in sound – there is a separate page on a changed bark. The same goes for an older dog that barks at night, wanders, seems confused or no longer recognises its home, or for barking that comes with signs of pain: the dog does not want to be touched, limps or yelps when it moves.