Barking is a normal and natural way for dogs to communicate. However, excessive barking is one of the most common behavioural concerns owners experience. While it’s unrealistic to expect a dog to never bark, understanding why they bark can help you reduce unwanted behaviour.
The key to managing barking is identifying the underlying cause and addressing it with appropriate training and management.
Dogs bark for many reasons, including communication, excitement, fear or boredom. Some breeds are naturally more vocal than others depending on what they were originally bred to do.
Common reasons dogs bark include:
If your dog’s barking has suddenly increased or become excessive, it’s a good idea to speak with your vet first. Sudden behaviour changes can sometimes be linked to medical issues.
Many dogs bark to alert their owners when they see or hear something unusual, such as:
This behaviour is known as alarm or alert barking. Some owners appreciate this type of alert, but if it becomes excessive it may become an issue.
Give your dog an alternative behaviour
Teach your dog to perform another task instead of barking, such as retrieving a toy or going to their bed.
Teach a ‘go to bed’ cue
Asking your dog to go to their bed moves them away from the trigger and focuses their attention on something familiar.
Use desensitisation training
You can record triggering sounds, such as a doorbell, and play them quietly while rewarding calm behaviour. Gradually increase the volume over time as your dog learns to stay relaxed.
Dogs may bark at birds, cats or other animals in the garden because of their natural instinct to chase small animals.
Preventing the behaviour from becoming a habit is important, especially if neighbours are affected.
Some dogs bark when they see people walking past the house which can be the result of alarm/alert barking, fear or anxiety, boredom or frustration.
Dogs are social animals and may bark or howl when left alone if they feel anxious. This is often linked to separation-related behaviour.
Dogs may bark in an attempt to call their owners back.
If the barking continues, a qualified behaviourist can help develop a training plan for your dog.
Some dogs bark because they have learned it gets a response from their owners.
For example, if you shout, talk to them or even look at them when they bark, your dog may see this as attention.
It’s important that everyone in the household responds consistently.
Dogs that lack physical exercise or mental stimulation may bark out of boredom.
Working breeds or high-energy dogs are particularly prone to this.
Increase both physical and mental enrichment, such as:
Mental stimulation is important for dogs, particularly working breeds, such as collies.
Barking at people or other dogs often stems from:
This type of barking can become more serious if not addressed so professional support from a qualified behaviourist is recommended, to help identify the cause and develop a training plan.
Devices designed to stop barking, such as shock collars, spray collars or noise deterrents, may appear to provide a quick fix.
However, these tools:
Positive, reward-based training is far more effective and humane.
Barking is a normal behaviour for dogs. The goal should not be to eliminate barking entirely, but to reduce excessive or problematic barking.
Training takes time, consistency and patience. If you are struggling to identify the cause of your dog’s barking or training is not improving the situation, seek advice from your vet or a qualified dog behaviourist.
Early intervention can make behaviour problems much easier to resolve.
