5 Tips to Help Stop Dog Barking

Barking is a natural behavior for dogs, but excessive noise can become a problem. Learning how to stop a dog from barking doesn’t just bring peace to your home; it also improves the wellbeing of your pet and your relationship with them. Whether it’s attention-seeking barks, boredom, or alert responses to stimuli, understanding the triggers is key. This article will provide five practical tips to effectively stop a dog from barking. Each strategy is grounded in canine behavioral science, ensuring that you handle the issue both humanely and effectively. By applying these methods, you’ll be able to cultivate a quieter environment while ensuring your dog remains happy and healthy. Get ready to transform your understanding of what prompts your dog to bark and how to manage it for a more peaceful coexistence.

Living with a dog that barks constantly can be quite an irritant. Not just for the dog’s human family but potentially for neighbors, dog training classmates, and more. The veterinarians at Peterborough West Animal Hospital want to help you enjoy your dog without the barking! The first step is to determine the “why.” Since dogs don’t have “words” like us, they use barking to express a variety of emotional states. Understanding what is motivating your dog to bark is very often the key to successfully resolving the problem. Let’s examine some of the common reasons behind excessive barking, and learn what you can do in each case:

1. Boredom

Dogs who are under stimulated mentally and physically can engage in repetitive barking to alleviate their boredom. The team at Peterborough West Animal Hospital wants to make sure you are providing your dog with things to do during the day, as well of plenty of exercise. This can go a long way toward decreasing this type of barking. Take your dog for long walks (or longer ones if you already walk your dog) and give the dog time during walks to sniff and engage in the environment so that he gets physical AND mental enrichment. When you can’t be with your dog, give him a food-stuffed or puzzle-type toy to work on so that he has a more positive activity to engage in than barking. At Peterborough West Animal Hospital we carry “Kongs” and “Kong Stuff ‘N Paste” as well as “Tricky Treat Balls” for your pet’s entertainment.

2. Fear and/or anxiety

Dogs that bark due to fear, anxiety, or stress are often trying to signal their discomfort with certain stimuli. According to veterinarians at Peterborough West Animal Hospital, a practical approach to stop a dog from barking is to teach them that the perceived threats they encounter are not actually dangerous. This involves consistent training and positive reinforcement to help the dog overcome their fears. For more information on recognizing and addressing dog anxiety, check out our article on Dog Anxiety Awareness Week Is May 1st to May 7th.

3. Alerts

Some dogs, particularly dogs of guarding-type breeds or mixes, will bark to “alert” you of the presence of something new in the environment. In this situation, you want to provide the dog with an alternate behavior. For example, if your dog barks feverishly when the delivery man comes to the door, teach your dog a really strong recall (come) cue and use that to interrupt the barking. Reward the dog for ceasing to bark and coming to you, and gradually you can extend this to a “come and lie down and stay” behavior according to the veterinarians at Peterborough West Animal Hospital.

4. Attention

To effectively stop a dog from barking for attention, it’s crucial to understand their motives. The doctors caution you that barking can be a great way for dogs to get attention from humans. Even if you yell at your dog to be quiet, you can be unwittingly reinforcing this behavior because a dog that wants attention will take whatever attention he can get from you. Just as with the other examples, this can be modified using an alternate, incompatible behavior, such as asking the dog to sit, etc. Better still, simply remove the reinforcement – when the dog barks at you for something, ignore him completely and wait for him to be quiet and then heavily reinforce that behavior. In the beginning you may find the dog barking even harder to get your attention (known as an extinction burst) so the veterinarians at Peterborough West Animal Hospital want you to stay resolved and patient until the dog learns this is no longer a useful behavior (we recommend getting a good set of ear plugs!).

5. Excitement

Many dogs who become overly excited and who lack impulse control can bark to express their “enthusiasm.” With these types of dogs, you can work on training some “self control” behaviors, such as a sit or down stay, or even any type of alternate behaviors, such as a trick. The key is that the dog is doing something else that isn’t barking. Some things the team at Peterborough West Animal Hospital recommends are to get him to target your hand with his nose, shake a paw, high five, bow and a variety of other tricks. You can also teach “traditional” cues such as sit and down, and when he begins to bark excitedly at home or in a class, immediately ask him to do one of the behaviors and reward him for it. Training impulse control behaviors such as stays and settle can also be very helpful with these types of dogs.

Another important thing to remember with dogs that bark is the influence of breed. Some breeds have a tendency to bark more than others, such as terriers, rough collies, shepherds and hounds. Take some time to research your specific breed, or breed mix to see what the breed(s) was originally bred for and what behavioral tendencies are common to help you understand the basis for barking behavior. If you have questions about any breed before you purchase be sure to ask one of the team members at Peterborough West Animal Hospital as they have a wealth of knowledge from their many years of experience.

Always avoid punishing your dog for barking – most dogs bark due to an underlying emotional issue and punishment can either increase the barking or lead the dog to expressing their needs with an equally undesirable behavior. If you find you need assistance, particularly if the dog is barking due to a serious behavior concern, contact us at Peterborough West Animal Hospital. We offer Veterinary Behavior Counseling services to address complex behavioral issues. You may also want to consult with a professional dog trainer to guide you through the process.

How to Stop a Dog from Barking in 2025: Training & Expert Help

How do you handle territorial barking at windows?

To manage territorial barking at windows, it’s effective to teach dogs an alternate behavior that’s incompatible with barking. For instance, training the dog to go to a specific spot away from the window upon seeing an external stimulus can be beneficial. Use a command like ‘go to your bed’ and reinforce this behavior with treats or praise when the dog complies. Gradually, this teaches the dog to associate the presence of outsiders with moving away from the window rather than barking, effectively reducing the territorial response.

How do you teach a dog to be quiet on cue?

Teaching a dog to be quiet on cue involves addressing the root causes of barking and providing alternative behaviors. First, understand why the dog barks—whether from boredom, fear, attention-seeking, or excitement. Introduce a quiet cue such as ‘hush’ or ‘quiet’ during calm moments and reward the dog for silence following the cue. Use consistent training techniques like positive reinforcement to reward quiet behavior. For attention-driven barking, ignore the behavior until it stops, then promptly reward the silence. Training sessions should be short, positive, and frequent to reinforce the desired behavior effectively.

What professional help options are available?

For addressing complex behavioral issues such as excessive barking in dogs, Peterborough West Animal Hospital offers Veterinary Behavior Counseling services. These services involve specialized support aimed at understanding and modifying the underlying emotional causes of barking. Additionally, professional dog trainers can provide targeted guidance and training techniques to help manage and correct barking behaviors effectively. Engaging with these professionals ensures a compassionate and informed approach to improving a dog’s well-being and behavior.

What are realistic expectations for barking reduction?

Setting realistic expectations for reducing dog barking begins with identifying the cause, as different triggers require specific strategies. For instance, boredom can be alleviated with increased physical and mental stimulation through longer walks and interactive toys. Fear or anxiety might require behavior modification to help the dog feel secure. Training alternate behaviors is effective for attention-seeking or alert barking. Excitement-induced barking can be managed by teaching impulse control techniques like sit or down stays. Consistency and patience are vital, as changes in behavior may take time to establish. Always opt for positive reinforcement over punishment to promote trust and prevent undesirable behaviors.

Do bark collars and other anti-barking devices work?

Bark collars and other anti-barking devices can provide a temporary solution to excessive barking by using corrective measures such as sound, vibration, or a mild electric shock when barking is detected. However, these devices do not address the underlying emotional or behavioral reasons for barking, such as anxiety, boredom, or attention-seeking. Effective long-term solutions involve behavioral training and addressing the root causes of barking. For instance, providing mental stimulation, establishing routine training sessions, and using positive reinforcement are more sustainable methods for managing and reducing undesirable barking behaviors.

If you have any questions or concerns, you should always call us at Peterborough West Animal Hospital – the veterinarians at Peterborough West Animal Hospital are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets. We are “pawsitively” devoted to your best friend.