Dogs communicate through barking, but correction is needed when it becomes excessive. Discover what triggers incessant barking and tips on how to stop incessant dog barking.
What Causes Excessive Dog Barking?
There are several reasons why dogs bark excessively. Having a good understanding of what motivates your dog’s yapping allows you to appropriately manage his behaviour.
Here are the 10 most common reasons for dog barking:
1. Barking as a Way of Greeting
Barking can be a way for dogs to happily greet people and other animals. This happy bark is accompanied by tail wagging and sometimes jumping.
2. Alarmed Dog Barking
Dogs usually bark to alarm their owners of a perceived threat. This can occur when they hear any noise, whether at home or somewhere else. This is specifically true for dogs with high guarding instincts.
3. Barking to Get Your Attention
Incessant dog barking can be an attention-seeking behaviour. Dogs do this when they are trying to communicate that they want something, like treats, going outdoors, or playtime.
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4. Barking Due to Health Problems
A sick or injured dog is prone to excessive barking as his condition causes him discomfort or pain.
5. Dog Barking Due to Fear
Dogs usually bark when something startles or scares them. The behaviour is usually triggered when they are in a disconcerting situation such as being restricted in movement or activity.
6. Territorial Dog Barking
Different from barking to alert owners, this type of barking is meant to warn intruders not to invade the dog’s territory.
7. Barking Out of Boredom
Dogs bark when they are lonely or bored because they lack physical or mental stimulation. This is a sad or lonely kind of bark that is similar to crying.
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9. Frustrated Dog Barking
Similar to barking due to boredom and loneliness, it is a sad bark that is often accompanied by pacing, depression, destructiveness, or inappropriate elimination. Loneliness and separation anxiety are the usual causes.
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10. Barking Due to Separation Anxiety
When a dog is overly attached to his owner, he can develop separation anxiety. This behavioural problem can result in excessive dog barking when you are about to leave your pooch in the house.
10 Tips on How to Stop Excessive Dog Barking
Nuisance barking is a destructive dog behaviour that can land pet owners in trouble. On many occasions, neighbours may become fed up with a barking dog’s noisiness and may report it to the authorities.
The owner of the pooch faces the risk of being fined if this behaviour is not resolved. Thus, excessive dog barking should not be tolerated. Here are some tips on how to stop it:
How to Stop Dog Barking Tip #1: Get Him Checked by the Vet.
As mentioned earlier, diseases and injuries can cause a dog to bark. It is best to check if his yappiness is linked to these problems.
Once the vet rules out this possibility, you can then move on to applying dog training techniques that will stop your dog from barking.
How to Stop Dog Barking Tip #2: Exercise Your Dog Regularly.
Bored dogs tend to indulge in undesirable behaviours, one of them being excessive barking. Make sure that your pooch has enough physical and mental stimulation.
Keep his body active by taking him out for a walk every day. Provide mental stimulation by giving brain-challenging games.
Cycling alongside him or engaging in obedience or herding games with him are some of the ways to keep his mental gears turning. Most of the time, a tired dog is a quiet dog.
How to Stop Dog Barking Tip #3: Teach Your Dog On-Command Barking.
You can use the word “quiet” to command your dog to stop barking. Use a lead, praise, or a treat for this exercise.
When your dog barks, say “quiet” in a calm and firm voice, and at the same time firmly give the lead a quick tug to distract him. When he stops barking, give him a treat or a verbal praise.
Repeat the exercise by initiating the bark—start “barking” to get him to follow your lead. When your dog follows suit, say the command and tug at the lead again. When he quiets down, praise or reward him.
How to Stop Dog Barking Tip #4: Play “Bring Me.”
Dogs cannot bark when there is something in their mouth. Take advantage of this by carrying out some play training—encouraging your pooch to retrieve a toy. You can also make him bring a “gift” to someone else in your home or a visitor.
Avoid giving a toy to your dog whilst he is still barking. He may think that you are rewarding him for making a noise. Wait until he has stopped barking before handing over the item.
How to Stop Dog Barking Tip #5: Distract Your Dog.
Dogs that excessively bark tend to indulge in the habit. Break the barkathon by introducing a stronger stimulus. This could be an object that produces a louder sound or a high-frequency noise that is unpleasant to your dog.
You can use items around the house to produce such a sound. A can filled with coins is one example. When your dog barks irrationally, drop the item in front of him without making it obvious where it came from.
It should seem like it came out of nowhere. Do this consistently so that your dog will think that the object appears every time he barks.
Whichever method you use, ensure that your dog will not discover who made the sound so that he will not link the distracting sound to you and will connect it to his nuisance barking.
How to Stop Dog Barking Tip #6: Ignore Your Dog.
Does your dog love to bark to get your attention? This type of barking can be discouraged by ignoring him.
Wait for his yapping to stop before rewarding your dog with praises and treats. Mind that this method requires patience, especially if he is prone to bark for hours.
Everyone in the household should be consistent in applying this technique or else your efforts will be wasted.
Thus, family members must also be informed how to react when your dog starts this attention-seeking behaviour.
How to Stop Dog Barking Tip #7: Limit Your Dog’s Access Outdoors.
“My dog barks at everything that passes by. What should I do?” It is not advisable to use a bark collar to prevent your dog from barking, as this may create negative effects on your dog.
What you can do in this situation is limit his chances to view what is happening outside to decrease incessant dog barking. You can do this by closing the curtains or placing a tinted film on the windows.
Putting him in a room facing away from the busy area in your neighbourhood is also a good idea. This method can be applied to dogs that are prone to alarm or territorial barking.
How to Stop Dog Barking Tip #8: Cover Other Noises with White Noise.
Is your dog’s barking caused by certain sounds? Use noise masking to keep him from hearing it. Turn on the radio or dial up the sound of the television to drown out the sounds that trigger his barking.
Studies show that music can reduce stress in dogs. Reggae, classical, and soft rock are observed to help calm them down. So why not try playing on the speaker to muffle other noises?
Take note that this is only a temporary solution. The best way to stop his excessive dog barking is to train your pet to get used to the sound, which we will discuss next.
How to Stop Dog Barking Tip #9: Desensitise Your Dog from the Noise That Triggers His Barking.
To carry out this technique, you will need to find an audio of the sound that causes your dog to bark excessively. The internet site is a good place to look for it.
Once you find the sound that you are looking for, follow these steps:
- Let your dog listen to it at the lowest volume possible.
- If he shows no negative response, reward him with a treat.
- Slowly increase the volume over the following days. Let him listen to it for at least 5 minutes.
- If he starts barking, reduce the volume and let him settle down. Try to increase the loudness after a few days. Do this step every time your dog barks at the adjusted volume.
- Gradually extend the duration of the sound once it does not elicit a bark from him. Do not forget to reward him for his good behaviour.
- Follow step 5, and if necessary, step 4, until your dog can listen to the full volume of the sound without barking.
When you are in the process of completing this dog training, do not expose your dog to the original sound. Otherwise, it will set you back in your progress and require more dog training sessions.
How to Stop Dog Barking Tip #10: Keep Your Arrivals and Departures Low-Key.
Do not arouse your dog’s excitement when leaving the house. Avoid cuddling him 10–30 minutes before going out as this can contribute to the development or worsening of separation anxiety.
When you arrive home, before opening the door, make it a mantra to be as boring as possible. If your dog is barking in greeting, do not interact with him for at least 10–30 minutes.
Let him settle down before you give him attention. Doing this every day will help stop the barking.
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- Dog Communication: Researchers Say “Dog Talk” Is Key to Pet Bonding
- What Is Your Dog Really Thinking?
- The Smart Pet Owner’s Guide to Dog Body Language
FAQs About Dog Barking
1. When Is Dog Barking Considered a Nuisance?
Nuisance dog barking is not clearly defined by law. However, when the bark of a dog is loud and frequent, it can be classified as a nuisance.
The time of day in which the dog barking takes place matters as well. Raucous yapping early in the morning or late at night often causes great disturbance to nearby neighbours.
Pawrents need to control and minimise excessive dog barking to avoid transgressing the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which has a fine of up to £5,000.
2. Can Dogs Be Trained Not to Bark?
Dogs can be trained not to bark in certain situations, such as when guests are around. However, stopping them from barking completely is not possible.
As we have mentioned, barking is a way for dogs to communicate. Thus, this behaviour is an important aspect of understanding what they feel.
3. Will My Dog Eventually Stop Barking When I Leave?
Your dog may eventually stop barking when you leave, but it may take time for this unwanted behaviour to subside. Prevent persistent dog barking fuelled by separation anxiety through proper training.
4. Are Ultrasonic Dog Barking Devices Legal?
Ultrasonic dog barking devices are legal in the UK. Although they are designed to reduce dog barking, we do not recommend using them.
The sound these devices emit may cause distress in canines, which could lead to the development of other undesirable behaviours.
Conclusion
Nuisance dog barking is a big headache for you and your neighbours. Address this behaviour as soon as you can to help bring back peace and quiet in your home.
Have you tried out all of these tips but nothing is working? Do not worry. Hope is not lost, but seeking professional help from dog trainers or veterinary behaviourists is strongly advised.
These professionals will be able to determine the root cause that impedes you from stopping your dog’s incessant barking.
