Our Top Tips On How To Get Your Dog To Stop Barking

Barking is how your buddy communicates, so it’s a natural behavior. But if you’ve got a dog barking excessively…we do get it. So to prevent your good boy or good girl from becoming a nuisance in your neighborhood, you might’ve wondered: how to get your dog to stop barking?

Turns out, barking isn’t always a random occurrence. At times, it might signal something’s wrong – like if your buddy is experiencing anxiety, stress, or might even feel threatened by their environment enough to make a runaway attempt. So keep calm: this is something you and your dog can learn together!

Why is my dog barking so much?

Dogs have been our friends for at least a few thousand years – meaning they’ve figured out a whole bunch of ways to communicate with us.¹ And as it turns out, barking might be a sign they’re trying to tell you they’re:

• Excited to see you (like when you come home from work or a vacation)
• Craving attention
• Hungry
• Bored
• Scared – like if there are fireworks in your neighborhood

• Protective about their territory (which could also be from a new housemate – like another pet or a baby)
• Anxious – especially if they’re not 100% used to you or their environment yet (like if you’ve just adopted them)
• In pain
• Surprised
• Growing older – especially if you’ve got a senior dog at home, that might be vulnerable to dementia

In many cases, you might’ve observed your dog barking at specific situations – like if there are loud, scary noises outdoors, or if the Amazon delivery truck is driving by.

But if you’re noticing excessive barking, it’s your job as a responsible dog parent to get to the bottom of things. (Plus, your neighbors will thank you for it!

How to get your dog to stop barking

Getting your dog to stop barking compulsively takes time, hard work, and excellent team work between you and your buddy. Plus, it helps to keep your expectations realistic – your dog isn’t likely to stop barking overnight.

But with some patience and love, you can successfully wean your buddy off their barking behavior – and make them a better neighbor for the long run. Here are a few tips you’ll find helpful.

Figure out when your dog barks most

Much like with us humans, a change in your buddy’s routine can majorly stress them out. (Which might turn up as excessive barking.) So you might find yourself dealing with a barking dog if, for example, you’ve:

• Just adopted them, meaning they’re not 100% used to you or their new home yet.
• Shifted apartments, cities, or even countries – aka, bringing them to a new environment
• Just brought home a new pet or a baby (so your buddy is demanding attention)
• Just begun sending your kids to school (which might lead to a bad case of separation anxiety)
• Changed your work schedule to, say, a night shift – so you aren’t around the “regular” times
• Moved to a “noisy” neighborhood, which might trigger your buddy’s noise anxiety
• Moved to a neighborhood bordering woodland territory – which might trigger your buddy’s prey drive (so a whole forest of “prey” animals to sniff out and chase!)

So start by taking into account whether you’ve changed their environment somehow – and modify it accordingly.

You can help your dog feel less anxious and stressed out by bringing back some regularity to their routine, whether that’s meal times, walks, playtime, and of course, tons of quality time together. This can help socialize them to their environment and teach them how to behave around other pets and people.

💡We’d also recommend you keep track of when your dog tends to bark the most. Whether that’s:

• When you get home from work
• The Amazon delivery truck (or other cars) drives by
• Mostly at night (worth keeping note of, especially if you’ve got a senior dog at home)

All of which can help you get to the bottom of what factors in your environment might be triggering your dog’s barking behavior.

Ensure your dog is getting enough exercise

Excessive barking can be the result of a dog’s pent-up energy. So if you’ve both missed a few walks, it’s a good idea to get back on track – and stick to your daily routine of getting your dog their exercise.

While different dog breeds need different amounts of exercise, most experts agree that at least 30 minutes of regular physical activity can do wonders. So besides regular walks, this can look like:

• Going running with your dog
• Exploring the hiking trails nearby
• Biking with your dog
• Camping with your dog
• Setting up a DIY agility training course in your backyard

Read more:

• How Often Should You Walk Your Dog?
• How Much Exercise Does A Dog Need?

💡Want to stay motivated to your buddy’s daily exercise – and also figure out if they’ve gotten enough exercise? Try using an Activity Tracker for dogs.

With its built-in motion detector, your trusty Tractive device picks up on your dog’s movements throughout the day.

Which, with time, can help you:

• Set daily goals for your dog’s activity
• Figure out if your dog can handle a bit more exercise
• Compare how active your buddy is to other, similar dogs around the world with your very own leaderboard

⚠️ All of which can help you prevent your dog from getting bored and up to mischief from the lack of exercise. (Whether that’s demanding your attention by barking – or even making a runaway attempt for some excitement outdoors!)

Discover Activity Tracking

Prevent your dog from getting bored (when you’re not around)

Like we’ve covered, boredom is a key reason you might find your dog barking like crazy – just for the sake of it. It’s also another reason your dog might even end up running away, whether you’re together or not, just for some entertainment!

Read more: Why Do Dogs Run Away? 6 Reasons Behind It

So if you’re headed off to work or vacation, make sure to set up an enriched environment for your buddy at home. Including:

• Chew toys
• Interactive puzzles
• A quiet, calm environment – maybe with some dog-friendly music. (Reggae and soft rock can work wonders in calming them down! Else, consider using a white noise machine.)
• Something with your scent, like a blanket or sweater, to help keep your buddy relaxed
• Treat dispensers that require your dog to “work” for their meals
• An indoor DIY obstacle course (using some pillows, chairs, and cushions) to keep them occupied
• Some company, like another pet, a pet sitter, friend, or family member checking up on them periodically (especially to let them out for a toilet break!)

💡Ideally, you aren’t leaving your buddy home for longer than a few hours either. (Especially if they already have separation anxiety.)

Double down on your obedience training

There’s no substitute for regular training, but especially so for commands meant to discourage your dog from barking excessively. (Plus, if you’re not consistent, there’s always the chance your buddy might fall back into their old habits.)

Throughout the process, make sure you stay patient and firm, without yelling. Getting mad at your dog for barking will just teach them that “barking = attention!”

So here are a couple of tips and tricks to train your dog to bark less:

• Try and ignore your dog when they do bark, without making eye contact. So they gradually learn they won’t get your attention when they do.
• Make sure to praise your dog plenty when they ARE quiet. Keep some treats ready and a ton of pats and praise when they’re behaving themselves. (And yes, with an enriched home environment, even the most hyperactive dog will eventually calm down.)
• Got a dog that barks at the sound of the doorbell? Distract them in advance. Keep their favorite toys ready or train them to “Sit” when someone’s at the door.

• Another trick you can teach your dog is to “Fetch” a toy or some item around your house when, say, the doorbell rings. So your dog is too occupied with their “job” to show the new visitor who’s boss.
• Get your dog used to the sounds or stimuli that trigger their barking. (Like, for example, the doorbell ringing or the sounds of cars passing by or children playing outdoors.) Play these sounds from a video or your phone when your dog is sitting quietly – and reward them if they don’t bark. (While ignoring them if they do.)

Read more:

• 4 Important Dog Commands & How To Teach ‘Em
• Clicker Training for Dogs: A Step-by-Step Guide to Positive Reinforcement

💡Boundary training your dog can be a great way to prevent an escape – especially if your dog has a habit of barking at “outsiders.”

Which could mean birds or other animals outdoors, passing cars, your neighbors, or even the Amazon delivery truck.

In these situations, your dog need to learn not to overstep their boundaries past your home or backyard – where there’s no end to the dangers they might run into. (Especially if you have cars passing by.)

So if you’ve invested in a Tractive device – you’re in luck.

With its GPS tracking capabilities, yours can help you:

• Track your dog in real-time, over an unlimited range, and while on vacation (on a Premium subscription)
• Set up a “safe zone” – or a Virtual Fence – around your home and backyard – so you get an escape alert in case your dog tries sneaking past it
• Figure out where your dog likes to spend most of their time (whether that’s in your backyard, at the neighbors’ – or just too far from safety)

All this – and more – all in one device, and with just a glance at your phone.

Set Up A Virtual Fence

Get in touch with your vet

Adjusted your environment, gotten your daily exercise and training down to pat – and still got a dog barking away? It might be time to check in with your vet.²

Because at least some of the time, your dog’s barking might be due to:

• Pain, especially if you touch them or pet them.
• Anxiety, which you can tell if your dog’s tail ends up tucked between their legs, their hackles raised, and their head usually lowered
• Cognitive decline, especially if you have a senior dog at home.

Now your dog isn’t likely to come complaining to you when they’re feeling poorly. But by keeping an eye out for any change in behavior from the ordinary can help you get them the help they need. (And save you a ton of money from unexpected vet bills.)

We’d also recommend shooting a video on your phone when your dog’s barking. Your vet can be an important second pair of eyes to help you better understand your buddy’s behavior – and whether it’s cause for concern.

What if you’ve got a dog barking in sleep?

It might be alarming – especially if you’ve got your dog’s sleeping pillow or crate right next to you. But as it turns out, the most common reason you’ve got a dog barking in sleep is because they’re dreaming. (Meaning it’s 100% normal and not cause for concern.)³

Yup, just like us, dogs go through different sleep stages – including REM (rapid eye movement) and non-REM sleep.

• When they’re in REM sleep, that’s when they’re usually dreaming. (Of what they’ve done today, chasing down the local squirrel population, and also you!)
• Which is why they might bark or “run” in their sleep – or at least have their limbs and paws mimicking the motion of running.

Got a smaller dog at home? They tend to alternative between REM and non-REM sleep more than bigger dogs. (As often as every 10 minutes!) So they might actually end up barking more while asleep.

Read more: What Do Dogs Dream About? Your Dog’s Dreamtime Adventures Explained

If it’s disruptive, you’re best off keeping your dog’s sleeping area a bit away from you and the rest of your housemates. (Everyone does need a good night’s sleep, after all.)

Dogs might also whimper, cry, or howl in their sleep – which, sadly, can indicate they’re having a nightmare.

• As much as you’d like to, it’s not a good idea to wake up your dog if they’re mid-dream. A startled dog that’s just woken up might bite, scratch, or get even more stressed out – just by accident.
• Rather, just call out your dog’s name softly – they’ll hear you and relax instinctively.

Why is my dog barking at nothing?

Yes, it’s creepy – especially if you’re both at home alone. But nope, your dog isn’t barking down a ghost. Rather, their superpowered senses (including their smell, hearing, and even night vision) all play a role in your dog sensing unseen, unheard, undetected stimuli in your environment. Including:

• Bugs, including ticks and mites
• Sounds from outside and far away – including cars, other animals, and people
• The humming of your indoor appliances

So if you’ve counted out separation anxiety, fear, pain, and other more common causes, it’s possible something in your environment is still triggering your dog’s barking. (Even if you yourself can’t sense it. And nope, it’s still not a ghost, but most likely a raccoon outside.)

In these cases, it’s not a bad idea to distract your dog with some attention and playtime – so you can wean them off this behavior. Make sure to reward them consistently when they are quiet and behaving themselves.

Read more: 13 Fun Games For Dogs (For When You’re Cooped Up Indoors)

But if you have a senior dog at home…

Unfortunately, if you have a senior dog at home barking seemingly at nothing and mostly around nighttime, one of the reasons may be cognitive decline.

Senior dogs tend to experience a loss of their senses as they grow older – so their hearing, sight, and proprioception might not be what they used to be. So one reason you might find them barking at nothing – especially at night – is because they feel disoriented, confused, and need your help.

If you’re observing your senior dog barking at seemingly nothing, it might signal the beginnings of canine dementia. Oftentimes, this barking stops as suddenly as it starts – and you might observe your buddy barking into a corner or at a wall during night.

In these cases, make sure to get in touch with your vet. They can best advise you how to care for your senior dog, keep them mentally active, and prevent them from developing cognitive dysfunction.

Read more: Dog Dementia: Recognizing & Treating It

How you can pick up on canine cognitive decline early

If you’ve got a dog barking at night, it’s most likely disrupting both their sleep patterns (and yours.) In fact, a change in sleep patterns is one of the first signs your buddy might be experiencing canine cognitive decline.

“Often, canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome is first noted by owners as unusual behavioral changes.

For example, an owner may notice that his or her dog is less responsive or connected to them emotionally, appears confused or disoriented, or has a change in established sleep-wake patterns — often increasing nocturnal activity.”

– Dr. Julie Buzby, Canine Cognitive Dysfunction in Dogs: Signs, Symptoms & Solutions⁴

But how are you supposed to pick up on a change in your dog’s nighttime or sleeptime behavior – when you need your own 8 hours?

💡 Simple. Use a Sleep Monitor for dogs.

“When I looked at Ruby’s Wellness profile, the data showed that her activity level was low and that she hadn’t slept well. I was concerned and watched her carefully.

Early the next morning, she had blood in her urine and was lethargic. We visited the emergency veterinarian, and Ruby was diagnosed with a UTI.

She received antibiotics and pain medication and is feeling much better. Her tracker data made me aware that she was not acting normally and that something could be wrong with her.

I love her tracker, and I will always have one for any dog I ever own.“

– Katie J, Delaware

Get Sleep Tracking

Is it ethical to use a dog muzzle for barking?

You might be accustomed to putting a muzzle on your dog when taking public transport together. But when it comes to deterring any specific behavior, experts generally discourage using a dog muzzle for barking.

In general, you should only use a dog muzzle for:

• Short periods of time,
• Under full supervision,
• and not for behaviors like barking or chewing

Why? Because in general, dog muzzles for barking aren’t an effective long-term solution. They might prevent your dog from doing so temporarily, but they don’t address the underlying cause of the barking in the first place.

💡Rather, consistent training and tons of positive reinforcement go a much longer way when it comes to stopping a dog from barking.

“Never muzzle your dog to teach a lesson. You will do nothing to fix the underlying problem, and once again, your dog will learn to associate the muzzle with the punishment.

Now when you try to muzzle your dog in a legitimate situation like an emergency, your dog will be even more scared and nervous.“

– The American Kennel Club, “Dog Muzzles: When, Why, and How To Correctly Use Them⁵

What about a dog barking collar?

Also not ideal. In general, aversive training techniques don’t work as well over the long-term as consistent behavior modification. So you’re still better off training your dog regularly and helping them understand why excessive barking won’t get them attention or treats.

⚠️ Besides, both vets and animal rights groups strongly discourage the use of e-collars or shock collars to deter any specific behavior.

• Even if the collar administers a low-level shock, there’s always the risk you’ll “shock” your dog far more severely than intended. (Especially if the remote falls in the wrong hands.)
• With time, this will only worsen your dog’s anxiety and fear – even around you – and might trigger even worse, or more aggressive stress-related behvior.
• Shock collars are also banned in a number of countries around the world and may not be allowed while traveling.

Read more: The Different Types Of Dog Collars (And Which Ones You Need)

Citronella collars, on the other hand, come equipped with a microphone that picks up on your dog’s barking.

• If it crosses a certain threshold, the collar releases a fragrance that dogs find unpleasant. (Meant to deter them from barking too much.)
• However, even citronella collars might not be ideal. There’s always the chance the microphone picks up on other dogs barking at a park or similar – and your poor buddy might be put through an olfactory assault even if they’re being good!

So if you’re dealing with a particularly bad case of barking and your dog’s environment doesn’t seem to be triggering it, it’s smart to leave some jobs to the pros. Enroll your buddy in an obedience training school – and make sure to refresh their training periodically to wean them off any “bad” behaviors.

Wrapping up: How do I get my dog to stop barking?

With patience, consistency, and a bit of detective work, you can figure out what’s triggering your dog’s barking behavior – and help train and redirect their behavior towards something more positive instead.

So start by keeping track of when your dog barks most – whether it’s from the doorbell ringing, other dogs outdoors, or around meal times. Then you could:

• Figure out if a change in their environment is triggering any anxiety. It could be moving houses, adopting a new pet (or baby), or a change in your work or life schedule.
• Socialize your dog plenty to their new environment with a steady routine of walks, playtime, meal times, and of course, quality time with you. (So they learn how to behave around other dogs and people.)
• Get your buddy plenty of exercise to prevent them from barking with any pent-up energy.

• Make sure your buddy has an enriched home environment when you’re not around to prevent any boredom barking.
• Make regular training a priority. Ignore your dog when they do bark – but reward them plenty when they’re quiet and well-behaved.
• If you’re still unsure, get in touch with your vet. Oftentimes, dogs may bark out of pain, disorientation, or if they’re experiencing cognitive decline.
• Avoid aversive techniques like dog muzzles for barking or dog barking collars. They’re not ideal long-term solutions for deterring any behaviors and might only worsen your dog’s anxiety or fear.

And most importantly…

• Take an active role in your buddy’s health and well-being – by tracking their sleep, activity, and location all in one device. Built with love for dogs and for your peace of mind as a dog parent.

Stay on top of your dog’s wellness

Follow every step in real-time with unlimited range. Get alerts if they wander too far. Keep them happy & healthy with Wellness Monitoring. And let others – like walkers or sitters – keep an eye on your dog too.

Discover Tractive GPS

For more tips on how to get your dog to stop barking, here’s canine expert Will Atherton sharing his smarts:

And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a friend or a loved one – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.