Why Dogs Bark — and What You Can Do About It

Barking is one of the most natural ways dogs communicate. It’s how they express excitement, alert you to something unusual or simply ask for attention. But when barking becomes constant, it can be frustrating and even annoying.

The good news? The right training approach can help you teach your dog what to do when it’s time to stay quiet.

Why Your Dog May Be Barking

Dogs bark for a number of reasons, including fear, boredom, anxiety, to alert you or scare off strangers, when they are in pain or discomfort, to get your attention and to communicate socially with you and other dogs.

Excessive barking is also a sign of hearing loss, as dogs may not know how loud they are barking. Dogs losing their hearing or going deaf may also have a change in the sound of their bark.

To better understand why your dog is barking, pay attention to when they bark and what’s going on in the environment. You may even notice your dog has a different bark depending on what they’re barking at/about. For example, your dog may have a deep, loud bark at a perceived threat, but a high-pitched, playful bark while they play or when they want attention.

Breed may also factor into this: Dogs that get extremely attached to their owners or are high-energy are known to be more likely to bark when their person leaves. They may also be more protective or bark for attention or to play.

If you’re concerned about the sound or frequency of your dog’s barking and you can’t figure out the reason, call your veterinarian or dog trainer or find a dog behaviorist near you.

Tips to Help Stop Your Dog’s Barking

Keeping your dog’s barking under control starts with giving them healthy ways to release their energy. These practical, positive strategies — from daily exercise and mental enrichment to training techniques and consistency — can help reduce unwanted barking and build better habits over time.

Routine exercise and mental stimulation

A lack of exercise or mental stimulation can lead to boredom and frustration, which often results in barking at everything/nothing or barking to get your attention. This is just one of many reasons it’s important for your dog to get plenty of physical activity each day: walks<, play sessions or even a game of fetch can make a big difference.

Despite popular belief, time alone in the backyard doesn’t count as exercise. Leaving your dog out there alone can lead to and worsen barking behaviors you don’t want, such as territorial barking, barking at squirrels/leaves/anything that moves, barking at or with neighborhood dogs or compulsive barking as they get wound up running along the fence.

Mental enrichment can also help keep your dog’s mind engaged and may reduce restless energy. Whether it’s too cold or too rainy to walk outside, or you just need a few ideas to help keep your pup occupied, here are a few ways to get your dog to use their brain (and their nose!):

• Create an obstacle/agility course with boxes, hula hoops, broom handles and furniture.
• Grab two to four boxes, and put treats under one of them. Your dog has to figure out which box has the treats hidden under it.
• Play hide-and-seek by hiding in another room and letting your dog find you.
• Put some treats in every space in a muffin tin. Cover each hole with a tennis ball, and let your dog figure out how to get the treats.
• Use a snuffle mat and let them fulfill their natural desire to forage.

And don’t forget about the power of affection and attention given at the right times — during training, playtime, when you initiate it and when your dog is calm and relaxed. Conversely, giving your dog attention and affection when they initiate it can lead to demand barking and other common dog behavior issues.

Use Positive Reinforcement Techniques

There are a few ways to reduce your dog’s barking, depending on why they are barking in the first place. If they are barking out of excitement, boredom or frustration, teach them the “quiet” command, to go to a specific spot, work on impulse control and/or limit their access to things that get them overly excited.

• To teach your dog to be “quiet.” Recreate a known barking trigger, like a knock at the door. Knock and wait for your dog to stop barking. Be patient. As soon as your dog stops barking, even if it’s just a couple of seconds, calmly reward them with a treat, toy or calm praise and affection — whatever motivates your dog the most. Repeat several times. Gradually extend the amount of time between when your dog stops barking and when you reward them. As your dog starts to understand why they are being rewarded, add the “quiet” command and then reward them when they are silent. Another way to do this is to tell them to be quiet and hold up a treat. When your dog stops barking to look at you and/or the treat, reward them.

• To teach your dog to “go to your spot.” Decide where their spot is going to be. It could be their crate, a specific rug, their bed or mat, a spot at the top of the stairs, etc. It’s also helpful if your dog already knows basic commands, like “sit” and “stay.” Tell your dog to “go to your spot,” and either lure them with a treat or guide them with a leash. Once your dog is in their spot, reward them. Practice this until you can build up distance, and they’ll go to their spot when you ask them from across the room. Eventually, ask your dog to sit and then stay in their spot, using your release command (“OK” is a common one) to let them know when they can get up. (This strategy can also be helpful for teaching impulse control to pups who get too excited when people walk through the door.)
• Reduce your dog’s access to the thing they’re barking at. This might mean blinds on the front windows so they can’t see delivery or mail people, not allowing your dog to greet people at the door or not leaving them in the backyard unattended. For the training to work, you’ll need to consistently catch and redirect your dog immediately so they learn what to stop doing and what you’d like them to do instead. Sometimes it can help to turn on calming music, white noise or the TV to drown out sounds that might trigger your dog’s barking, such as neighbors talking, cars and other dogs.

Note: Don’t muzzle your dog’s mouth shut to keep them quiet. Muzzles can restrict eating, drinking and panting, which is how dogs keep themselves cool.

Avoid unintentionally encouraging barking

Barking can be really frustrating, but yelling — or even barking back — at your dog is one of the least helpful things you can do. Your dog may interpret it as attention (you’ve probably heard the saying, “any attention is good attention”), or even that you’re encouraging them to keep going.

When your dog is barking for attention, the first step is to ignore them. Again, any attention is considered good attention, so turn your back on them or don’t look in their direction. If that doesn’t work (some dogs are persistent), guide them away from you on leash to their spot or their crate (supervised) for a quick, 1-2 minute “time out” and repeat as needed. Once your dog learns that barking for attention results in distance from you rather than attention, they will likely stop.

Provide adequate training and socialization

If your dog barks because they’re scared or anxious, don’t force them to deal with it, and don’t punish them for it. Neither will help them get over it; instead, it will make them more stressed and may increase reactivity. Try to either desensitize them to their fears by slowly exposing them to the thing they are afraid of, or use counterconditioning to help them associate their fear with something positive.

For example, if your dog barks and lunges at other dogs while walking, desensitizing would involve giving the other dogs a wide berth so your dog can see them without feeling the need to bark. Counterconditioning would still involve giving your dog space from the other dogs so that they aren’t triggered to bark, but giving them a treat or reward when the other dog approaches. Your pup may start to associate other dogs approaching with getting a treat instead of being afraid.

Consider tools and aids (with caution)

There are anti-bark collars on the market that spray, buzz or even shock your dog when they bark. The idea is that when your dog barks, something unpleasant happens that stops them from barking.

This method, known as positive punishment, may seem easy enough to strap on your dog and forget about. But it can easily be misused and comes with concerns like creating a fearful dog, stress and anxiety, especially if your dog is barking due to nervousness or uncertainty. In addition, permanently stopping a naturally vocal dog can cause them to shut down. And, in multi-dog households, there is also the potential issue of the collar activating for one of the other dogs’ barks.

Some pushy or demanding dogs may require a correction to learn to stop barking. If you choose to try these methods, be sure to consult a professional trainer to ensure you use the tools correctly. Before starting, make sure you’ve already established the habit of not reinforcing demand barking with attention — it’s unfair to your dog to reward the behavior by giving attention while also punishing them for it.

Be patient and consistent

Training unwanted behaviors like barking depends on the root cause of the barking, how consistent you are with training and how quickly your dog picks up on new skills. Behavior change can take a few days, a few weeks or a few months. Being patient and not giving in to barking behavior can help your dog learn.

That being said, be sure to give yourself (and your dog) credit for progress. Celebrate wins along the way and get excited when your dog doesn’t bark as long or as much, or maybe even skips barking once or twice.

Consistent Effort Can Pay Off

Reducing excessive barking takes time, patience and consistency — but it can be achieved. By understanding why your dog barks and teaching them a replacement behavior or reinforcing calm behavior, you can help create a more peaceful environment for both of you.

CareCredit Credit Card Financing for Dogs

The CareCredit credit card provides a convenient way to pay for your dog’s vaccinations and other health and wellness expenses, including exams, medications and products at providers in the CareCredit network.* Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App. You can find a provider on the go, manage your CareCredit account and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos. Use our Acceptance Locator to find a veterinarian that accepts CareCredit to help keep your pet healthy and happy for a lifetime of love.

In addition to pet care, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for dentistry, cosmetic, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Expert Bio

Antonio Diaz, Professional Dog Trainer

Antonio Diaz, founder of Leader of the Pack K9 Training, is a professional dog trainer and behavior expert with more than a decade of experience in rewards-based balanced training and behavior rehabilitation. Known for his clear communication and ability to simplify complex behavioral concepts, he helps owners develop well-mannered dogs through relationship-based leadership. As director of education for the International Association of Canine Professionals, Antonio helps shape industry standards, professional development and ethical training practices. He also creates online courses and serves as a canine subject matter expert for CareCredit.

Author Bio

Abbie Mood is a freelance writer with more than 15 years of experience. She has worked with clients of all sizes to create compelling content and she has written for the American Kennel Club, Marriott Bonvoy, Women’s Health Online, Headspace and more.