Dogs bark for lots of reasons, ranging from being bored to trying to communicate with you. Identifying why your dog is barking, and what they’re trying to tell you, is the first step for successfully managing excessive dog barking.
What you'll learn in this article:
- The five types of dog barking and how to identify each
- How to manage watch-dog barking, distance barking, and attention barking
- General techniques for managing excessive dog barking
The five types of dog barking
Dogs bark for many reasons, ranging from responding to sights or sounds, to communicating fear and anxiety. There are five loose categories of barking:
- Attention-seeking barking. Typically higher-pitched, and your dog will be looking at you.
- Anxious barking. This is the type of barking your dog will engage in when they’re feeling anxious, and the barking is typically high-pitched and incessant. Your dog’s behavior may also include whining and panting.
- Alert or “watch dog” barking. This is the type of barking your dog will engage in when they’re guarding, it’s typically lower-pitched, and results in your dog going to the door or direction of the “thing” they’re barking at.
- Distance-increase barking. This is the type of barking your dog will engage in when they want to create space from a person, animal, place, or thing. The tone is typically lower-pitched, and you may see your dog moving back and forth towards the perceived threat.
- Frustration or boredom barking. This is the type of barking your dog will engage in when they haven’t got enough exercise, have excess energy, and/or aren’t mentally stimulated. The tone is typically higher pitched, and can often be remedied with ample exercise and integrating work-to-eat toys and bowls into your dog’s routine.
Managing excessive barking
If you are dealing with excessive barking in a variety of situations, start by doing the following:
- Keep a log so you can identify what triggers your dog to bark.
- Reduce exposure to sights/sounds that trigger barking.
- Create more physical exercise time for you and your dog.
- Create more mental enrichment: proper feeding, exercise and playing, as well as mental stimulation from work-to-eat toys.
- If you’re expecting a trigger (food delivery, visitor, etc.) give your dog a work-to-eat toy or Benebone to distract them.
- Use counter conditioning techniques to change your dog’s associations that cause them to bark.
- Teach what you do want the dog to do in a situation that causes them to bark.
- Reward the good behavior.
- Be consistent, persistent, patient, and most of all committed to showing your dog what behavior you do want.
Watchdog barking
Here are some things to consider when dealing with an excessive alert barker:
- Incorporate white-noise. Either purchase a white-noise machine or check out one of Spotify’s white noise playlists (we like Baby Sleep Aid: White Noise). White noise is effective because it drowns out sounds that could be triggering your dog to bark. You can also get a door sweep or weatherstrip for the bottom of your door if you live in an apartment and your hallway noise is especially loud.
- Orientation and positioning matter. If your dog is constantly facing the door or is near the door, they are setting themselves up to be on alert. You can limit your dog’s access to the door by using a gate, crate, exercise pen, or leash.
- Create and implement a consistent plan. Keep a jar of treats or a liquid treat dispenser in one consistent spot. Whenever your dog barks, bring them to that spot to give them a treat. We recommend a dog bed in or by their safe space. Over time, your dog will start to associate the sound with good things and the barking will decrease.
- Avoid yelling or agitating your dog further. If you yell or become frustrated at your dog for barking, it’s likely to make them bark more. Instead, remain calm and follow through with your plan to help change your dog’s emotional state over the sounds.
Barking for attention
Some dogs bark to get humans to play or interact with them. The best way to alter this behavior is to teach your dog a different behavior to get what they want. You can do this by employing a tried and true counter conditioning tactic:
- Put yourself in a “time out”. Get up and walk behind a closed door (like a bathroom) when your dog starts barking. Once your dog quiets, wait 5 seconds and return. Try to catch your dog before they start barking again by redirecting them to a toy or playing a game (work to eat toys are a great option). Retreat if they start up again. Don’t go behind a door more than three times in one sitting.
Distance-increase barking
Distance-increase barking is a symptom of your dog’s underlying emotional response to a stimulus or threat. In order to reduce the barking, you first need to figure out why they are uncomfortable. Once you’ve identified the trigger, use counter conditioning tactics to change your dog’s association:
- Pull out your dog’s favorite toy or treat as soon as they notice the stimuli at a safe distance.
- Repeat by presenting the “good” thing consistently and immediately after your dog notices the trigger.