Excessive dog barking: Causes and how to stop it

Whether you’ve just adopted a dog or you’ve been living with your doggie for years, you may be wondering if their love of yapping at passersby (and anything and everything else in their line of view) is normal. How much barking is really considered excessive dog barking? Dogs bark for many reasons, and it’s important they do so to communicate. But if you’re looking for a little relief, here are some causes of dog barking and what to do if it becomes excessive.

Dogs may bark for many reasons. Just as you use your voice to express concern, fear, or happiness, dogs bark to communicate. Maybe they bark to say hello to another dog in the neighborhood, or a guest at the door has put them on high alert. Some dogs may bark when they want extra affection, and dogs with separation anxiety might bark when they are lonely and missing their human. Barking is natural, but excessive barking can become an annoyance for your household and even your neighbors.

It’s in their nature

Some breeds are naturally a little more chatty than others. Beagles are considered one of the most vocal dog breeds, and other dogs that bark a lot include chihuahuas, yorkshire terriers, cairn terriers, basset hounds and other hound breeds, poodles, and pomeranians. Regardless of breed, most dogs will bark when they feel threatened or if they feel that their family or territory is being threatened. Excessive dog barking may just be your dog’s way of telling threats to back off.

Behavior issues

Dog barking can be behavioral. Dogs are natural pack animals, and they like to be around other dogs or their owners. When you leave for work, Fido may feel lonely or bored, so they may bark to express their feelings. If your dog has separation anxiety, they may bark when they are alone to hear their own voice and ask for attention. In addition to barking excessively, dogs with separation anxiety may also pace the house or yard, and chew or destroy household items and furniture.

Underlying medical conditions

If your dog seems to be barking more than usual, they could be trying to tell you something is wrong. They might be in pain from a cut on their paw, or they might be experiencing vision or hearing loss. Older dogs may bark excessively when experiencing Canine Cognitive Dysfunction, which is similar to what humans experience with Alzheimer’s disease. Any source of pain, discomfort, or diminishing senses can lead a dog to bark as they try to express that something is wrong.

Whether your dog’s barking is interrupting your family dinners or keeping you up all night, it can be frustrating to hear the constant noise and not know how to help your dog find peace or relief. No matter the cause of the barking, there are ways to train your dog to better communicate, and you can help narrow down the reason for excessive barking.

👉 Don’t yell at your dog for barking; this is ineffective and confusing. Instead, use consistent, short, and positive training sessions.

If your dog has started barking more than usual, the first thing to do is call the vet. A veterinarian will be able to determine if there are any underlying health issues that have caused your dog to call out for help. A vet can diagnose a behavioral problem or determine if the excessive dog barking is due to a medical condition. Worried about the cost of an unexpected vet visit? Pet insurance may cover some or most of these visits.

If your dog is in good health and is still being vocal, they may be barking for other reasons. They might feel threatened by the new dog that moved in across the street, or they’re struggling with socialization following the pandemic lockdowns. You may need to give them more exercise by taking them on longer walks, or consider working on socialization skills by taking your pup to a doggie daycare or dog park. If you can modify a situation that makes them uncomfortable, like keeping them inside the house when you know the neighborhood kids will be getting off the bus, that can also curb barking.

Training is a great way to teach dogs better communication skills, and extra playtime can help keep them from feeling bored or lonely.

Use vocal commands — Teach your dog to understand the term “Quiet.” Aside from being more aggressive, the term “Shut up” is more complex and harder for the dog to learn. Remember to keep training sessions positive to reinforce good behavior.

Ignore barking for attention — Some dogs bark just so you’ll give them a scratch on the head. Don’t encourage this behavior by giving in; instead, wait to give them attention or a treat once they have stopped barking.

Teach new communications — Dogs may bark to go outside or to greet other dogs. Use treats and training to teach them to communicate in other ways. For example, teach them to jingle a bell on the door handle when they want to go outside, or use treats to encourage them to walk past doggie passersby quietly.

Consider crate training — Crate training may be helpful for dogs with separation anxiety that are barking a lot. Just be patient, as crate training may take several weeks, and don’t use this option for more than 5 hours for adult dogs. Also, make sure to give your dog safe toys in the crate to keep them occupied.

Burn energy with playtime — Your dog might be barking because they are bored or have too much energy. Make sure to schedule plenty of games of fetch and walks to help them burn off their energy and keep their mind stimulated in a positive way.

Training a puppy or adult dog can be difficult to do on your own. If DIY training isn’t working for you and your furry friend, you should work with a professional trainer or certified applied animal behaviorist. These experts can find the cause of the barking, and work with you and your dog to learn better ways to communicate. 

When searching for trainers, look for professionals with one of these certifications: CPDT-KA, CPDT-KSA, or CBCC-KA. Make sure to read reviews for the trainers on your short-list, and don’t be afraid to ask for references. Also, avoid trainers who use punishment-based or dominance-and-submission methods for training.

The vet may recommend medications or supplements to help control any medical or behavioral causes of excessive barking. Don’t use medicines or supplements without talking to your dog’s veterinarian first. 

A vet may recommend calming supplements to make your dog feel more relaxed, especially during particularly stressful events, like thunderstorms or Independence Day fireworks. 

In medical situations, the vet may prescribe medication to treat or alleviate the underlying cause of the barking. For the worst cases, a vet may recommend psychoactive medication as a last resort for chronic barking if the barking is due to a behavioral issue. Most pet insurance policies cover medication, including anxiety medications for dogs.

You may be tempted to try CBD for dogs to reduce barking, but keep in mind that these products aren’t federally regulated and could negatively interact with other medications or supplements that your dog is taking.

You can use safe, anti-bark devices in conjunction with positive, consistent training to encourage your dog to bark less. Owner-activated products, like water sprayers, ultrasonic or audio devices, and shake cans made from an empty, sealable can and a few noise-making items like coins, can be used to interrupt a barking dog. But, be sure to use training techniques to positively reinforce the quiet behavior.

A barking dog can be frustrating and disruptive, but remember that showing your agitation by yelling or cursing will only make the dog feel worse. Physical abuse should never, ever be used against a dog. It’s not only ineffective — it’s illegal. The Animal Legal Defense Fund provides information on state-by-state punishments for animal abusers. In 2019, Congress passed the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act. It states that certain acts of animal cruelty, including killing, torturing, overworking, or neglecting an animal, may be deemed a federal crime. Those found guilty of animal cruelty could face up to seven years in prison.