Barking: The Soundtrack You Didn’t Subscribe To
“How do I get my dog to stop barking?” is a question I get all the time.
I usually follow that up with, “well you knew that dogs bark when you got one right?”
“Yeah but I didn’t think my dog would bark…”
Barking might not be the most pleasant sound, but for dogs, it’s as natural and important as talking is for us. It’s one of their main ways to communicate needs, emotions, and reactions to the world around them.
What Your Dog Might Be Saying
Dogs bark for lots of reasons. Kids playing across the street, trespassing squirrels, or the Amazon driver rolling up, might cause a freak out but that doesn’t necessarily mean they have a “barking problem.”
The trick is to reduce barking starts with figuring out the “why”.
Here are some common bark types and what they usually mean:
Alert barking – Short, sharp bursts in quick succession. “Something’s there!”
Request barking – Repetitive, mid-pitch, evenly spaced. “I want something” or “Please pay attention.”
Fear or alarm barking – Higher-pitched, strained or broken. Often paired with stepping back or tense body language.
Frustration or barrier barking – Lower-pitched, intense, steady rhythm. Often happens when they can’t reach what they want.
Play or excited barking – Short bursts, lighter tone, bouncy body language.
Some breeds —herding dogs, livestock guardians, and terriers, for example, were selectively bred to respond quickly to threats, movement or changes to the environment. They tend to communicate that through barking more so than other breeds. Even so, barking varies a lot between individual dogs.
Why yelling Doesn’t Work
Here’s the thing—barking works for dogs. They might scare something off, get your attention, and sometimes it feels good to blow off some steam.
And yes… even telling them to “Be quiet!” can be reinforcing to them because it’s still attention.
That’s why yelling, punishment, or banishing them to another room often makes barking worse, not better.
Step One: Figure Out the Why
If you want to reduce barking, you’ve got to know what’s behind it.
Pay attention to:
What’s happening before the bark (doorbell rings, another dog walks by, you’re on the phone).
Your dog’s body language (relaxed, excited, tense, worried).
Patterns (time of day, specific triggers, certain locations).
If the barking suddenly changes—different pitch, more frequent, or out of character—check with your vet. Pain, hearing loss, or age-related changes can sometimes be part of the story.
How to Help Your Dog Bark Less
Change the environment – Block the view to the street, add white noise, or give them a quiet space away from triggers.
Teach and reward something else – Show your dog what to do instead, like going to a mat, looking at you, or holding a toy.
Meet their needs – Many dogs bark more when they’re bored or under-stimulated. Physical exercise, enrichment, and social interaction can make a big difference.
Healthy vs. Excessive Barking
We don’t want to silence dogs completely—barking is part of who they are.
The goal is to bring it down to a level that works for both you and your dog.
Punishing barking can damage trust and emotional well-being, so it’s better to understand the why and work with it in a way that helps everyone.
Quick Takeaways
Barking is normal—dogs use it like we use speech.
Different bark types = different messages.
Yelling rarely works and can make it worse.
Always look for the reason before trying to change it.
Prevention, meeting needs, and teaching what to do instead are key.
