Should I ignore my dog barking at nothing

Excessive Dog Barking: Reasons & and How to Stop It

Barking is natural for dogs, but sometimes barking can be a thing of excess, which can lead to frustrated owners, and sometimes neighbors. Generally, excessive or nuisance dog barking involves a dog repeatedly barking for prolonged periods of time that interfere with neighbors engaging being able to enjoy their own property. Everyones definition of what excessive barking is will look different but if you have a dog who is barking excessively there are things you can do to bring peace to your dog and quiet to your home.

Why Dogs Bark So Much

If you are struggling with a dog who barks excessively, its important to try and understand what is causing the barking. Vocalizations are one way that dogs can communicate about how they are feeling and what they want. Dogs may bark to get attention, because they are alerting to something going on around them, because they are bored, anxious, frustrated, or feeling defensive of their homes or families.

Some barking is normal, but when barking becomes excessive not only is it frustrating for owners, but its also a sign your dog may be stressed, or their needs arent being met. Dogs use their barking as a means of communicating with us when they need things: to go outside, to play, because they are hungry, or because they are concerned about things. There is always a reason for the barking, and its our job to figure out what our dogs need.

A common reason for excessive barking is in response to things going on in your neighborhood. Historically, many breeds of dogs were kept guarding their owners homes and properties, or to alert owners about the presence of intruders. Although today many owners find alert barking frustrating, its important to remember that this behavior is natural for dogs.

Removing Distractions

If your dog is spending their day looking out the window and barking at people, dogs, and vehicles in your neighborhood a key step to stopping the barking is to remove the distraction. By managing your dogs environment and their access to distractions you may be able to reduce or even eliminate excessive barking.

Adding blinds, curtains, or adhesive privacy film (which comes in plain frosted or decorative patterns) to your windows can block the visual distractions from your dog. In addition to creating visual barriers from neighborhood distractions, it can be useful to use a white noise machine or to turn on a white noise playlist, radio, or television to help muffle distracting noises from outside your home.

Develop Alternative Behaviors

In addition to managing your space to reduce your dogs engagement with triggers that cause them to bark, its helpful to teach alternative behaviors for your dog to do instead of barking.

If you know your dog barks excessively when a package is delivered, you can teach your dog that when the doorbell rings they should run to another area of your home to get rewarded (instead of your dog rehearsing the barking behavior at the door.)

To start teaching this new behavior, have a friend or family member ring your doorbell (or use a doorbell recording online), and when the doorbell rings, get your dogs attention with a high-value treat and rush quickly with a lot of verbal encouragement to the area you want them to go. When you get to that area, jackpot your dog with lots of high-value treats. Repeat this interaction multiple times over several practice sessions. With practice, your dog will shift their behavior and anticipate running to that area of your home away from the front door to get treats instead of barking when packages are delivered.

Increasing Enrichment

Excessive barking can be a sign that your dog is bored. When dogs dont have enough enrichment in their day, they may develop destructive habits including too much barking.

In addition to making sure your dog gets enough physical exercise by walks, and active playtime if youre struggling with excessive barking, its helpful to increase the amount of mental and enrichment your dog gets during the day. If you know your dog barks while home alone, make sure to spend quality time with your dog before you leave and provide stimulating activities like a stuffed KONG for your dog to solve and eat while youre away.

Providing brain games for your dog can help alleviate boredom barking. If youre going for extended periods of time, its helpful to have a friend, family member, or professional dog walker come and visit your dog midday to get exercise and break up the alone time.

Barking At You

When frustrated or bored, some dogs will bark at their owners for attention. This is known as demand barking. Generally, this behavior is a result of your dog trying to get attention or another need met. If your dog is barking at you excessively, ignore your dogs barking and reward what you do want the quiet moments between barking, engaging with toys etc. When your dog stops barking, praise and reward your dog. While your dog is quiet, engage your dog in play or practice a trick. The idea is to give your dog engagement and attention while they arent barking.

Dont Punish

Having a dog barking too much can be stressful. The frustration can also be heightened if you have neighbors complaining about your dog. When youre stressed, it can be tempting to get loud yourself. However, getting into a yelling match with your dog doesnt solve the barking problem. The louder you yell, the louder your dog barks and generally ends up just escalating your dog instead of calming them down.

Instead of getting frustrated, try to recognize that your dog isnt actively barking to make you mad, rather they are communicating a need or desire in the only way that they know. Punishing your dog for barking through yelling or using an electronic (shock) bark collar, citronella collars, or ultrasonic machines that produce unpleasant sounds doesnt address the underlying issue of why your dog is barking excessively. In addition, being aversive doesnt help your dog learn anything it just punishes behavior without giving an alternative.

Breed Considerations

All dogs are individuals, and some will bark more than others. How much a dog barks can have a variety of causes including a dogs socialization and training. In addition, some dog breeds are naturally more vocal than others. Some breeds tend to bark more because of the jobs (like guarding) that they were bred to do.

Additionally, because of their size, some dogs will have larger and louder barks than other dogs. If you are sensitive to barking or live in an apartment, its important to keep in mind how large a dogs bark is, as well breed characteristics, before getting a dog. If you have a breed that is naturally very vocal, youll need to be especially attentive to supporting your dog to avoid issues with your neighbors.

Regardless of what type of dog you have, the key to changing your dogs behavior is recognizing and addressing the underlying cause for the barking. Once you know why your dog is barking, you can make lifestyle changes to prevent barking and you can teach alternative behaviors.

How to stop your dog barking

To help prevent your dog barking, it's important to know why they are doing it. So, here are three reasons why dogsbe vocal.

Barking to get something good to happen

Dogs can learn that barking is a great way of quickly getting our attention. Even us telling them to be quiet may be rewarding because they enjoy being looked at and spoken to.

Other dogs may learn to bark at their mealtimes, usually when their food is being prepared. Because who doesnt get excited when someone is making them a delicious meal?

If their food is given to them when theyre barking, theyre likely to bark again next time because they have connected barking with their food arriving.

Just as some dogs get excited around food, others cant get enough of playtime. If barking results in a fun game, they may learn to bark every time they want us to play with them.

Barking when left alone

Dogs that are distressed about being left alone may howl or bark to try to get back to their owners.

Dogs are naturally social animals. But most owners have commitments that mean their dogs might be left at home alone during the day. Some owners also prefer for their dogs to sleep in a separate area of the house.

Unless your dog has been taught that being alone is an okay part of life, this can be scary or frustrating.

If you return home when your dog is barking, your dog might feel that barking was a good thing to do because it worked to bring you home.

Simply ignoring your dogs barking when left alone, and waiting for them to stop before returning, will not stop them from barking because it doesnt change the way they feel about being on their own.

Teaching your pooch to relax when left alone is a vital step in stopping them from barking when youre not around.

Barking to prevent something bad from happening

When your dog is frightened about something and feels under threat, whether the threat is real or not, they might bark at whatever is scaring them to make it go away.

If barking works to get rid of the scary thing, your dog will learn to bark again next time they want to feel safe.

For example, some dogs may be frightened by the postiecoming up the path and pushing letters through the door.

If they started barking as the post-person arrived, they might connect their barking with them turning and walking away.

Your dog has no way of understanding that they were going to go leave anyway, so barking seems to do the trick.

Dogs who are worried about something nearby might also bark to tell us that this thing is present because they need us to take action to help them feel safe. It could be something theyve seen, heard, felt or smelt, and something that we might not be aware of at all.

How to Know if You Should Ignore Your Dog Barking at Night

Your dog probably has a good reason to bark at night. If your dog only barks occasionally and its sparked off by a loud noise such as a car backfiring, then you can probably ignore it. Once you can determine what makes your dog bark, you are halfway there to solving the problem.

Dogs bark for seemingly no reason, but it pays not to ignore it, or it can become a habit.

• Your dog may be lonely and feel afraid.
• They may be scared of stormy weather.
• Toileting they need to go!
• Noises outside.
• Appliance noises inside may startle them.
• They arent tired.
• Hunger especially for one meal a day pooches.
• Boredom they are awake and want action.

If you are a country dweller, having a barking dog at night may not be an issue. However, if you are in a townhouse or unit in the city, your neighbours will be soon be knocking on your door to have a word!

And I get it I have owned a dog that loved to bark at night, and it can be frustrating.

So do you ignore them or do something about it. I would opt for doing something about it.

Some experts say to ignore them and they will adapt, but that can shatter your nerves, your sleep and our neighbourhood relationships, so I am all for trying to solve whatever is upsetting them before going down that path.

Help A Lonely Dog to Stop Barking at Night

Puppies or young dogs most often feel a bit lonely at night, and if they are new to your family, they may be afraid to be away from their birthplace and mom.

They normally adapt after a few weeks of getting to know you and your home. Whether they are outdoor or indoor dogs, it is usually a sound they dont understand that sets them off barking.

These triggers to bark include:

• Sudden noises can wake them with a start and set them off.
• People walking past and talking loudly.
• A very quiet house can be intimidating so they bark at every sound they hear.
• They may see or hear an animal in your yard, and they are warning you.
• They might find being alone very scary.
• Street lighting may flicker and wake them up.

While its ok to give a warning bark or two, constant barking is not acceptable, and you need to find ways to stop your pup from waking the dead, as they say.

The above problems can be solved by doing the following.

• If they are next to a busy road and footpath, move them into another room at the rear of the house that is away from the roadside frontage noises.
• Play some soft relaxing music in the room your dog is in to relax their nerves and take away the heavy silence of the home.
• Draw the curtains so your dog cannot see the light, and the talking sounds from pedestrians is muffled.
• Give them a special toy such as a Snuggle Puppy soft toy that has a comforting beating heart which is almost like having a littermate to cuddle at night. They have been proven to quieten a new pup or dog and give them confidence at night.
• If they are scared on their own, maybe you could have them sleep in a crate with a bed beside you in your bedroom. That would give them confidence, and you can stop them from barking before they can get their bark on.

Solve Hunger or Toilet Requirements.

Puppies cant hold onto their bladder for long periods like an older dog can when it comes to toileting. Often they will start barking during the night to tell you that they need to go, which is a good thing, although it may not feel like it at 3 am.

The best thing is to accept this gracefully and get up and let them out to do their business.

The right way is to keep this visit for toileting only. Keep calm and dont play with them or get them excited. Just take them out, and when they are finished, take them right back to their bed.

If they are a young dog where the number of meals they have per day has just been reduced, give them a special treat to munch on that will calm their tummy and take the bite off their hunger so they go back to sleep.

Before going to bed, take your dog out for a toilet run which may get them over that midnight callout.

Dogs do get better at holding on as they age.

Use Up Your Dogs Energy Before Bed

If your dog has had a non-active day, they may not be sleepy when they are put to bed. This can result in barking at bedtime or in the early hours of the morning.

The way to overcome this is to plan some high energy games for the evening. You have to time it right so that you are not playing just before bedtime. Give them time to wind down before bed.

A fast and furious walk (or run), a game of tug of war, or if you are tired just toss the ball for them to retrieve. Most dogs never tire of this game, and they will run back and forth for hours.

Then when you start to settle them down, play some puzzle games or let them cuddle up for some together time and watch television with you.

A final walk for toileting needs just before bed, and they should settle down for a much-needed rest.

The secret is to tire them out and rid them of their energy before calming them down, so they want to have a snooze. A tired dog is a quiet dog.

Overcome Household Noise

A bark now and then is ok; after all, your dogs sense of hearing is stronger than yours, and they may bark occasionally to warn intruders away.

Wouldnt it be great if we could teach them to wear earmuffs at night? But most dogs would probably pull them off and destroy them in five minutes, so sadly, earmuffs are not an option.

But you can stop a lot of household noise by turning off appliances, using your dishwasher during the day, and removing clocks that chime from the room. Flashing appliances also need to be turned off.

Or just put your dog into a quieter room.

Drawing the drapes at night can block out a bit of outside noise, like people walking past, storm noise, or vehicle noise.

Our modern homes are very noisy, and most appliances seem to have lights, so having your dog in the kitchen area is probably not the best place for your dogs bed.

Keeping your dog confined to a room or a crate means they wont be able to get out and wander at night. They can get into a lot of trouble if they start exploring during the moonlight hours.

By minimizing the distracting household noises and providing your dog with a super comfortable bed and an array of toys to cuddle, is a lot better than listening to them yodel in the dark!

Use Crate Training Methods to Quieten Your Dog

Step 1. Try to make the crate a soothing environment where your puppy or dog will want to be. Soft bedding, toys, and pheromones (room diffusers or sprays that help calm your dog naturally) will help them relax.

Step 2. Pick a nice cozy spot for the crate. Perhaps in your bedroom at night. A blanket draped over the crate will keep it dark and cozy for them.

Step 3. It takes a while for a dog to get used to the crate. Try feeding them in the crate or giving tasty treats which will win them over. Sit outside the crate and play with their toys and your dog so they associate the crate with fun and attention.

Step 4. Your dog should associate the crate with good things i.e. soft toys, rewards, a warm location, or if you have hot weather, a cooling breeze.

Step 5. Should your puppy or young dog fall asleep in the house, carry them gently and put them into the crate. When they wake up, the open door will make them associate the crate with sleeping.

It would pay to close the door to the crate at night to prevent wandering.

Step 6. You need a lot of patience. Young dogs take a while to learn, while older dogs will catch on quicker.

Whatever you can do to make your dog feel safe and confident at night will pay off in the long run.

Patience And Sorting Out Their Concerns Pays Off

Ignoring your dog is not always the answer. Finding out why they bark and solving that problem is less stressful than listen to your dog bark itself hoarse.

Be considerate to your neighbors as nothing ruins a friendship quicker than a noisy dog at night. Do you want the police arriving on your doorstep to accuse you of disturbing the neighborhood peace?

Please dont blame your dog for its barking. You are their pack leader, you should be training them not to bark but do it without physical or verbal abuse.

Your dog can be taught to relax and sleep at night without barking all night, but you have to start training them as soon as possible.

From the moment you get your dog, you should start teaching them not to bark at night, unless a prowler is about of course!

Use the suggestions in this article to see what ones your dog responds best to.

If they are just lonely for your company, keeping them in their bed in your room will help. But not everyone wants that, so try to work out what works best for you.

You can do it, it will take time and test your patience, but it will be worth it. Dont ignore your dog barking, as it will end up driving you mad!

Writer: Jean Brewer

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