Barking dogs

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Last revised: 6 November 2008

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Dogs tend to bark when lonely and/or bored. For complaints about barking dogs please contact our Animal Welfare Officer in Environmental Health on (01380) 724911or email kennet@kennet.gov.uk

Barking comes naturally to dogs, but the constant barking or whining of a dog can be disturbing or annoying for neighbours and owners. Often the problem occurs when the dog's owner is out of the house and so the owner doesn't know until someone complains. In law, a barking dog can be a noise nuisance. The owner can be taken to court if he does nothing to stop the nuisance.This page suggests some simple things you, as a dog owner can try.

Why Dogs Bark

Dogs are not by nature solitary animals. They need the security of a family group. Pet dogs regard their owners as a substitute family and can soon become distressed when left alone.There are many reasons why your dog may bark :

  • attention seeking/excitement

  • boredom or frustration

  • loneliness

  • defending his territory

  • medical problems

Determine The Scale Of The Problem

You will be aware of the extent of your dog’s barking when you are at home, however, you also need to establish how much it occurs when there is no one at home. Ways you can do this include recording you dog’s behaviour when your out (web camera, video camera, tape recorder etc), leaving in the normal way then sneaking back to listen outside and also seeking assistance from neighbours to keep a diary of barking events. Informing and communicating with your neighbours will help preserve and build relationships.

The Importance Of Training Not Punishment

Do not punish your dog if it has done something you consider to be wrong while you were away from home.
Dogs do not have a sense of right or wrong and behaviour you may think looks like guilt is actually fear of what you will do.
Even if you only use harsh words, your dog may become more anxious and is more likely to bark, chew or lose toilet control when left at home.
Attempts to punish or shout at your dog for making a noise in your presence will accidentally reward it with attention and will provoke the behaviour.

Reasons And Solutions

Expressing excitement

Dogs that bark through excitement usually seem like they cannot control themselves and express their excitement in other ways as well such as jumping up, leaping around and whining to name a few.

Importance Of Exercise And Training

Many dogs which become easily over excited do not receive enough physical exercise and they need to receive firm and kind obedience training before you can teach them not to bark.
Once you have given your dog good obedience training, decide how you would like your dog to behave during the times when he would normally bark.
Then use the obedience commands you have taught him, such as sit, lay down and go to bed, to teach him what you want him to do.
It is important that you ignore all barking behaviour and stay calm at all times.
Shouting at the dog or telling him off is likely to make things much worse as the dog will think you are excited too.

Excitement Due To People Visiting

It is also helpful to get the dog used to the things that make him excited.
If visitors make your dog excited, arrange for friends to visit several times in one day asking them to ignore your dog completely unless he is calm and quiet. If going for walks makes him excited, do the things you would do before a walk before a walk such as getting your coat, keys and dog lead.
Then ignore him and put them away again. Do this several times until he is calm then reward him with his walk. Dogs that bark from excitement fall into old habits easily.
If you begin to train him, you must stick to the training and ensure that the household and all visitors follow the same rules.

Frustration

Expressing Frustration

Other dogs bark because they are frustrated about being left alone or restricted.
This frustration may cause them to scratch or chew at windows, carpet, doors, gates and fences to get to the object of their frustration.
This often happens for the following reasons:-

  • hearing people passing outside

  • hearing/smelling dogs outside (an un-neutered male dog can smell a female in heat for up to six miles),

  • seeing cats or other animals in the garden

  • being aware that something exciting is happening outside of were they are that they would like to be a part of.

Managing Their Frustration

In the case of dogs barking in the garden at cats or other dogs, it is important that this is managed well.
This means that the garden should be secure to ensure and the dog should never be left in the garden without a responsible adult to supervise him. If time spent in the garden can be made fun, by playing games this will help keep the dog fully occupied.
If the dog is barking at things he can hear or see from inside the house, the dog must be prevented from having access to windows and doors.
The introduction of an indoor kennel may assist with this.
In the case of sounds causing the barking, tape recordings of those sounds can be played to the dog to get him used to them so that they are not exciting anymore.
Just start playing them at a very low volume, during calm, quite times and increase the volume as the dog gets used to them.

Importance Of Exercise And Mental Stimulation

Dogs which bark through frustration are usually active and intelligent dogs which need a lot of physical and mental exercise.
Normal walks are unlikely to be enough for them.
Walks need to include controlled games, training and plenty of physical activity.
It is also helpful to give the dog a fun toy or bone which he can take his frustration out on. When you know he is likely to become frustrated, encourage him to play with his toy

Loneliness

Expression Of Loneliness

Some dogs just don't want you to go out as they get lonely and anxious, this is usually expressed in a mixture of intermittent barking, howling and whimpering.
They can also be destructive through anxiousness and as in frustration, cause damage to your furnishings.

Leaving Your Dog For A Period Of Time

Get your dog used to the idea that you are away from him for different periods of time at different times of the day.
That way he might not be so concerned each time you leave.
Do not make a fuss of your dog when you leave him. Try putting your dog on his own in another room - at first for a few minutes, then gradually build up the time you leave your dog alone.
Do not return to your dog until he is quiet for a period. When you return, praise him.
Some dogs will settle only if they can hear a human voice. Leaving a radio on at low volume might help. But make sure the radio is not too loud. You don't want to have complaints about that!
Try not to leave your dog for long periods. If you have to, see if there is someone who can look in during that time.
Maybe that person could take your dog for a walk or let him out into the garden, if you have one.If you have to leave your dog for long periods:

  • feed and exercise him before you go out and leave him some fresh water.

  • make sure his bed or basket is comfortable and leave him his favourite toys.

  • check that the room is not hot or too cold and that there is adequate ventilation.

  • if you aren't coming back until after dark, leave a light on.

Defending territory

Territorial And Guarding Barking

Some dogs have been bred to be good guard dogs. These dogs probably started barking to protect the house from a young age. They often were encouraged to do this. Other dogs guard the house because they are uncertain about who is in charge of allowing visitors in. In both cases, the dog needs to learn that it is up to you to decide who can come in or out. This is unlikely to affect the dog’s ability to protect the house when no one is home.

Importance Of Training And Obedience

With dogs like this, the owners need to be very good pack leaders. Kind and firm obedience training will help, particularly teaching him to come when called and to walk without pulling on the lead. Other things in the household need to be changed, the dog should not be allowed up on furniture without invitation. He should be taught that he must earn all attention by obeying a command first. He should be ignored if he ever tries to demand attention. It may be useful to put on a leash and teach him to sit when visitors arrive. He should also learn to sit whenever household members come home and want to say hello to him. Its also worth giving visitors tasty bits for your dog. If he sits and is quiet for at least 2 minutes then they can give him a treat. If he barks at all, he must not be given a treat because this might reward the barking. Training is important so that your dog does not bark at just anything that moves. A well-trained dog should be able to tell between people allowed into the house and people who are intruders. Good training combined with affection and companionship should mean that your dog will not develop bad habits. Start young and start as you mean to go on.

Medical Problems

Anxiety and Fear can be caused or made worse by general ill health and some specific medical conditions including senile dementia. Your Vet should be able to rule out a medical problem and refer you to someone suitably qualified to introduce behaviour. Remember even old dogs can be taught new tricks

For further information

Please call the Council's Animal Welfare Officer on 01380 724911 or email kennet@kennet.gov.uk

and remember to be a responsible dog owner at all times

Make sure your dog is well cared for and well trained.In particular, train your dog not to foul in public places - if he does, "scoop the poop".Make sure he has a collar and identification tag - it's the law when he's in public places.