What makes a dog bark?
Barking is one of the main ways dogs communicate. It is completely normal behaviour, and expecting a dog never to bark would be unrealistic.
However, dogs bark for many different reasons. Understanding why a dog is barking can often be the first step towards reducing excessive or unwanted barking.
A dog may bark because it is excited, frightened, bored, protecting its territory, responding to another dog or simply trying to get someone's attention.
Why do dogs bark?
Unlike humans, dogs cannot use words to explain what they are thinking or feeling. Barking is therefore one of several ways they communicate with people and other animals.
The meaning of a bark depends on the circumstances.
A short series of excited barks when an owner arrives home is very different from prolonged barking when a dog is left alone.
Some of the most common reasons dogs bark include:
- excitement
- fear or anxiety
- territorial behaviour
- attention seeking
- boredom
- frustration
- separation-related behaviour
- responding to sounds or movement
- communication with other dogs
- pain or illness
Dogs bark to alert us
One of the most natural reasons for a dog to bark is to alert its owner to something unusual.
A dog may bark when it hears someone approaching the house, sees a person walking past the window or notices an unfamiliar animal.
From the dog's perspective, this behaviour can be perfectly logical.
It has detected something and is communicating that information.
Unfortunately, if a dog reacts to every person, car, delivery driver, cat or passing dog, the resulting barking can become excessive.
Territorial barking
Dogs can be highly aware of what they consider to be their territory.
This may include the house, garden or the area immediately surrounding the property.
A dog may therefore bark when someone approaches the front door, walks past the garden or enters an area that the dog regards as part of its territory.
Windows and fences can sometimes make this behaviour particularly noticeable because the dog can see people approaching but cannot interact with them.
Excitement can cause barking
Not all barking means that a dog is unhappy or aggressive.
Dogs may bark because they are excited.
For example, a dog might bark when:
- its owner comes home
- someone picks up a lead
- it sees another dog
- it is about to go for a walk
- someone is playing with it
- it expects food or a treat
Excited barking can sometimes become a learned behaviour if barking consistently results in something the dog wants.
Dogs may bark for attention
Dogs quickly learn that barking can produce a response from humans.
If barking results in attention, food, play, being allowed outside or another desirable outcome, the dog may learn that barking is an effective way of getting someone's attention.
Interestingly, even negative attention can sometimes reinforce the behaviour.
For example, if a dog barks and its owner immediately shouts at it, the dog has still received a response.
This does not mean that every attention-seeking dog should simply be ignored. The underlying reason for the behaviour needs to be considered.
Boredom can lead to excessive barking
Dogs need both physical exercise and mental stimulation.
A dog that is bored may find its own entertainment, and barking can become part of that behaviour.
This can be particularly noticeable when a dog is left alone for long periods.
Providing appropriate exercise, enrichment, training and interaction can help reduce barking caused by boredom.
Fear and anxiety
Fear is another important reason why dogs bark.
A dog may bark because something makes it feel threatened or uncomfortable.
Possible triggers include:
- unfamiliar people
- other dogs
- traffic
- loud noises
- thunder
- fireworks
- unfamiliar environments
- being approached
Fear-related barking can sometimes be accompanied by other signs of stress, such as attempting to hide, avoiding the trigger, pacing or changes in body posture.
Punishing a frightened dog for barking can make the underlying problem worse.
Separation-related barking
Some dogs become distressed when they are separated from their owners.
A dog with separation-related behaviour may bark, howl or whine when left alone.
There may also be other signs of distress.
The timing of the barking can provide an important clue.
If a dog is generally quiet when its owner is present but begins barking shortly after the owner leaves, separation-related behaviour may be worth considering.
This is one reason why dog owners are sometimes unaware of how much their dog is barking. They may simply never hear it.
Dogs respond to other dogs
Dogs can respond to the sounds of other dogs, sometimes even when the other dog cannot be seen.
One barking dog can therefore sometimes trigger another dog, which can trigger another, creating a chain reaction through a neighbourhood.
This can be particularly noticeable in areas with several closely spaced properties.
Dogs can bark at sounds that humans cannot easily detect
Dogs have highly developed senses of hearing and smell.
A dog may react to a sound that is difficult for a human to notice, or to an animal or person that the owner cannot see.
This can make some barking appear to happen for no obvious reason.
From the dog's perspective, however, there may be a perfectly real trigger.
Frustration can cause barking
A dog may bark because it wants to reach something but cannot.
For example, a dog behind a fence may bark at another dog walking past because it wants to approach it.
A dog may also bark when it wants access to somewhere, wants a toy or wants its owner to do something.
This type of barking can sometimes be associated with frustration or excitement.
Dogs can learn to bark in particular situations
Barking is not always purely instinctive.
Dogs can learn associations between particular events and particular outcomes.
For example, a dog that repeatedly barks at the front door may learn that barking is followed by the arrival of a person.
A dog that barks at people walking past the window may learn that the person eventually disappears after the barking begins.
From the dog's point of view, it may appear that the barking "worked".
This can make the behaviour surprisingly persistent.
What does the sound of the bark mean?
People sometimes try to interpret a dog's mood simply by listening to its bark.
There can be useful information in the sound, but the bark should not be considered in isolation.
The same dog may produce different vocalisations depending on the situation.
Things such as:
- pitch
- duration
- frequency
- rhythm
- body language
- the surrounding circumstances
can all provide clues about what is happening.
For example, a dog that is barking while wagging its tail and attempting to play is behaving very differently from a dog barking while attempting to retreat from something it finds frightening.
Why do some dogs bark more than others?
Individual dogs vary considerably.
Breed, genetics, early experiences, socialisation, environment and individual temperament can all influence behaviour.
Some dogs are naturally more vocal than others.
Two dogs living next door to each other can therefore respond very differently to exactly the same stimulus.
This is one reason why it is difficult to define a "normal" amount of barking that applies to every dog.
Age can make a difference
A dog's behaviour can change throughout its life.
Puppies may bark as they learn about their environment, while older dogs can develop different behaviours as their circumstances change.
A sudden increase in barking in an adult or older dog can sometimes be worth investigating, particularly if there are other changes in behaviour.
Health problems can sometimes cause changes in barking
A sudden or unexplained change in vocal behaviour can occasionally be associated with a medical or behavioural problem.
Pain, illness, changes in hearing or age-related changes can affect a dog's behaviour.
If a dog suddenly begins barking much more than usual, particularly when there is no obvious environmental explanation, its owner should consider discussing the change with a veterinarian.
Why shouting at a barking dog can make things worse
It is understandable that an owner may become frustrated when a dog will not stop barking.
However, shouting at the dog does not necessarily communicate what the owner intends.
The dog may interpret the shouting as another person making noise alongside it, which can increase excitement or anxiety.
A better approach is generally to identify the reason for the barking and teach an appropriate alternative behaviour.
How can you reduce excessive barking?
The most effective approach depends on why the dog is barking.
For example:
- A bored dog may need more exercise and mental stimulation.
- A dog reacting to people outside may benefit from reducing its access to visual triggers.
- A dog seeking attention may need to learn that calm behaviour receives attention instead.
- A fearful dog may need a carefully managed behaviour programme.
- A dog with separation-related problems may need specialist behavioural support.
Simply trying to suppress the bark without understanding its cause may not solve the underlying problem.
Why understanding barking matters
Understanding the reason for barking is important for both dog owners and neighbours.
For owners, it can make it much easier to find an effective solution.
For neighbours, understanding that barking may be caused by anxiety, fear, boredom or another problem can sometimes make it easier to approach the situation constructively.
A barking dog is not necessarily a badly behaved dog.
It may be a dog communicating that something is happening.
When does normal barking become a problem?
There is no universal number of barks that makes a dog "too noisy".
Occasional barking is a normal part of living with a dog.
Problems can arise when barking becomes persistent, prolonged or particularly disruptive.
If you are experiencing excessive barking from a neighbour's dog, keeping a record of when it happens, how long it lasts and how it affects you can help establish whether there is a genuine ongoing problem.
For more information, see our guide on How to prove your neighbour's dog is causing a nuisance.
What should a dog owner do about excessive barking?
If your dog is barking frequently, start by asking a simple question:
"Why is my dog barking?"
Watch for patterns.
Does it happen when someone walks past? When the doorbell rings? When another dog appears? When the dog is left alone? When it wants attention?
Once the trigger has been identified, it becomes much easier to work on the underlying behaviour.
Rewarding calm behaviour, providing appropriate exercise and stimulation, reducing unnecessary triggers and seeking professional help where appropriate can all form part of a solution.
A quieter dog is not necessarily a happier dog
The objective should not be to make a dog completely silent.
Barking is a normal form of canine communication.
The aim is to understand why the dog is barking and reduce barking that is unnecessary, excessive or caused by an underlying problem.
A dog that occasionally barks at an unusual sound is behaving normally.
A dog that spends hours barking because it is distressed or chronically bored may be telling us that something needs attention.
Summary
Dogs bark for many different reasons, and the same barking behaviour can have very different causes.
- Dogs bark to communicate.
- They may bark when excited or happy.
- They may bark to alert their owners to something unusual.
- Fear and anxiety can cause barking.
- Boredom and frustration can lead to excessive barking.
- Some dogs bark when they are left alone.
- Dogs may respond to other dogs, people, animals or sounds.
- Dogs can learn that barking produces a desirable response.
- A sudden change in barking may sometimes warrant veterinary advice.
Understanding the reason behind a dog's barking is often the first step towards solving the problem.
For dog owners, the answer is usually not simply to stop the dog barking. It is to understand why it is barking and address the underlying cause.
For neighbours, understanding the possible causes can help distinguish between ordinary dog behaviour and persistent barking that may genuinely be causing a problem.
Important: This page provides general information about dog behaviour and is not a substitute for veterinary or professional behavioural advice. If you are concerned about a sudden change in your dog's behaviour, consult your veterinarian. If your dog's barking is causing significant problems, consider seeking advice from an appropriately qualified canine behaviour professional.