Website of the UK government
Please note that this website has a UK government accesskeys system.
Main menu
Page menu
Home and community
My dog barks all the time
Dogs bark naturally - however, constant barking, whining or howling can be disturbing and annoying for you and your neighbours and is not normal dog behaviour.
Why do dogs bark?
Dogs are pack animals and it is unnatural for them to be on their own. Your dog needs the security of its family group. Your dog will substitute you for its leader and family group and any long term absence will cause distress, and may lead to behavioural problems, including excessive barking.
The major reasons for dogs barking are:
- isolation and loneliness
- boredom or frustration
- attention seeking
- defending his territory
- medical problems
Training
Always try to teach your dog good social skills from an early age. Good training will help your dog to distinguish between visitors and intruders and will also teach it not to bark at unfamiliar objects. Remember to reward your dog for good behaviour so that it comes to associate certain tasks with a pleasurable experience.
If you need help with the training of your dog, you should contact a local dog trainer, listed in the Yellow Pages. There may also be a dog club in your area which holds weekly group training sessions. This can help to teach your dog how to behave when in the company of other dogs and will enable you to seek advice from other owners.
Contact your local council or vet for further information about classes run in your local area.
Some simple things to try
Some dogs just don't want you to go out. Get your dog used to the idea using some of the following training methods:
- leave the house at different times - this will prevent your dog anticipating when you are about to leave, which can lead to barking
- don't make a fuss of your dog when you leave it
- avoid putting your coat on or jangling your car keys in front of your dog as this tells your dog you are about to leave and it may start barking
- try putting the dog on its own in another room for a few minutes, then gradually build up the time you leave it, until it is quiet for a while - return when it is quiet and praise it
- some dogs bark because they want to join in with what's going on outside - if this is the problem, try leaving you dog where it cannot see outside
- some dogs will settle only if they can hear a human voice so leaving the radio or television on at a low volume may help
- try not to leave your dog for long periods, but if you have to, ask a friend or neighbour to look in and take the dog for a walk or let it out into the garden, if you have one
- a dog door is very useful as it allows the dog access to the garden when you are not there
- make sure your dog gets some exercise before you go out - a tired dog barks less
- if your dog barks when it is excited, don't play with it at anti-social times such as late at night
- if you do have to leave your dog for long periods feed and exercise it before you go out and leave it fresh water to drink
Make sure:
- its bed or basket is comfortable and not in a draught or direct sunlight
- you leave it a large marrow bone to chew and some of its favourite toys to play with
- the room is not hot or too cold and that there is enough ventilation for the dog to get fresh air
- if you are not returning until after dark, either leave a light on or use a night light that comes on automatically when it gets dark
If you leave your dog outside all day:
- try not to put its kennel near a neighbour's fence where the dog may be tempted to bark
- ensure the garden is completely secure, to prevent your dog from straying locally and causing problems to neighbours
- don't think that you will solve the problem by replacing your dog with another - all dogs bark and unless you change your lifestyle at the same time, the problem will still be there
- considering a second dog for company may help, but think about this carefully because a second dog could result in more not fewer problems - do you have the space, and can you afford it?
Remember not to be angry with the dog following neighbours' complaints about barking or if it damages furniture while you are away. It won't understand what it has done wrong and remember that it is your responsibility to ensure that your dog's needs are provided for.
More advice on barking dogs can be found in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, as known as Defra, leaflets which are available from their website as downloadable PDFs called 'Is Your Dog Barking Too Much?', and 'Constant Barking Can Be Avoided, Offering guidance to dog owners'.
Additional links
Access keys
