Barking is normal dog communication, and the question for most owners is not how to end it but how to reduce it to a level that suits the dog, the household and the neighbours. Dogs Trust and the RSPCA, two UK animal welfare charities, both say that the useful first step is to find out why a dog is barking. This guide summarises their welfare advice and, separately, what GOV.UK says about complaints about barking dogs in England. It is general information, not a substitute for a vet or a qualified behaviourist.
Why dogs bark
The RSPCA describes barking as a form of communication and a completely normal behaviour. A dog may bark when excited, frustrated, bored or scared, to tell someone to stay away, to ask for something such as a favourite toy, or when distressed, for example when left alone. Dogs Trust adds that some breeds bark more because of historic working roles, and that personality, learnt experience, genetics and health all play a part.
Dogs Trust says the two main reasons dogs bark are trying to make something they think is good happen, and trying to stop something they think is bad from happening. It explains that if a dog barks at a passer-by who walks on, the dog concludes that barking worked and is likelier to repeat it.
Common triggers
- Alert or territorial barking. Dogs Trust says this is often rooted in anxiety about noises, sights or smells outside the home, and that a dog that is always on alert is likely to bark at more and more things.
- Attention or mealtime barking. A dog may learn that barking brings attention. Telling the dog off can accidentally reward the behaviour, because the dog has received attention.
- Being left alone. The RSPCA cites research that eight out of ten dogs experience stress when left alone and may show it through barking.
- Fear or frustration. Dogs Trust says frustration arises when a dog cannot reach something it wants, and that barking at something frightening is a way to make it go away.
- Excitement and play. Many dogs bark when excited or playful, so barking is not always a sign of unhappiness.
Check the vet first if barking changes
Both charities say a sudden increase in barking should prompt a vet check. The RSPCA gives hearing problems as one example of a health issue that could be involved, and Dogs Trust says sudden behaviour changes can point to a medical problem.
Reducing barking: the steps Dogs Trust sets out
Dogs Trust lists a sequence of steps. The first is to understand the dog’s body language so its feelings are clear, and the second is to identify triggers, with a diary of when and where barking happens. It then advises:
- Reduce the triggers by changing the environment and routine, so the dog cannot practise barking.
- Reduce stress: it suggests that after a stressful day a dog may bark at every trigger for 24 to 48 hours, so quiet routes and plenty of rest help.
- Reward calm, quiet behaviour, and distract the dog before it barks with games, toys or treats.
- Teach alternatives, such as sniffing for treats on the floor, sit, down, stay, go to bed and settle.
- Seek expert help if the barking stems from fear. Dogs Trust warns that forcing a dog to face its fear could make matters worse.
Dogs Trust advises against telling a dog off, because some dogs think the owner is joining in and others become afraid of the owner as well as the trigger. The RSPCA similarly recommends a regular daily routine covering meals, play and exercise, and enough to do each day so the dog is not bored.
Barking at the window, in the garden and at deliveries
For window barking, Dogs Trust suggests curtains, blinds or frosted film, stair gates to block access and a radio to mask outside sounds. In the garden it suggests screens or plants to limit what the dog sees and hears, quiet times to go out and supervision. For deliveries, it suggests tracking parcels or an external letterbox.
Left alone: a job for expert support
Dogs Trust says a dog that barks because it is worried about being left needs to change how it feels, which is best done with a qualified expert, and that a dog should not simply be left to bark. The RSPCA recommends a clinical animal behaviourist for a treatment plan when the cause is not clear.
When a neighbour complains: England
The RSPCA advises that occasional barking is usually not a problem for neighbours, but that disruptive barking may also harm the dog’s welfare because owners may not know it happens when they are out. If a neighbour complains, it suggests talking to the owner first and then contacting the local council.
GOV.UK guidance for England says councils must look into complaints about noise that could be a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. To qualify, noise must unreasonably and substantially interfere with the use or enjoyment of a home or other premises, or injure or be likely to injure health. The guidance names barking dogs as an example of noise from premises, including gardens. If the council agrees a statutory nuisance exists or will occur, it must serve an abatement notice requiring the person responsible to stop or restrict the noise. That guidance applies to England only, and other UK nations have their own legislation.
Frequently asked questions
Should an owner ignore a dog that barks for attention?
Dogs Trust suggests ignoring attention barking and waiting for the dog to stop before re-engaging, while rewarding quiet behaviour and meeting the dog’s needs for stimulation in advance.
The bottom line
Barking is communication, so the most effective approach in the charities’ advice is to work out the cause, cut down the triggers, meet the dog’s exercise and stimulation needs, reward calm behaviour and involve a vet or behaviourist when barking changes suddenly or stems from fear or being alone. Where barking affects neighbours in England, councils can treat it as a possible statutory nuisance, which is why early conversation and prompt action are worthwhile.