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How to Stop Excited Dogs from Barking

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Barking Dog

Stop Dog Barking
Learn tips to stop your excited dog from barking.

Dogs will bark when excited or nervous. This is very common. Many times, if your dog is really excited or frustrated, his barking gets much worse. He’s usually dealing with his frustration or excitement by vocalizing it, as people do. 🙂 Exciting places can be your vet’s office, dog training classes, your home and the park as well as when they can see dogs or people walking by.

Dog Barking at Other Dogs

Many dogs become excited and start barking when they see other dogs approaching. Remember, not all dogs want to meet other dogs. Do you shake hands with everyone at the park? I think not so your dog does not need to meet every dog at the park. (This is socialization gone wrong.)

Instead, if your dog becomes too excited as a dog is approaching, turn and walk the other way. I like to teach dogs: when you’re on leash, you focus on me and not other dogs. Bring treats and reward your dog when he looks at you instead of the other dogs. Learn more about socialization and greeting dogs at Dog Behavior: Learn to Speak Dog.

     Just because a dog is approaching does not mean your dog must meet that dog. Stop, turn and walk the other way. 🙂

Barking When Excited

Next time your excited dog starts barking, teach your dog to do something else instead of barking. You’ll need pea-sized yummy treats, a clicker, leash and your dog’s collar or harness:

  1. Attach a leash to your dog’s collar.
  2. Tether your dog to you or a piece of heavy furniture when at home.
  3. Click/treat your dog when he’s:
    • Not barking (even for a nano-second)
    • Looking at you instead of your guests
    • Standing still instead of pulling on the leash

Continue to practice at home so your dog learns barking does not work. Standing still, looking at my pet parent and keeping quiet pays with lots of treats. 🙂  If your dog does not improve within 2-3 minutes, your timing is off a bit. If your dog is confused, learn to prevent this by reading this article.

Video Demo

Bark back. I’m listening! What questions do you have about dog barking?

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Dog Barking at Sounds 
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Attention Seeking Barking

Attention Seeking Barking

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Barking Dog

Barking Dog
Dog seeking attention from pet parent.

Attention seeking barking means your dog barks for your attention, and we’ve all been there (very big grin). Let’s roll up our sleeves and get clicking to fix this behavior!

Attention seeking barking is quite common. When a dog barks, we look away from the TV, computer screen or visitor and look at the dog. Your dog just learned how to get your attention! And yes, just by looking at your dog, you can reinforce his barking. It’s very hard for people to ignore a loud sound, especially a barking dog, because it’s instinctual to look toward the sound.

Instead, try:

  • Reward your dog when he is quietly laying at your feet, enjoying a chew toy or being calm and quiet.
  • When he barks, ignore him. Don’t look at him or laugh (yes, laughter is reinforcing too). 🙂
  • When your dog is quiet, turn toward him and reward with treats and cuddles.

The Barking Will Get Worse

So you just tried ignoring your dog when he barks and it’s worse! Ah, brace yourself, this can happen. This means you’re making progress — happy dance! If your dog’s been practicing attention seeking barking for a long time, the barking will get worse before it gets better. We call it extinction bursts, and this is very normal. 🙂

Classic Example of a Barking Dog Extinction Burst:

  • Your dog barks.
  • You ignore your dog.
  • Dog barks louder and longer. He keeps getting louder, louder and louder. Ride it out. Your dog is learning that attention seeking barking is ignored.

Whatever you do, please continue to ignore your dog even when barking is at its worse. If, accidentally, you glance at your dog while an extinction burst is happening, your dog will think, “I need to scream for 10 minutes while standing 2 inches from my owner’s nose. Then, he can hear me.” He needs to learn any type of vocalization does not work. Only when he is quiet does he have your undivided attention. I recommend walking away when your dog starts barking. This way you will not accidentally glance at him. 🙂

Don’t Give Up

Many pet parents, especially those in the beginning of the “no barking” process, are concerned their dogs’ barking never ends. However within a few minutes, you’ll witness the power of positive training. Trust me, these methods work. 🙂

It’s physically impossible for a dog to bark and breath at the same time even if your dog learns to breath fast in between barks. 🙂 All barking dogs must take a breath, which means they are quiet for a nano-second. Reward! Your dog will learn that barking does not pay, but it is ignored. When your dog is quiet, he gets attention and treats — woot woot!

Some pet parents are concerned they will inadvertently teach their dogs to bark instead of quiet when using this training method. I promise, if your timing is spot on, your dog will totally understand that barking does not pay, but quiet behavior does!

How do you know if your timing is off? Your dog’s barking will get worse. Or he’ll bark and look at you, which means you’ve accidentally rewarded barking (we can fix this, don’t worry!). Plus, if your dog will bark a few times then look at you while not barking, take advantage! Instead of clicking the moment he is quiet, wait for your dog to be quiet for one second, then click/treat. Continue until your dog is quiet for longer periods of time. 🙂

If you’re not using a clicker, I would add this into the mix because the click sound is much faster than our voice or showing our dog a treat. Learn more about clicker training at Clicker Training Tips.

RELATED: Clicker Training for Dogs

You Can Stop Your Dog’s Barking Forever

Yes. If you continue to practice the behavior of ignoring him when he’s been vocal, then reward for quiet. This is a new skill for both of you, but I promise it’s worth it.

It’s your turn. Bark back! Add your questions about attention seeking barking in the comment section below. 🙂

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Dog Barking
Dog Barking at Sounds
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Dog Barking at Sounds

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How to Stop a Barking Dog

Dog Barking Sounds
Teach your dog to do something else instead of barking.

Many dogs will bark at sounds, such as doorbells ringing, knocking, sounds of other dogs barking in the distance, loud sounds or anything really. Let’s teach our barking dogs to do something else instead of barking. 🙂

Dog Barking at Doorbell

Dogs bark at doorbells or knocks at the door because they signal someone is on the other end. It’s very rewarding too! Think about it in dog terms:

  • UPS man knocks.
  • Dog lunges and barks at the door.
  • UPS person drops package and leaves.
  • Dog learns barking makes people leave.

Teach your dog something else to do instead of barking at the doorbell. You’ll need 50 high value treats, a clicker and leash.

RELATED: Choosing Dog Training Treats

Part 1

  1. Attach a leash to your dog’s collar or harness.
  2. Open the door and ring the bell.
  3. As the bell is ringing, cue your dog to sit.
  4. If he begins barking, it’s okay. Ask him to sit. If he is too excited and continues barking, lure him into a sit position with a piece of hot dog. When his behind touches the ground, click/treat.
  5. Practice everyday for 2-3 minutes.
  6. Move to Part 2 when your dog sits instead of barks at the doorbell.

Part 2

  1. Attach a leash to your dog’s collar or harness.
  2. Invite a friend to ring the bell or knock on the door from outside. You are standing inside about 10-15 feet from the door.
  3. As the bell is ringing, cue your dog to sit.
  4. If he begins barking, ask him to sit. Again, if he gets too excited and continues barking, lure him into a sit position with a piece of hot dog. When his behind touches the ground, click/treat.
  5. Practice everyday for 2-3 minutes.

Now your dog has learned to sit at the sound of a knock or doorbell. Continue to reinforce your dog for this behavior. If you don’t reward it, you’ll lose it and have to start over again, and we certainly don’t want to do that. 🙂 If your dog reverts back to barking at the doorbell, start back at Part 1.

Dog Barking When Other Dog Barks

Some dogs love to bark back when hearing dogs barking in the distance. This is pretty common too. If dogs bark on TV, my Bull Terrier will march to the back door and woof back. 🙂 This is pretty easy to resolve, I promise. You’ll need plenty of yummy treats and a clicker. When your dog hears the other dogs, click/treat! Your dog is distracted with eating treats instead of barking at sounds. Plus, you’re pairing yummy treats with sounds, which teaches your dog that sounds are a good thing. 🙂 I keep treats in our end table drawer because you’ll never know when you need to reinforce something good. 🙂

Dog Barking at Loud Sounds

At times, dogs will bark or become startled when hearing loud sounds so keep plenty of high value treats around. When your dog alerts to a sound, click and treat. If your dog starts barking, wait until he is quiet then click/treat. In learning theory, we call this counter conditioning, changing the way a dog reacts to a stimuli.

  • A loud truck rumbles by, click/treat.
  • Baby cries, click/treat.
  • Thunder, click/treat.
  • Metal pan hits the floor, click/treat.
  • Something falls down, click/treat.
  • Police sirens, click/treat.

If your dog is sound sensitive, keep plenty of treats nearby for fast rewards. Soon, your dog will hear a sound and look at you instead. Woohoo! Reward!

Bark back, I’m listening! What questions do you have about this article?

READ ALSO: Clicker Training for Dogs
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