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How to stop your puppy barking

Updated 21 October 2024
Read time: 8 mins
article author
Written by Charlotte Niblett
Copywriter
article author
Reviewed by Dr. Linda Simon
Team Vet

As puppy parents, we sometimes wish they could speak our language for just a second - so we can tell them why we’re not being a buzzkill when we say our new slippers aren’t for chewing. But instead, our pups can only communicate through yaps, whines, growls and barking.


Despite the adorable face, barking isn’t always the most pleasant sound, especially when it’s around the house and seemingly non-stop. So amongst all of your planned puppy training, how do you go about tackling barking? With the help of puppy expert Vet Alex, we’ve covered everything you need to know about your puppy’s barking, and how you can go about managing it. 


Why do puppies bark?

Barking, yapping, howling and whining is how your pup communicates with you, and is often brought on by a triggering event. The first step in tackling your puppy’s excessive barking is to pinpoint what exactly causes it. This way, you can address any issues, avoid them, or weave them into your training.

There are a few main reasons that may cause your puppy to bark. These include:

  • To communicate something with you. Whether they want to play, eat, want love or even sit on your lap, they have no other way of telling you - so the barking commences!
  • To alert you of something. Whether there’s been a noise, a knock at the door or something’s been posted through the letterbox, your pup will let you know about it.
  • Out of boredom or frustration. Too busy to play, not paying them enough attention or not feeding them their treat fast enough? Your pup will definitely let you know how they feel about it.

 

Understanding different types of barking

Whilst we can never be fluent in their little language, we can use the triggering event, and their reaction and behaviour to further understand where their barking’s coming from. Differentiating between different types of puppy barking will make it even easier when it comes to working out how to approach their training.


Types of barking your pup will display include:

  • Fear - Often non-stop, high-pitched and paired with growls, cowering and backing off when approached. 
  • Play - Changes in pitch, constant, and paired with jumping and bounding.
  • Attention - High-pitched, constant, and often paired with whines, groans, grumbles and directed towards someone or another dog
  • Demand - Barks are often sharp, loud and high-pitched, and usually won’t stop until they’re given what they’re after.
  • Greeting - Usually few and far between, medium-pitched, short barks aimed towards the person who’s just come in.
  • Aggression - A growly, gruffly bark that comes thick and fast, often paired with rigid and cowered body language. 
  • Pain - High-pitched yelps and backing off when hurt. This is a natural, instinctive reaction that lets you know when your pup is in pain. 

 

What can trigger puppy barking?

There are plenty of events that take place in the home that can trigger a puppy’s barking, many of which call for training focus when changing a pup’s immediate reaction. It may be that they’re slightly skittish, scared or even over-excited.


Some notable events that may cause bouts of puppy barking include:

  • Loud noises in the house

  • Crate training and being left alone

  • Not taking part in playing with them

  • Strangers and meeting new people

  • Taking their toys away for some downtime

  • Other dogs and pets


Ways to manage your puppy’s barking

Barking is a normal part of puppy life and an instinct they can’t forget. However, excessive barking, particularly from stress, frustration and fear, can not only affect your pup’s well-being, but yours too!


That said, there are a few things you can consider in your puppy training that will help your pup decrease their barking. This includes reassurance, socialisation, desensitisation and letting them know that there’s no need to panic.

Sticking to a routine

Puppies and dogs are a sucker for a routine, and it’s the unexpected events that may trigger barking. Be sure to set up a solid daily routine for your pup so they can quickly acclimatise and know what to expect in their day. This routine can be switched up from day to day, but as your pup gets older, they’ll realise that this isn’t anything to scream and shout about. 

The same can be said for their nighttime routine which also can trigger lots of barks and whines. Be sure to read and grab all the advice you need about crate training from our article, ‘How to stop your puppy whining at night’.

Lots of exercise

Any puppy parent will agree that a tired puppy is a well-behaved one! Not only do puppies need lots of exercise to keep them healthy and entertained, but if they’re too pooped from running around after toys all day, they’ll often be too tired to bark incessantly at the postman. Prioritising their cardio will keep them happy and less inclined to slip into unwanted behaviour.


Mental enrichment

A lot of puppy experts will agree that mental enrichment is as tiring for the pup as if they went on a big walk. It helps aid their development, gets them thinking, and tires those little pups out. 

Exercise and mental enrichment also act as great distractions, which helps with training and reducing unwanted barking. 


Examples of mental enrichment for puppies include

  • Snuffle mats with hidden treats
  • Treat stuffers
  • Lick mats with puppy-safe, high-reward pastes like pumpkin puree or xylitol-free peanut butter
  • Puzzles
  • Teaching new tricks and skill training

 

 

For the best training treats for your pup, check out our puppy training treats, perfect for little puppy tummies and formulated to taste great. Packed with nutritious ingredients like beef, cranberries and apples, they’re the perfect high-reward treat to gain their focus.

For puppies 12 weeks and up, try out our full range of functional treats in our Meaty Treats Taster Pack! With treats that can help anxiety, support healthy skin and a glossy coat and help keep teeth spic and span, they use healthy ingredients to do good and provide a high-reward treat that’s perfect for training.

To learn how many treats you should be feeding your pup, check out our treat feeding guide

 

Desensitisation training

Many events in the home can trigger excessive barking and unwanted stress for your pup. Some events you can control, and some you can work on with desensitisation training.

Desensitisation is when you expose your pup to what’s making them bark in a controlled and calm way - which makes them feel comfortable when it happens in the future.

If your pup’s trigger is the doorbell, for example, you could try pressing the doorbell yourself, and treating them once they’ve stopped barking and calmed down.


How to stop your puppy from barking at other dogs

Despite having spent the first weeks of their life living around their doggy brothers and sisters, first introductions to other dogs can be a bit scary for your little pup!

This fear and anxiety may manifest itself as non-stop barking, but with the right training and approach, you can help the next meeting be a positive and successful one.

To help stop your puppy from incessantly barking at the sight of another dog, consider the following training techniques:

 

  • Focus on socialisation training. Take your puppy to places where there are calm and well-behaved dogs, to provide exposure and positive socialisation. Be sure to monitor your pup’s behaviour and body language so you can avoid overwhelming them. Always allow them to be the ones to choose to interact; never force it.
  • Lots of rewards and positive reinforcement. When your pup is behaving as desired around other dogs, be sure to let them know how well they’re doing with puppy treats and words of encouragement.
  • Practice meeting with dogs you know. To ensure positive experiences and first impressions, arrange meetings with friendly dogs you already know. This way, you can introduce your puppy to dogs that you know are good with other dogs and will set a good precedent for future meetings.
  • Keeping their focus on you. Use treats, cues and commands to keep your puppy’s attention and focus on you, so they’re not getting too riled up.
  • Teaching them helpful commands like ‘sit’, ‘stay’ and ‘heel’. To help keep their focus and in control of the situation, be sure to teach them and utilise the aforementioned commands, with plenty of treats to reward them for their good behaviour. 

 

Is excessive barking ever a cause for concern?

For a puppy, lots of barking is often the norm. They’re experiencing a lot for the first time, and sometimes even their reflection in a mirror could set them off. However, detecting the type of barking they’re doing will help you identify when it may be a cause for concern. 

Excessive loud barking that is seemingly nonstop, as well as other behavioural symptoms including not reacting when called - might indicate there’s something wrong with your pup’s hearing, and they may need their ears looked over by a vet.

Lots of yelping and whining, especially when being touched in certain areas may indicate that something is causing them pain. If that’s the case, be sure to book them in at the vet for a check-up.

 

FAQs

Should I ignore my puppy’s barking?

If your puppy is barking to demand your attention, it’s okay for you to ignore them and treat them when they stop.However, if you recognise that your pup’s barking from pain or distress, attend to them to make sure they’re okay.

Should I punish my puppy for barking?

You should never punish your puppy for barking. They’re doing what they believe they should do, and they won’t understand why they’re being punished. 

Any unwanted barking should be approached with training, positive enforcement, socialisation and desensitisation.

How should you react when your puppy barks?

Unwanted barking can come from a puppy barking for attention or demanding you to play. To begin training, you should ignore this barking, or leave the room to not give them the attention they’re demanding. Once the barking stops, you can reward them.

Do puppies grow out of barking?

Barking is just a part of dog life, and you’re never going to be able to silence your pup. A yappy pup is a sign of a happy and healthy one. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use training to reduce it and get it under control as they get older. 

Some breeds are prone to be more vocal than others, so if you’re not looking for an overly loud dog be sure to factor this in when searching for your pup.

 

 

If you’re beginning your puppy training, you’ll need the best, high-reward treats to channel that focus. Look no further than our range of treats, perfect for puppy tummies! From our Puppy Jerky treats for young pups to our Meaty Treats Taster Pack suitable for pups 12 weeks’ and up, they arm you with the perfect training treat that puts your pup’s health and nutrition first

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