Barking is normal dog communication. The goal is to reduce excessive barking, not stop it completely.1,2 Dogs bark to:1,2,3
- Warn of people or animals
- Get attention
- Greet
- Join in when other dogs bark
- Let off boredom or frustration
- Express fear or separation anxiety
Pain, illness and, in older dogs, cognitive decline can cause barking too.1,4 The fix depends on the cause:1,5
- Block your dog's view of passersby
- Don't reward barking with attention
- Give more exercise and mental activity
- Teach and reward a "quiet" cue
- Treat any anxiety
Veterinary groups advise against bark collars that shock, spray or vibrate, because they punish without fixing the cause.1,6,7
See your vet if your dog:
What the Research and Guidelines Say
- Shock collars carry welfare costs. In a UK study, dogs trained with electronic collars were tense more often, yawned more and explored less than reward-trained dogs. Owners in all three study groups reported similar improvement, about 92%.11
- Rewards worked faster. Reward-trained dogs responded to commands faster and needed fewer commands than dogs trained with shock collars.12
- Veterinary groups oppose aversive devices. AVSAB says electronic collars "should not be used under any circumstances." The British Small Animal Veterinary Association lists spray and shock collars as aversive.7,6
- Debarking surgery doesn't fix the cause. The AVMA strongly discourages it. Barking can return, and scarring can narrow the airway.13,5
Why Dogs Bark: Types and Fixes
| Type | Clues | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Alarm or territorial | At the window, door, yard or passersby | Block the view, then teach "quiet" or "go to your spot" |
| Attention or demand | Barks at you for food, play or a walk | Ignore it, and reward calm or an alternative behavior |
| Greeting | Barks with a wagging tail when people arrive | Keep greetings low-key; ask for a sit |
| Joining in | Barks when other dogs bark | Mask outside sounds with background noise; distract and reward |
| Boredom or frustration | Long periods alone, or when held back | More exercise, food puzzles and impulse-control training |
| Fear or anxiety | With a tucked tail, hiding or pacing, or only when alone | Treat the anxiety; see dog anxiety |
| Compulsive or medical | Repetitive barking, or barking with pain or confusion | Vet check; a veterinary behaviorist |
Sources: ASPCA, RSPCA Australia and the Merck Veterinary Manual.1,2,3
How to Stop a Dog From Barking
- Find the cause. Keep a note of when, where and at what your dog barks.1
- Remove the trigger where you can. Cover windows, close curtains or move your dog's resting spot.1
- Don't reward barking. Yelling can sound like barking along. Wait for a moment of quiet, then reward it.1,3,5
- Teach a "quiet" cue: let your dog bark a few times, say "quiet," and reward him as soon as he stops. Gradually ask for longer quiet before the reward.1
- Meet your dog's needs with daily exercise, sniffing walks, chew toys and food puzzles.1,2
- Get help from your vet and a reward-based behavior professional if barking continues.2,14
Never keep a dog muzzled for long periods or unsupervised to stop barking.1
Bark Collars, Ultrasonic Devices and Debarking
Anti-bark collars that deliver a shock, a citronella spray or a vibration are punishment devices. They don't address why the dog is barking, and many dogs learn to bark only when the collar is off.1,6 They're especially unsuitable for barking caused by fear or anxiety, which they can make worse.1,14 One small 1996 study of 9 dogs found spray collars reduced barking more than shock collars. Even so, veterinary bodies still class spray collars as punishment.15,5,6 We found no good research on ultrasonic devices.
Shock collars have been banned in Wales since 2010. In England, a planned ban still hadn't become law in 2026; the government has said it will consult on a ban later in this Parliament.16,17,18,19
Debarking (devocalization) is surgery to cut the vocal folds. The AVMA strongly discourages it except for medical reasons:13,5
- The bark is reduced, not removed, and can return within months
- Scar tissue can narrow the airway
- It doesn't treat the reason the dog barks
Several US states restrict it, and it's illegal in the UK except for medical reasons.5 See dog debarking.
Barking at Night and "Barking at Nothing"
- Separation anxiety: if your dog sleeps away from you9
- Noises or animals outside, or fear of storms1,10
- Cognitive decline in older dogs, with restlessness, pacing and vocalizing at night. See dog dementia.20,8,4
- Needing to go out, or pain or discomfort1
Make sure your dog has had a toilet break and exercise before bed. Mask outside noise with background sound, and see your vet about new night-time barking in an older dog.1,20
Frequently Asked Questions
What really stops a dog from barking?
Finding and treating the cause, then rewarding quiet.
Are bark collars cruel?
Veterinary groups class shock, spray and vibration bark collars as punishment and advise against them.
Why does my dog bark at nothing?
He may be hearing or smelling things you can't, or, in older dogs, it may be cognitive decline.
Should I yell at my barking dog?
No. Yelling can sound like joining in. Reward quiet instead.
Does debarking hurt dogs?
It's surgery with risks, and the AVMA strongly discourages it.
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Sources and further reading
This article was written and fact-checked on October 26, 2026 against current veterinary references and specialist guidelines:
- ASPCA. Barking. ASPCA, accessed October 2026.
- RSPCA Australia. My dog is barking excessively, what should I do? RSPCA Knowledgebase, updated March 2023.
- Landsberg GM. Behavior Problems in Dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), reviewed February 2018, updated April 2026.
- Landsberg G. DISHAA Assessment Tool (canine cognitive dysfunction checklist). CanCog Technologies; hosted by Morris Animal Foundation, undated, accessed October 2026.
- AVMA Animal Welfare Division. Welfare implications of canine devocalization (literature review). American Veterinary Medical Association, March 7, 2023.
- British Small Animal Veterinary Association. Aversive training methods (position statement). BSAVA, reviewed 2024.
- American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. 2025 AVSAB Board Statement (Position Statements and Handouts). AVSAB, 2025, accessed October 2026.
- AAHA Senior Care Guidelines Task Force. Managing Cognitive Dysfunction and Behavioral Anxiety. In: 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. American Animal Hospital Association, 2023.
- ASPCA. Separation Anxiety. ASPCA, accessed October 2026.
- Seward A. Fear of Thunderstorms and Fireworks. Penn Vet Behavior Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, accessed October 2026.
- Cooper JJ, Cracknell N, Hardiman J, Wright H, Mills D. The Welfare Consequences and Efficacy of Training Pet Dogs with Remote Electronic Training Collars in Comparison to Reward Based Training. PLoS ONE 2014;9(9):e102722. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0102722
- China L, Mills DS, Cooper JJ. Efficacy of Dog Training With and Without Remote Electronic Collars vs. a Focus on Positive Reinforcement. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:508. doi:10.3389/fvets.2020.00508
- American Veterinary Medical Association. Canine devocalization. AVMA policy, accessed October 2026.
- American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. Position Statement on Humane Dog Training. AVSAB, 2021.
- Segelken R (reporting Juarbe-Diaz SV, Houpt KA. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 1996;32). Study: 'Nuisance-barking' dogs respond best to citronella spray collars. Cornell Chronicle, June 6, 1996.
- Welsh Government. The Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (Wales) Regulations 2010. Welsh Statutory Instrument 2010 No. 943 (W. 97), made March 23, 2010.
- The Royal Kennel Club. Electric shock collars. The Royal Kennel Club, accessed October 2026.
- Webb A. Shock collar ban consultation welcomed. Vet Times, December 24, 2025.
- UK Parliament. Written question 104324: Dogs: Animal Welfare (answered January 14, 2026). Westminster Brief archive of a UK Parliament written answer, accessed October 2026.
- Lindell E, Horwitz D, Landsberg G. Senior Pet Cognitive Dysfunction. VCA Animal Hospitals, updated August 2026.
About this article
Last updated : new page, written using the ASPCA, AVMA, AVSAB and BSAVA statements, the Merck Veterinary Manual and studies and reviews published 1996 to 2023.
This page is for general information and is not a substitute for an exam by your veterinarian.
