How to Keep Your Dog From Barking at Night

Written and verified by the lawyer Francisco María García

Last update: 22 December, 2022

If your dog is barking at night, most likely they are trying to get your attention and tell you something. This urgent need to communicate might be a sign of a problem or something missing in your little friend’s routine.

Why do some dogs bark so much?

Barking is a natural trait that dogs have, but doing it too much can cause problems. If you live in an apartment or a shared residential area, all that noise might ruin the relationship you have with your neighbors. Barking at night can also cause make it difficult for everyone to get a good night’s rest.

However, constant barking might be a sign of a disease or a bigger behavioral problem. A dog could start barking excessively out of pain, or due to a disease that’s interfering with their senses.

Dogs that live in negative environments or have sedentary routines might also start to show signs of intense stress or boredom. One of those signs is excessive barking. It’s a way for them to release tension and all the energy they have built up.

There are also other potential causes for excessive barking. This is why it’s so important to get a diagnosis from a vet, that way you can make sure your dog is healthy. Once the vet has ruled out an illness, then it would be a good idea to seek help from a professional trainer.

Why do dogs bark a lot at night?

If your dog is barking at night, they might be trying to get your attention because they want to play, eat, or just get a little affection. Dogs are active, intelligent, social creatures that need to use their minds and body to stimulate their physical, emotional, social, and cognitive skills.

Barking is a way of getting attention and releasing tension. If your dog spends a lot of time alone and they don’t have a way to use up all of their energy, then they could end up developing behavioral problems.

This is why it’s important to make sure your dog has enough space that enables them to establish good routine habits. Below are some useful tips that are good at preventing behavioral problems like whining and excessive barking at night.

Tips to keep your dog from barking at night

A complete, balanced diet

Nutrition plays an important role in a dog’s health. An improper diet can cause all kinds of illnesses and bring a negative impact on their behavior. The best way to prevent that is with a balanced diet that fills all their nutritional needs, based on their size, age, health, etc.

Exercise on a regular basis

Daily physical activity gives your dog a chance to use up their energy and maintain a healthy weight and good behavior. A walk is a great moment for a dog to stimulate their social skills and stimulate their senses.

Every dog has their own specific needs for physical exercise based on their physical condition and energy levels. However,  most dogs, in general, need to go out at least twice a day and exercise for at least 30 minutes.

Mental stimulation

Dogs need to exercise their minds just as much as they need to exercise their bodies. They’re smart, sensitive animals that need to use their emotional and cognitive skills to prevent them from getting bored.

So, mental stimulation is a big part of preventing behavioral problems. There are all kinds of interactive or stimulating toys you can buy at pet stores, like the Kong.

Affection

Dogs are social animals that enjoy living in a community and don’t handle loneliness very well. They need to feel like they’re part of a family and receive affection to stay happy and maintain a balanced behavior.

Provide a good amount of training

Many dogs pick up the habit of barking a lot to get what they want. this usually happens due to a not training that much when they were puppies.

This is why it’s important to start training a dog the moment they start living at your home. If you don’t want them to bark much, then don’t reinforce their behavior with treats or pet them every time they whines or barks.

Do you want a dog that doesn’t bark that much?

If you’re worried about your dog barking at night, or you might be looking for one that doesn’t bark much. Then you should consider that genetics play a key part in this. Some breeds are naturally more expressive and extroverted, while others are more shy and reserved.

So, if you’re looking for a quieter dog, there are breeds that could be perfect for you. For example a Basenji, Holden Retriever, French Bulldog, Pug, Bloodhound, Labrador Retriever, Rottweiler, Great Dane, Akita, or An Inu.

Just remember, a dog’s behavior depends a lot on their training and the environment you provide for them.