From the excited whine that greets the appearance of their lead to the furious barking that erupts when someone dares to walk past the window, our dogs can certainly make themselves heard.
But while some dogs may seem more vocal than others, barking, whining and howling are all normal parts of canine communication. And according to Lissy Chughtai, Behaviour Policy Officer at Dogs Trust, the secret to tackling unwanted barking isn’t simply trying to stop the noise. It’s working out what your dog is actually saying.
“Dogs communicate in lots of different ways, including through their facial expressions, body language and vocalisations,” explains Lissy. “And there isn’t one single meaning to a bark.”
Dogs can vocalise because they’re excited, frustrated, worried, seeking attention or simply trying to make something happen. Even the sound itself can vary considerably, from the pitch and tone of a bark to a whine or howl.
That’s why context matters. A dog whining when you pick up their lead, for example, may be anticipating an exciting walk, while barking at someone approaching the house could have a very different motivation.
Are some dogs naturally more vocal?
As with so much canine behaviour, a dog’s ancestry may offer clues, but it doesn’t tell the whole story.
Some dogs were historically bred for jobs in which vocal communication was useful. Tibetan Mastiffs, for example, have a long history as guardians, while other dogs were selected to alert people or communicate while working.
But that doesn’t mean every dog of a particular breed will be noisy.
“All dogs are individual,” says Lissy, "their personality, experiences and, crucially, what they have learnt throughout their life can all influence how much they vocalise."
And barking can very quickly become a learned behaviour.
"Imagine your dog sees a passer-by through the window and barks," Lissy explains. "The person continues walking and disappears. Your dog doesn’t know they were going anyway. As far as they’re concerned, barking worked: I barked and that person went away."
It’s a common scenario. Dogs Trust’s 2024 National Dog Survey found that 52% of dogs rarely stayed quiet when they heard knocking or noises outside the home.
What can owners do?
Start by becoming a detective. Keeping a barking diary can help you spot patterns: note what was happening immediately before your dog barked, what they did and what happened afterwards.
Then consider whether you can manage the trigger. If your dog spends their day barking at everyone passing the front window, obscuring the lower part of the glass with frosted window film could remove the opportunity to practise that behaviour.
You can also teach an alternative. If visitors trigger barking, for example, you might teach your dog to go to their bed when someone arrives, rewarding them when they make the right choice.
And resist the temptation to shout. Your dog may interpret that as attention, or it could add to their excitement, frustration or worry without addressing why they’re barking in the first place.
Ultimately, the aim isn’t to silence our dogs. "Barking is communication, explains Lissy," we need to understand what our dogs are telling us and help them find a more appropriate way to get what they need.
If you’re struggling with your dog’s barking or another behaviour, Dogs Trust’s free Behaviour Support Line offers advice from trained experts. Visit dogstrust.org.uk for more information.
