15 Reasons Why Dogs Bark At Night (And How To Stop It)
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Are you constantly disturbed by your dog’s incessant barking in the wee hours of the night, leaving you feeling exhausted and drained?
Different barks mean different things, so the first step is always to find out why it’s happening.
In this article, I’ll explore 15 of the common reasons for dogs barking at night, as well as provide practical tips on how to address unwanted barking behavior.
15 Reasons Dogs Bark At Night
#1. Alarm
Dogs are acutely aware of their surroundings and can sense when something is not quite right.
During the night, if they hear or see something suspicious, they may bark to get their owner’s attention to signal that something is wrong.
By barking, dogs can alert their owners about intruders or any other potential threat.
#2. Wildlife
Passing wild animals can catch a dog’s attention and cause her to bark at night.
This can be particularly problematic for dogs who live in areas with a lot of wildlife or those who have a high prey drive.
Living in a rural area as we do, our Romanian rescue dog Roman always alerts us to the fact there are hares, deer, or elk passing through or in the vicinity.
#3. Outside Noise
Dogs are known for their sharp hearing and can pick up on sounds that humans may not even notice.
Outside noise, like car doors slamming in the distance, late-night snow plows, early morning garbage trucks, or even a distant thunderstorm can all disrupt a dog’s sleep and cause her to bark.
Some dogs have a noise sensitivity and might be on high alert, reacting to the tiniest sound.
#4. Noise Indoors
If you live with multiple pets, it’s not uncommon if your dog barks when one of the other animals is moving around at night.
In our household, we have six cats who tend to become quite active at dawn, engaging in a frenzy of energy, or “zoomies,” where they frantically run up and down, chasing each other and leaping all over the place.
As you might expect, Roman barks at them too if they disturb him!
#5. Other Dogs Barking
When they hear any of the neighborhood dogs barking outside, some dogs may feel the need to join in or retaliate.
This may be to protect their territory by letting the other dog(s) know they’re there, engage in a spot of group barking, or try to make the other dog(s) go away.
Certain types of dogs are also more likely to bark in general, including herding dogs, scenthounds, and some of the small dog breeds.
#6. Warning
We’ve all read stories about dogs who bark to wake their owners in the middle of the night because the house is on fire, there’s a deadly snake on the loose, or the baby has stopped breathing.
Some service dogs are specifically trained to wake up their owners.
For example, Sarge Kester, a blue heeler psychiatric support dog, was trained to wake his army veteran guardian from nightmares, patrol the room so he felt safe, remind him to take his medication, and distract him whenever he sensed the onset of a panic attack (Nilson, 2019).
Another dog, Colt, the Weimaraner-Lab mix, would jump at his guardian barking, up to two hours before she was about to have a seizure (Nilson, 2019).
This type of night barking is not just noise, but a vital form of communication that can help keep people safe.
#7. Territorial
Some dogs may bark at night to protect their home territory or precious resources.
For example, your dog may bark to protect her bed or sleeping area if she doesn’t want other family pets (or people) getting close.
Roman (again!) will sometimes bark if our other male dog, Lennox, walks too close to where he is sleeping because he wants to protect his space.
#8. Anxiety
Dogs are social animals and, in my experience, often enjoy co-sleeping with their owners or other pets in the house rather than being left alone.
Alternatively, if you’ve just brought home your new puppy or adopted an adult rescue dog, she may bark in the night because she’s anxious about this sudden life change (that she had no control over) and is not sure if she’s safe.
Separation Anxiety
Sadly, separation anxiety is common in dogs, affecting up to 75% of our canine friends at some point in their lives (CertaPet, 2021).
Common signs of separation anxiety include excessive barking or howling, urinating or defecating indoors, destroying objects or property, chewing shoes or clothing, digging, chewing furniture, and trying to escape when left alone for long periods of time.
Some dogs can’t bear to be left at all, even for a few seconds.
These symptoms will not subside on their own, so it’s essential to address them with the help of a canine separation anxiety specialist. I’ll list some of my favorites at the end of this article.
Deaf And Blind Dogs
Research shows that hearing- and visually-impaired dogs are more likely to bark excessively (Farmer-Dougan et al., 2014).
While deaf and blind dogs bark for many of the same reasons as their seeing and hearing counterparts, they may also become disoriented when they wake up in the middle of the night, which can cause confusion and anxiety.
As a result, they may bark to check in with their owner for reassurance.
Deaf dogs in particular may bark louder or in a wider range of tones (such as howling or squeaking) because they are unaware of the volume or how it sounds.
#9. Fear
Some dogs bark at night because they are scared of something, such as loud noises, unfamiliar people or animals, or even the darkness or shadows.
Fearful barking can often be accompanied by other fearful behaviors, such as hiding, trembling, or panting.
#10. Attention Seeking
Some dogs will bark at night to seek attention from their owners. This behavior may be reinforced if you respond to the barking by getting up and giving your pup attention.
Your dog, meanwhile, learns that barking gets her what she wants, like tasty treats, attention, or a chew toy.
While it’s all very well to ignore this kind of barking (and you’ll find plenty of advice telling you to do just that), first, you have to make sure it’s the real reason your dog is barking at night (and not one of the 14 others I mention in this article).
I’ll talk about ignoring night-time barking a bit later.
#11. Boredom
Dogs may bark because they are bored, especially if they are left alone for long periods. Boredom barking can often be accompanied by other destructive behaviors, like chewing.
Let’s say you like to sleep in late at the weekend but your dog isn’t used to that. She’s waiting for you to get up at your usual time because she knows she’ll get to go outside, get her breakfast, and see her favorite person in the whole world.
When you don’t appear on time, she may get bored waiting and start barking to try to hurry you along.
Our rescue pup Esme is definitely one of those!
#12. Frustration
Similar to #11, dogs who are left waiting around for you to get out of bed and let them outside or prepare their breakfast might start barking out of sheer frustration.
Dogs may also bark during the night for this reason, such as when they cannot access something they want or are prevented from doing something else they want to do.
For example, your pup may bark at the sight of people or animals outside that she wants to interact with, but can’t.
#13. Discomfort
If your dog is uncomfortable in any way (for example, she’s hungry, hot, cold, needs to go to the bathroom, or feels sick), she may bark to express her discomfort.
The barking may be intermittent and subtle, or it could become more constant if the discomfort isn’t relieved.
Dogs may need to be taken out for bathroom breaks during the night, especially if you have a young pup, an elderly dog, or a newly adopted rescue dog who has little experience of living in a home and hasn’t quite mastered the art of house training.
Our gentle desert dog Bertie, who we adopted from the shelter in Dubai, lived to the grand old age of 18. During the last year or so of his life, he was unable to wait till the morning for his next pee break – so would bark to wake us up.
It was actually incredibly useful as I’d rather get up in the night to take him outside quickly than have to clean up a puddle of urine the next morning!
#14. Pain
Your dog may bark at night if she is feeling any kind of pain. This could be due to a variety of reasons, such as joint pain or arthritis, injury, or illness.
Monitor your dog for signs of pain, such as limping or difficulty moving. You may see other symptoms too, such as lethargy, loss of appetite, decrease in activity levels, or a sudden change in behavior.
Always seek veterinary attention if you suspect your dog is in pain or you see any unusual signs.
Addressing any underlying issue can help to reduce excessive barking at night.
#15. Cognitive Decline
Senior dogs may bark more at night due to changes in their physical and cognitive abilities.
For example, an older dog may have trouble hearing or seeing, which can cause her to bark more in response to sounds or movements she thinks are threatening.
Older dogs may also experience canine cognitive dysfunction, which can lead to disorientation, confusion, and anxiety.
How To Stop Your Dog Barking At Night
Fortunately, there are several things you can do to stop your dog’s barking at night.
Physical And Mental Stimulation
Making sure your pup gets enough exercise is a great way to help her burn off excess energy and reduce stress.
Not only does physical activity release endorphins, boosting her mood, but it’s also an excellent way to strengthen your mutual bond.
Activities like walking, hiking, or backyard playtime are all ideal.
Be sure to also give your pup plenty of opportunities to exercise her brain.
These can include puzzle toys or any other kind of interactive toys, a safe chew toy, scent work – anything that requires her to figure things out for herself.
Providing her with a mental workout will help reduce anxiety and increase concentration levels – resulting in an overall calmer canine. This will carry over into night times too.
Additionally, taking your dog for a short walk before bedtime can help your dog, allowing for a more peaceful night’s sleep.
Think about it in terms of how many highlights your dog has during the day. These will include mealtimes, playtime, exercise, training sessions, games, chew toys, interacting with her family members and dog friends, naps, car rides, and anything else she enjoys.
Try to have several highlights spread throughout the day so your pup knows what’s happening and when, and also has plenty to keep her busy.
Don’t overdo it though. Make sure she has plenty of downtime too. Otherwise, she may get overstimulated and have difficulty relaxing at night!
Training
If your dog is alarm or alert barking, a good option is to train the “Three-Bark Rule.”
How Does The Three-Bark Rule Work?
The Three-Bark Rule means you allow your dog to bark three times, then intervene with a verbal cue to quiet her down. With consistent training, she should learn to bark less frequently at night.
“The three bark rule establishes that it is okay to alert bark,” explains dog trainer Diane Garrod of the Canine Transformations Learning Center, who devised the Three-Bark Rule.
“Dogs use barking as a communication tool and do not bark specifically to annoy people. The Three-Bark Rule shows the dog his communication is respected. Then, to end the barking a simple, pleasant cue is taught.”
What Is A Behavior Chain?
The Three-Bark Rule is a sequence of behaviors joined together, known as a behavior chain.
A behavior chain is a way of connecting several different behaviors in a sequence. Think of it as a “chain” of linked behaviors – each behavior triggers the next one until the final behavior is completed.
By breaking down complex behaviors into smaller, more manageable steps, dogs can more easily understand them and learn them faster.
How Do I Train My Dog Using The Three-Bark Rule?
You’ll start at the end of the sequence, rather than the beginning.
The sequence is:
- Thank you (One) – By saying “Thank you” when your dog first starts barking, you acknowledge her signal and let her know you’re taking care of the situation
- Two
- Three
- Done – You can say “Done” here or anything you like, e.g. “Quiet,” “Okay,” “Uncle Bob.” I use “Good watching” with my dogs so they know they’ve done a good job and can now relax)
The 7 Steps For Teaching Your Dog The Three-Bark Rule
- As you’re starting at the end of the chain, you’ll train the “done” cue first.
- Whenever your dog is being quiet (e.g. sitting looking out the window), say “done” (or whatever other word you want to use) and give her a treat.
- The “done” cue means “turn away and come,” as it’s important to train your dog to turn away from what she is barking at.
- You can train this by walking or running backward when you say “done” to encourage your dog to turn away and come to you quickly for her reward.
- Mark the behavior by using a clicker or saying “Yes!” for turning away. Treat her for returning to you.
- Wait three to 10 seconds before delivering the reward so your dog learns that the “done” cue doesn’t reward barking.
- Once you’ve established a good “done” cue, add it to the entire sequence during barking: “Thank you, two, three, done.”
If you have multiple dogs who all set each other off when one starts barking in the night, train each dog separately before bringing them together.
Create A Cozy Sleeping Area For Your Dog
Make sure your pup has a warm, quiet place to sleep away from any noise or distractions.
Whether she sleeps on your bed, in her own bed or crate in your room, in her own bed or crate elsewhere in the house, on the sofa, or wherever else she likes, make sure it’s a place she feels safe. This will help her feel secure and relaxed.
When it’s time for bed, give her a stuffed Kong or chew toy to keep her busy and help her wind down.
Calming Aids
To reduce nighttime anxiety, you can also try natural calming aids such as Adaptil, which uses pheromones to create a sense of security and comfort, or Pet Remedy, a blend of flower essences that can help reduce anxiety levels in some dogs.
In my experience, calming aids can help in some cases and have no effect whatsoever in others. It very much depends on how each individual dog responds (or not!).
Background Noise
A white noise machine will create background noise to mask any outside noises during the night.
You could also leave the TV or radio on at a low volume.
Dog Music
Alternatively, research shows that music can have a calming effect on dogs, especially classical music or music designed specifically for dogs.
Slower, regular rhythms were found to be more calming, while faster tempos or heavy bass can increase anxiety.
If you want to try some canine music, you can find a playlist on Spotify (search for Pawfect Playlist). YouTube also has some great options. This is one of my favorites:
Why Is My Dog Barking At Night All Of A Sudden?
If your dog suddenly starts barking at night when she hasn’t previously done so, it’s important to check for any physical issues that may be causing her distress.
There is always a reason for any sudden behavior change so it is a good idea to check in with your veterinarian.
There may also be a change in the environment, such as new “night owl” neighbors or construction work that is causing her to bark.
Should I Ignore My Dog Barking At Night?
If your dog is barking at night, you need to figure out why before you decide what to do about it.
If your dog just wants attention, ignoring her might make the barking stop. But it might not.
If she’s barking because she’s bored and you react by shouting at her to “Stop barking” or you get out of bed to go and see what’s wrong, you risk reinforcing the behavior and she may bark even more next time.
This doesn’t teach her what to do instead either (i.e. stay quiet). If you do want to go out and check what’s wrong or call out to her, wait till there’s a break in the barking so she’s getting attention when she’s quiet – not when she’s barking.
However, if your pup is scared or anxious, ignoring her will probably make things worse. In this situation, it would be better to comfort her and try to help her calm down.
If in doubt, consult with a certified positive reinforcement professional dog trainer.
Should I Let My Dog Bark It Out?
In my opinion, it is best not to let your dog just continue barking.
Doing so may only perpetuate the behavior, meaning she will bark even more often in future, and for longer.
The act of barking in itself can be reinforcing, and that’s the last thing you want!
Instead, try to understand the type of barking and its underlying cause, then take steps to address it accordingly.
Should I Use An Anti-Bark Collar To Stop My Dog Barking At Night?
Anti-bark or citronella collars may provide a temporary solution to excessive barking but are not a long-term solution.
Not only do you always have to keep the collar filled and make sure your dog is wearing it, but it also won’t address her underlying fear or anxiety or whatever else is causing her to bark at night – in fact, they may make it even worse.
Dogs can also adjust how loud they bark to avoid triggering the collar. And as soon as the spray is all gone, they just go right back to barking – because the reason for the barking has not been addressed.
Barking is an important part of canine communication – use it as valuable information, then work to address it with the appropriate training techniques for whatever is motivating the behavior.
Before You Go…
If you’re wondering if your pup is barking at night because she’s scared, be sure to check out my article Fearful To Fearless: How To Stop Your Scared Dog Barking – it’s packed with lots of helpful advice.
Or, if you’re curious about the whole concept of dog music, take a look at my other post Is Dog Music Calming For Dogs?
Recommended Reading
I’d also recommend pioneering dog training and behavior expert Turid Rugaas’ book, Barking: The Sound of a Language.
Don’t miss out – improve your understanding of canine barking today!
Canine Separation Anxiety Specialists
These are my recommendations for specialized separation anxiety trainers. Even better, they all do online consults so geography doesn’t matter!
Resources
- 15 HOURS of Deep Separation Anxiety Music for Dog Relaxation! Helped 4 Million Dogs Worldwide! NEW! [Video File] – Relax My Pet
- “All Dogs are Rescuers” – Susan Nilson
- Behavior of hearing or vision impaired and normal hearing and vision dogs (Canis lupis familiaris): Not the same, but not that different – Valeri Farmer-Dougan, Amanda Quick Kelsey Harper, Kirsten Schmidt, and Daniel Campbell
- Pawfect Playlist – Spotify
- Separation Anxiety in Dogs & Dog Owners in 2021 – CertaPet
- The effect of different genres of music on the stress levels of kennelled dogs (in Physiology & Behavior, March 2017, Volume 171, Pages 207-215) – A. Bowman, Scottish SPCA, F.J. Dowell, N.P. Evans
- The Three Bark Rule – Diane Garrod
- How To Stop Your Dog Chewing His Bed In His Crate (8 Expert Tips)
- Overcoming Fear: How To Help The Rescue Dog Who’s Scared Of Everything
- Why does my dog sleep at my feet? (9 must-know reasons)
NEED A DOG TRAINER OR BEHAVIOR EXPERT? If you need more help dealing with a training or behavior issue, please find professional help from a force-free dog trainer who can consult with you either in person or remotely. GOOD PLACES TO START ARE: - COAPE Association of Pet Behaviourists and Trainers - Pet Dog Trainers of Europe - International Companion Animal Network - Institute of Modern Dog Trainers - Pet Professional Guild All dog owners deserve to have successful relationships with their canine companions!
