Puppy Guide
Puppy Barking: Causes & Solutions That Work
Feb
Puppies bark. It’s how they communicate. The problem isn’t that your puppy barks—it’s when the barking becomes excessive, disruptive, or impossible to stop.
🎯 Quick Answer
Stop puppy barking by identifying the cause first. Attention barking: ignore completely until quiet. Boredom barking: more exercise and enrichment. Fear barking: don’t punish—create distance and build confidence. Never reward barking with attention, even negative attention. Most issues improve in 2-4 weeks with consistency.
The key to solving puppy barking is understanding WHY your puppy is doing it. A puppy barking for attention needs a completely different approach than a puppy barking from fear.
Why Puppies Bark
| Type | Signs | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Attention-seeking | Barks at you; stops when you engage | Complete ignore until quiet, then attention |
| Boredom | Barks at nothing; when inactive; destructive too | More exercise and mental stimulation |
| Fear/anxiety | Stressed body language; triggered by specific things | Don’t punish; create distance; build confidence |
| Alert barking | Something happening; looks at you; stops when threat gone | Acknowledge, redirect, teach “quiet” |
| Excitement | Happy; loose body; anticipating fun | Don’t engage until calm |
| Frustration | Can’t get to something; at barriers | Wait for quiet before releasing |
💡 Marine’s Pro Tip
In the salon, I see a lot of anxious barking from dogs who are overwhelmed by the new environment. Punishing them makes it worse—they’re already scared. What works is calm, consistent handling and not making a big fuss. The same applies at home: identify the cause before you respond.
Solving Attention-Seeking Barking
The Rule: Never reward barking with attention—good or bad.
- When they bark at you, completely ignore them
- No eye contact, no talking, no touching
- Wait for silence (even 2 seconds counts)
- Immediately give attention when quiet
What NOT to do: Saying “shush” or “quiet” IS attention. Looking at them IS attention. Telling them off IS attention.
Extinction burst: When you first start ignoring, barking may intensify. They’re thinking “this used to work, I’ll try harder.” Push through—giving in teaches them that more barking works.
Solving Boredom Barking
The Rule: A tired puppy is a quiet puppy.
Daily enrichment ideas:
- Scatter feeding instead of bowl feeding
- Frozen Kongs
- Snuffle mats
- Training sessions (5-10 minutes)
- New environments to explore
Solving Fear-Based Barking
The Rule: Don’t punish fear—it makes fear worse.
- Don’t force them toward what scares them
- Create distance from the trigger
- Reward calm behaviour (at a distance)
- Gradually decrease distance over time
For severe fear, consult a qualified behaviourist.
Barking at Night
First Few Nights
Some whining and barking is normal. Your puppy just left everything familiar.
What helps:
- Crate beside your bed (your presence comforts them)
- Something with their littermates’ scent (or yours)
- Toilet break before bed
Persistent Night Barking
Check: Do they need to toilet? Are they uncomfortable? Are they overtired (or undertired)?
The hard truth: If night barking has become a habit, you’ll need to wait it out. Responding intermittently creates the strongest habit.
💡 Marine’s Pro Tip
The owners who struggle most with night barking are the ones who respond sometimes but not others. Inconsistency teaches puppies to bark longer and harder because sometimes it works. Pick an approach and stick to it.
Training Equipment: What Works
Avoid: Bark collars (shock, spray, vibration)—can cause fear and doesn’t address the cause.
Helpful: Treat pouch for rewards, puzzle feeders for boredom, white noise for sound-sensitive dogs.
When to Worry
See a professional if:
- Severe separation anxiety (barking, destruction when alone)
- Aggressive barking (lunging, snapping)
- Sudden change in barking patterns
- Nothing helps after 2-3 weeks of consistency
Written by Marine Ponchaut
Marine is the founder of WoofSpark, a professional dog grooming salon in Cessnock, NSW. Since founding WoofSpark in 2019, she has helped thousands of puppy owners navigate common challenges.
Related Guides
- Stop Puppy Biting — Another common challenge
- Puppy Whining — Why they whine and what to do
- New Puppy Checklist Australia — Complete guide
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