Nearly all dogs bark, yap, whine or howl. Depending on their breed, environment, and how they feel, your dog might be more chatty than your neighbour's dog. Barking is a normal form of communication, just like talking is for people. 

Excessive barking can be stressful for everyone involved. When your dog barks a lot, they are usually trying to tell you something. The good news is, it is possible to work out why they’re barking, and teach them other ways to communicate. 

The first step is to work out what your dog is barking at, and why. This will help you make a plan to reduce barking.

• Territorial barking: Letting you know that something or someone is near the house, in the yard, or on the other side of the fence.
• Fear or anxiety: They’re scared or unsure, and they want the scary thing to go away. This could be people, other animals, loud or sudden noises, or environmental changes, such as storms.
• Separation-related issues: Some dogs find it stressful being home alone, or away from you. They may bark because they’re panicked, or don’t know how to cope. 
• Wanting your attention: They might be asking for food, or to play, or letting you know they need to be taken out to the toilet. Some dogs bark because they are bored. They bark because they are unsure how to communicate in other ways.
• Expressing frustration and excitement: They might bark in the car on the way to the park, when they see another dog, or waiting for their meal.
• Pain or illness: If your dog feels sick, sore, or uncomfortable, barking can be their way of telling you something isn’t right. Older dogs can also become confused as they age, which may cause them to bark more than usual.

Write down what your dog barked at, how long they barked, where they were, and anything that happened just before they started barking. Over time, you may notice patterns that help explain what's triggering the barking. 

Sometimes the easiest way to reduce barking is to stop your dog from seeing, hearing or getting access to the things that trigger it. Dog trainers call this management.

Management doesn't teach your dog new skills on its own, but it gives everyone a break while you're working on training. It can also prevent barking from becoming a habit. Some management strategies are useful just for a little while, while others can become part of your everyday routine.

Some management techniques to try: 

• Block what they can see: Prevent your dog from seeing, or interacting with the thing that makes them bark. For example, don’t leave them in the front yard without supervision, put up frosted window film on windows at your dog’s eye level, or use a covered crate in the car so they can’t watch everything through the window.
• Reduce noise: If sounds set your dog off, try playing white noise, the TV or radio, or running a fan. If the distressing noises are outside, bring them inside and close the windows. 
• Use calming scents: Some dogs find calming pheromone products, such as Adaptil, helpful. These can be useful if your dog's barking is related to stress or anxiety.
• Give them something else to do: Keep your dog busy before they have a chance to bark. If you know they bark at you around dinner time, give them a chew and a place to chill-out while you make dinner. If they bark and jump when visitors enter the house, scatter their treats or dinner in the yard, to encourage sniffing. Sniffing is calming for many dogs and gives them something rewarding to focus on.

One of the simplest ways to reduce barking is to reward your dog for being quiet when they notice something that would normally make them bark.

When your dog sees or hears a trigger but stays quiet, say "Yes!" the moment they are quiet, then immediately give them a small treat. Over time, your dog learns that staying calm and quiet is rewarding. You can use a clicker, rather than say “Yes”, if you prefer. 

Observe and get to know your dog’s body language. Watch them closely so you can catch those quiet moments before they bark. Once they are consistently staying calm, you can start teaching them another behaviour instead, such as going to their bed when they notice the trigger.

If your dog barks, that’s okay. It usually means the situation was too difficult for them, or they were too close to the trigger. Wait for the next moment of quiet, then mark and reward that instead. 

Keep your training sessions short, and work on one trigger at a time. It takes time to build new wiring in the brain, and the longer the behaviour has been going on, the more time it might take.

You may hear people recommend things such as ‘bark collars’, electronic ‘stim’ collars, citronella collars, sonic noises, spray bottles, rattle cans, yelling, hitting, or throwing things at your dog to stop the barking. 

These methods may interrupt the barking for a while, so it can seem like they're working, but they don't address the reason your dog is barking or teach them what you would like them to do instead. These methods use fear, pain, or discomfort as a punishment for barking and can result in an increase in barking and other behavioural problems due to an increase in fear, anxiety and stress. 

Instead, focus on finding out why your dog is barking, reducing their exposure to triggers where you can, and rewarding the behaviour you want to see. This helps your dog feel safer and learn new ways to respond.

Dogs are less likely to bark when their physical and emotional needs are being met. Make sure your dog is getting enough quality sleep, the right nutrition, regular exercise and opportunities to use their brain through play, training and enrichment activities. 

If you’re unsure what your dog needs, or find it difficult to reduce the barking on your own, it’s a good idea to seek help from a professional.