How to Stop Dog Barking at Home: Indoor Bark Control That Works

Got yourself a barker do ya? Dogs that take their vocalizing to the streets (outside) is one thing. But, those dogs that cause barking mayhem inside the home are a whole other issue. Let’s face it; family members can’t think, let alone hold a conversation, while your dog says her peace. Is there a way to stop a dog barking indoors and restore calm? Yes, however, you can’t expect a miracle overnight; indoor bark control takes time and effort.

Why Does My Dog Bark Indoors?

Before you can stop your dog from barking inside your house, determine the reason why your dog is making so much noise. Remember, barking is a dog’s main form of communication, so never attempt to prevent or completely silence your dog. Instead, focus on reducing nuisance barking, which can easily be defined as constant barking without any apparent reason for long periods, day or night. We promise, even though your dog seems to bark out of spite, that’s not the case. Your dog doesn’t vocalize just to annoy you (even if it seems like it).

It’s more likely that your dog’s barking for one of the following reasons:

Alert or warning of some threat: Now, what your dog deems a threat can range from a jogger to the mailman delivering a package to an actual intruder.
Excited or playfulness: Your dog might bark like crazy when excited, when he’s ready to play, and during play.
Attention seeking: It’s your pet’s way of getting you to notice him.
Boredom: This is a way for your dog to release excess energy or express his loneliness.
Response: It’s common for dogs to bark merely in response to hearing another dog bark, whether in the home or neighborhood.
Anxiety: Dogs with anxiety, fears, or phobias often resort to this type of barking, which is common when dogs are left home alone for long periods.
Illness or injury can cause your dog to vocalize more than usual. If you’ve ruled out all of the above, then check with your vet to ensure your dog’s behavior isn’t related to any health issue.

How to Stop Dog Barking When I’m Not Home?

Your neighbors complain that your dog constantly barks any time you’re away. Many dogs suffer from separation anxiety, which can vary in severity. If your pet has separation anxiety, you might find he gets worked up before you even leave. How? Dogs have a keen sense of awareness and recognize your behaviors and language that clue them that you’re about to walk out the door without them. In addition to barking, your dog may display other problem behaviors like:

Whining or howling
Destructive chewing
Scratching or digging at doors or windows in an attempt to join with you
Urination and defecation (even house-trained dogs)

You can do a few things to help calm your pet when you need to leave him home alone.

If possible, exercise your dog before you leave.
Don’t make it a big deal when you leave or come home.
When you arrive home, ignore your pet for a few minutes, then pet them.
Leave your dog with something you’ve worn that smells like you.
Say a specific word or perform an action every time you leave that lets your dog know you’ll be back.
Turn on a television show or some calming music.
Ensure your pet has their favorite toys and bedding.

For long periods, have a family member, friend, or pet sitting service provider like Rover visit, feed or walk your pet while you’re away.

Calming aids may also prove helpful in reducing your dog’s anxiety. Separation anxiety is one of the reasons we added the Busy Ball to our lineup of dog products. Its smart technology helps keep dogs busy and entertained when you’re busy or away. See how the wobble ball for dogs works.

What’s the Best Indoor Bark Control Device?

Seeking an indoor dog barking deterrent? While you might think the best indoor bark control device is a bark collar, you’d be wrong. Bark collars have numerous disadvantages such as:

Bark collars that rely on a microphone to pick up sounds may easily detect other noises in the home and may deliver a stimulus to your pet for no fault of his own.
Collars that emit a mist of citronella or water can make a mess.
If your dog spends their alone time in a crate, they shouldn’t have a collar on at all for safety reasons. It doesn’t matter if it’s a traditional name tag collar or bark collar.

We believe the best indoor anti-barking device isn’t a bark collar at all, it’s the BarxBuddy, a handheld device that emits an ultrasonic sound that your dog can hear but you can’t. The high-pitch noise catches their attention, which gives you a chance to offer a “quiet” command. If your pet complies and stops barking even for a moment or two, offer him a treat and praise. Repeat these steps whenever your dog barks without any underlying reason.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

You can use BarxBuddy to address other negative behaviors like howling, whining, digging, chewing on furniture, or scratching at doors.
No anti-barking device, including collars and the BarxBuddy, will eliminate your dog’s excessive barking overnight. Changing their behavior takes time, patience, and your commitment to helping them.
Avoid punishment such as scolding and yelling as it can make the barking worse.
If you have multiple dogs, they will all hear the BarxBuddy ultrasonic sound when emitted.

Don’t let indoor barking ruin the peace in your home. With just a few steps you can restore quiet and your sanity.