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How to Stop a Dog Barking at Night
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Common causes of night barking
| Cause | Clues | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Needs to go out | Puppy, or barking at the same time each night | Last potty break right before bed; a quick, boring trip out if needed |
| Too much energy | Little exercise during the day | A longer evening walk or a sniffing game |
| Lonely or unsettled | Sleeps away from the family, new home | Move the bed or crate into or near your room |
| Outside noises | Barks at cars, wildlife, neighbors | Fan or white noise, close blinds, move the bed away from windows |
| Pain or age-related changes | Older dog, new behavior, restless or confused | Vet check; night light; keep the routine the same |
A bedtime routine that works
- Evening exercise. 20 to 30 minutes of walking or play an hour or two before bed, adjusted for your dog.
- Last potty break. Right before lights out. Keep it calm.
- A chew or a puzzle. Licking and chewing are calming for many dogs.
- The same sleep spot every night. Somewhere comfortable, away from windows, ideally where your dog can hear or smell you.
- Background noise. A fan or white noise machine masks outside sounds.
Puppies vs senior dogs
Puppies
See our puppy crate barking guide. Young puppies often can't hold it all night, and many are lonely in a new home. Putting the crate next to your bed, taking them out calmly when they wake, and going straight back to bed usually settles things within a few weeks.
Senior dogs
If a dog around 9 or older starts barking, pacing or wandering at night, it may be more than a habit. Cornell's Riney Canine Health Center lists night-time roaming, sleeping more during the day, disorientation and new anxiety as signs of canine cognitive dysfunction, which may be underdiagnosed because it comes on slowly. Pain, hearing loss and vision loss can also unsettle a dog at night. Your vet can check for these and suggest treatment.
Barking while asleep is a different thing, and usually normal. See dog barking in sleep.
What not to do
- Don't yell. To your dog it can sound like you're joining in.
- Don't reward demand barking with play or treats at 2 a.m.
- Don't use a shock or spray collar overnight. It can't tell a potty need or fear from a habit.
Not sure why your dog is barking?
Take our free 60-second quiz. It matches your dog's barking to its most likely cause and gives you a plan for that type.
Take the barking quizCommon questions
Should I ignore my dog barking at night?
Ignore demand barking, but not barking that may mean your dog needs to go out, is in pain or is scared. Puppies in particular may need a night potty break. Take them out calmly, with no play, and go straight back to bed.
Why has my older dog started barking at night?
New night barking in a senior dog can be caused by pain, hearing or vision loss, or age-related cognitive changes. Cornell's Riney Canine Health Center lists roaming the house at night as a sign of cognitive dysfunction. A vet visit is the right first step.
Can I use a bark collar at night?
We don't recommend it. A collar may stop the noise without solving the cause, and a dog that is scared or needs to go out can't tell you.
Want a step-by-step plan instead of piecing tips together?
Brain Training for Dogs is an online course by certified trainer Adrienne Farricelli (CPDT-KA). It uses reward-based games to build focus and self-control, which is what most barking problems come down to. It costs about $47, one time.
See the courseRead our review first