The short answer
Most night barking comes from a need, like the toilet or water, from noises outside, from being apart from you, or from changes that come with age. Find the pattern first, then work on the cause. New night barking, especially in an older dog, is a reason to see your vet.
Why dogs bark at night
- They need something. Dogs bark to ask to go out to the toilet or to have their water bowl filled. Puppies often need the toilet in the night. A dog that wants food, play or attention may bark for that too.
- They hear something. Many dogs bark to let you know they have seen, heard or smelt something. Some bark mainly when they hear other dogs barking, even far away. Dogs also hear quiet, high sounds that people can’t, so you may not know what set it off.
- They are apart from you. Dogs may bark when separated from their family. For a new puppy, Blue Cross says being alone at night can be scary, especially away from its mum and littermates for the first time.
- They are bored. PDSA vets put it simply: a bored dog can be a loud dog. Without enough exercise and play, a dog has spare energy to burn.
- Age and health. Medical problems can add to barking, especially in older dogs, and so can hearing loss. In canine cognitive dysfunction, dogs often sleep more by day and pace at night, and may bark at nothing.
Find the pattern
It is hard to tell what is going on at 3am. Record a few nights and note when you went to bed. Then look for:
- When it starts. Soon after you go to bed may point to being apart from you.
- What comes just before. A fox, a car door, another dog, footsteps.
- Where your dog is. Near a window or door, or in its bed.
- How it sounds. Sharp alert barks, whining, or barking with pacing.
Write it down in a bark diary, or print the bark diary template. On an iPhone, DogQuiet can keep the log for you: leave it open and plugged in near your dog, and it logs each bark with the time and a short clip.
DogQuiet also answers barking with a short sound. That is the wrong tool for a worried dog or a puppy settling in. For those, use a plain recording, like a camera or a voice memo.
What helps
Before bed
- Give a last toilet break just before bed.
- Make sure your dog has had enough exercise and play that day. PDSA suggests at least two good walks a day.
- Keep a steady routine for meals, walks and play, at about the same times each day.
Where your dog sleeps
- A comfortable bed in a quiet spot, away from doors and windows.
- Cover windows so your dog can’t see outside. Music, the radio or a white noise machine can help mask outside sounds.
- For a new puppy, Blue Cross suggests a bed or crate in your bedroom at first, then moving it gradually to where you want it to sleep.
When it happens
- Check the basics: does your dog need the toilet, water, or something else?
- Then try not to reward the barking. VCA vets warn that going to a barking dog, patting it or giving it a treat can reward the barking, and PDSA notes that even shouting counts as attention. Reward calm and quiet instead.
- Don’t leave a puppy or a worried dog to cry it out.
- Don’t punish it. Yelling at a dog that barks from anxiety is only likely to increase the barking and the anxiety.
Expect progress, not silence. The ASPCA says it isn’t realistic to expect a dog to stop barking altogether; the goal is less of it.
When to see a vet or a trainer
- See your vet if the night barking is new or more than usual, or your dog seems unwell or in pain. The ASPCA advises a vet check to rule out medical causes first.
- Older dogs that pace at night, seem confused, or have accidents in the house may have cognitive dysfunction. The Merck Veterinary Manual lists disorientation, loss of housetraining and changes in sleep patterns. Treatment can slow the signs, so it is worth asking.
- A trainer or behaviourist if it looks like worry about being alone, or nothing you try helps. Ask your vet for a referral, and see dog barking when left alone.
- Medication is a vet’s call. Never give any without your vet.
Common questions
Why has my dog started barking at night?
Look for what has changed: a new noise outside, a new routine or sleeping spot, or your dog’s health. Barking that is new or more than usual is a reason to see your vet first, especially in an older dog.
Should I ignore my dog barking at night?
Check the basics first: the toilet, water, and that nothing is wrong. After that, try not to reward the barking with attention, since even telling your dog off can count as attention. Don’t leave a puppy or a worried dog to cry it out.
Why does my old dog bark at night?
Pain, poorer hearing or sight, and cognitive decline can all play a part. Vets list waking at night and barking at nothing among the signs of canine cognitive dysfunction. Your vet can check, and there are treatments that may help.
Will a deterrent sound stop night barking?
Not reliably, and it is the wrong tool for a dog that is worried or a puppy settling in. A sound can interrupt barking at a trigger nearby, but dogs get used to it. See do ultrasonic bark deterrents work?
How do I find out what my dog is barking at?
Record a few nights and note the times. Look for a pattern: the same hour, a sound just before, or barking that starts soon after you go to bed. A bark diary makes the pattern easier to see.
Sources
- RSPCA. How to stop your dog barking too much. rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/behaviour/barking
- RSPCA. Separation anxiety in dogs. rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/behaviour/separationrelatedbehaviour
- PDSA Vets. Vet Q&A: why does my dog keep barking?. pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/blog/vet-qa-why-does-my-dog-keep-barking
- ASPCA. Barking. aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/barking
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Barking in dogs. vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/barking
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Behavior counseling: senior pet cognitive dysfunction. vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/behavior-counseling-senior-pet-cognitive-dysfunction
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Prevent progression of doggie dementia in your senior dog. vcahospitals.com/resources/senior/prevent-progression-of-doggie-dementia-in-your-senior-dog
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Behavior problems in dogs. merckvetmanual.com/dog-owners/behavior-of-dogs/behavior-problems-in-dogs
- Blue Cross. How to get your puppy to sleep through the night. bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/behaviour-and-training/how-to-get-your-puppy-to-sleep-through-the-night
- American Kennel Club. Sounds only dogs can hear. akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/sounds-only-dogs-can-hear/