Were you ever laying awake at night while your dog was barking his lungs out wondering: “Why do dogs bark at night?” Well, if the answer is yes —know that you aren’t the only one. Dogs have the annoying habit of going into a barking spiral when the moon comes out. And there are actually a few reasons that explain why.
Why do dogs bark at night?
There isn’t “one answer fits all” when it comes to dogs barking at night. Different dogs will bark for different reasons.
If your dog is outside, the cause of his barking will be something related to the outdoors. However, even if your dog is all cuddled up inside at night, he may still start barking.
And here are some of the most common causes.
Different noises
Even if your dog isn’t outside, noises could still be coming from your open windows. Dogs hear much better than we do, so they may notice some sounds that you don’t. So while you may not be hearing anything, your dog maybe does. And the sound is reason enough for him to start barking.
If your dog is sensitive to noises at starts barking at night to even the smallest sounds, try closing your windows and playing some calming sounds while going to sleep.
Other animals
This is especially common for dogs that are outside during the night. Canines are interested in other animals, either wildlife like raccoons or squirrels, or stray cats.
Dogs will especially often bark at other dogs that they may notice. Another reason fir the barking can also be a phenomenon called “group barking”. The moment that your dog hears other dogs barking, he will follow up by barking himself to feel like part of the group. Dogs are pack animals and very reactive to the behavior of other dogs.
Boredom
Boredom can be a major trigger for different destructive behaviors in dogs. And barking is definitely one of them. If your dog isn’t feeling too sleepy and he has nothing else to do — he may start barking. Even the smallest sounds he hears will be reason enough for your dog to bark excessively or join your neighborhood dogs in their barking session. The barking will be a way for them to relieve themselves from some excessive energy and some dogs even like to bark themselves to sleep.
Loneliness
If your dog isn’t exactly barking, but maybe rather howling at night, the reason may be loneliness. This is especially common for dogs that are alone at night either inside or outdoors.
Solutions for Barking
If you have a dog who barks during the night, you can take steps to put a stop to this behavior. If your dog is outside at night, the only real solution to the problem is to bring him in. Leaving him outdoors will expose him to sounds that will trigger him and may cause him to bark from boredom or loneliness.
What to do if your dog won’t stop barking?
If your dog just won’t stop barking, there are a few things that may help.
If your dog barks at sounds, either invest in a white noise machine or play some relaxing sounds when going to sleep. That way you lower the chances of your dog hearing some unfamiliar sounds from outside. You can even put on the TV or radio, if it won’t keep you awake, of course.
If your dog is barking due to boredom, tiring him out before sleep will be a true game changer. Make sure that your dog gets enough exercise before bedtime. A game of fetch or a longer walk can do wonders for helping your dog fall asleep faster.
Another possible solutions are bark control collars or ultrasonic bark deterrents can help your dog be quiet at night. You can find possible options in a pet store near you or even on Amazon.
If you still have some unanswered questions about barking, here is some additional content:
- Do Dogs Get Tired Of Barking?
- What Does It Mean When You See A Dog Barking In Your Dream?
- Can A Dog Get Tired of Barking?
- How to get a dog to stop barking?