Why Do Dogs Bark at Night?

You may have a dog who takes sundown as its cue to speak up. You also might be looking for ways to curb that behavior, and quickly. Your dog barking at night can be useful if it’s alerting you to danger, but if it’s for any other reason, then it’s just a total nuisance.

Why exactly is your dog making so much noise at night? How can you get them to quit? 

Take a look at this guide to pups that bark after dark and you’ll be well on your way to getting better sleep in no time at all! For a quick and painless way to encourage your pup to stay quiet, see our humane, no-shock bark collar from Pet Pawsabilities™.

The Reasons Why Dogs Bark

There is no one reason why dogs may bark at night. However, you can typically narrow down the source of their noisiness to one or more of the following reasons:

• Seeking attention
• Excitement
• As a greeting
• Boredom or excess energy
• Surprise
• Fear
• Pain
• Separation anxiety

There are certainly some other reasons why a dog may become vocal, but for the most part, this list should help explain why your dog is so loud at night. 

Finding the reason that makes the most sense and then exploring some solutions is the best way to resolve the issue. Then, you can get back to bed.

The Most Common Reasons that Dogs Bark at Night

Determining the cause of your pup’s nocturnal noisiness is the first step to finding a solution. 

Dogs that become loud at night are most likely doing it because of one of the reasons listed below.

They’re Bored

Dogs don’t run on the same sleep schedules as humans. When everyone else is off to bed, they are left to their own devices. They may become bored and decide to let the world know. This is especially common if your pup is not getting enough daily exercise.

They’re Lonely

Dogs evolved to run in packs and spend all of their time with others. When they’re left alone for too long, some dogs begin to miss their companions — human or canine — which may result in noisy behavior. 

Your pup may want to wake you up so you’ll play, cry to the other lonely neighborhood dogs, or just loudly lament. Whatever your dog’s reason, you’re going to have some trouble getting to bed.

They Hear Other Noises

Dogs have an incredible sense of hearing that is far superior to ours. This sense is heightened when it becomes dark and they’re not able to see as well. 

You may think there’s nothing to hear, but plenty is going on outside that may be inspiring your pup to speak up.

They’re Alerting You

Many dogs are bred to protect, and nighttime is when you’re most vulnerable. They may bark because they think there is a threat. Whether that threat is real might depend on the night!

How to Stop Your Dog from Barking at Night

Here are some solutions for keeping your pup quiet when it’s time for bed.

Give Them Exercise

Most dogs have a good amount of energy, and some breeds have a ton of it. They need exercise every single day or they’re likely to be wound up when bedtime comes. 

Do your best to wear your pup out before the sun goes down. Hopefully then, both you and your dog are more likely to sleep through the night.

Let Your Pup Sleep in the Bedroom with You

If your dog is lonely at night, simply putting their bed in your bedroom may be your solution. Of course, you should still make sure your pup gets exercise or you may have a wild canine dashing around your room.

Treat Training

If your dog barks to alert you of perceived danger, you may want to train it to keep quiet. Wait until the barking stops, give your pup a treat, and use a command. Do this consistently and you should find that your dog is calmer and quieter at night.

Bark Collar

If all else fails, consider purchasing a humane bark collar that can discourage barking behavior without causing your pup any harm. 

The No-Shock Bark Collar from Pet Pawsabilities™ is pain-free and highly effective. It should have your pup trained to keep it quiet at night in no time at all!