5 Reasons Why Your Dog Barks Excessively at Night

Does your Dog Barks Excessively? Imagine you just got under the covers after a long day and are about to doze off, but then you’re roused in the most brutal way possible as your canine companion begins to bark relentlessly, piercing the peace and quiet of the night. If the scene we just illustrated rings a bell for you, then chances are you have been a victim of your dog’s late-night barking bouts.

Dogs are incredibly adorable, but sometimes they can become a pain in the neck, especially if they begin to disrupt your sleep every other day. A rather massive majority of paw-parents face this issue, most of which don’t know what to do to cease their dog’s late-night vehement monologues.

If you are one such dog owner and are desperate for a good night’s sleep without the onslaught of loud barks, then you have come to the right place because we have the solution to your problem. But before we get to the fix, let’s first look at all the possible reasons why your dog barks excessively at night so that you can identify which of those is responsible for ruining your sleep.

Barking is how canines communicate, so naturally, when they do that at night, they wish to convey a message, which is essentially the reason why you don’t get to sleep peacefully. So, what is your little one’s motivation to bark at night? Let’s find out.

They Feel Lonely

Dogs are full of love that they express with all their might. In return, they also expect some (read: a lot) affection and know how to ask for it, irrespective of the time. And that is why many dogs howl after everyone’s fallen asleep so that they can get some attention and not feel so lonely.

If your four-legged pal shouts at the top of their lungs just as you begin to drift into a deep sleep, it’s quite possible that they are fishing for some attention. And as ungodly an hour as it would be for you, it might not be so for them.

So, if you want to pacify your furry friend, you need to find a way to make them feel loved when their insecurities kick in, which, unfortunately for you, happens after midnight. The best way of tackling said issue could be bringing your fur child in your room and setting up their bed right next to yours. But if that’s too much for you, you can put their bed right next to your bedroom so that they can see you and not feel abandoned.

Whichever way you choose to go to stop your canine companion from waking up the neighbors is up to you but one piece of advice you must adhere to is never leave your dog outside during the night.

They Engage in Associate Barking

Dogs are pack animals which mean they respond to each other’s calls. Therefore, whenever they hear a fellow dog barking nearby, they reply-bark to express camaraderie with one another. If that’s why your little one blasts their tonsils after everyone has fallen asleep, you should make sure you bring them in before midnight so that they don’t get a chance to indulge in associate barking, as they most probably won’t be able to hear much.

You can also use positive reinforcement by offering them treats in between barks in such a manner that they pick up on the pattern of your sudden seemingly unfounded show of affection. That is, whenever your fluffy bud stops barking, reward them and praise them. Repeat the practice multiple times until your dog realizes the meaning behind it.

They Are Too Energetic To Sleep

Just like humans, most animals need to exhaust themselves to be able to fall asleep at night unless they are koalas who can pretty much sleep all day, every day. But aside from a few exceptions, every animal needs to be tired to sleep well, and dogs are no different. In fact, dogs require getting exhausted more than most animals in order to get some shuteye. This means, if your fur child is not getting enough exercise during the day, it’s most likely to have pent-up energy left that has them excited in the night.

If you want them to doze off at a reasonable time, you need to make sure they get sufficient physical training when the sun is up so that when the night falls, they are too tired to bark and disturb your sleep.

They Suspect a Possible Intrusion

Dogs are unbelievably perceptive and have super sharp reflexes. This means they can catch on movements or noises way faster than us humans. A dog may start barking because it hears something unusual, but a human might not even get a tiny clink in their ears. So, it’s possible that your canine companion senses unexpected movement or sounds and, as a result, howls to notify you. You must be thinking that how can your fluffy pal come across an unusual noise every other day.

Well, it’s simple, squirrels and other smaller creatures of the animal kingdom love to venture out in the dark, so they often run into strangers such as your pet dog. And, this unwarranted interaction with unknown animals can be disconcerting for your best friend, making them yell at the top of their lungs every so often. The solution to this issue is pretty straightforward, make arrangements so that your dog doesn’t run into any of the night travelers. In other words, keep your dog indoors after the sun goes down.

They Are In Pain

As mentioned earlier, dogs bark to communicate with others, humans and animals alike. So, sometimes they can do it to let their paw parents know that they are in pain. If no other reason checks out for you, then take your fuzzy baby to the vet for a thorough check-up.

Final Thoughts

We understand that a barking dog can be a nuisance, but you need to realize that canines mostly bark because of a reason. All you need to do is figure that out, fix the issue, and you’ll be good to go (read: sleep without interruption).


by Bobby J Davidson || You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it™

Facts About Animal Homelessness:

  1. Only 1 out of every 10 dogs born will find a permanent home.
  2. The main reasons animals are in shelters: owners give them up, or animal control finds them on the street.
  3. Each year, approximately 2.7 million dogs and cats are killed every year because shelters are too full and there aren’t enough adoptive homes. Act as a publicist for your local shelter so pets can find homes. Sign up for Shelter Pet PR.
  4. Approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million are cats.
  5. According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), less than 2% of cats and only 15 to 20% of dogs are returned to their owners.
  6. 25% of dogs that enter local shelters are purebred.
  7. About twice as many animals enter shelters as strays compared to the number that are relinquished by their owners.
  8. It’s impossible to determine how many stray dogs and cats live in the United States. Estimates for cats alone range up to 70 million.
  9. Only 10% of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered. Overpopulation, due to owners letting their pets accidentally or intentionally reproduce, sees millions of these “excess” animals killed annually.
  10. Many strays are lost pets that were not kept properly indoors or provided with identification.
  11. According to The Humane Society, there are about 3,500 brick-and-mortar animal shelters in the US and 10,000 rescue groups and animal sanctuaries in North America.

Here are a some adoptions for consideration:  puccicafe.com/adoptions