Dog Care

How to stop your dog from barking at the fence

Updated on October 2nd, 2018

If you ask dog owners what is one of the most annoying habits that their dog has, they are likely to say that it is when they randomly start barking at random objects, such as the garden fence or a favourite toy.

Many owners just resign themselves to a life with barking, however, what you may not realise is that there are things that you can do to stop your dog from barking on a whim.

So, if you want to make sure that your dog isn’t barking as and when it likes, we have put together our guide on how to stop your dog from barking at the fence, or anything else that it likes to bark at for that matter.

Why do dogs bark at the fence?

You might not realise it, but there are a variety of reasons why a dog will bark, seemingly at nothing in particular.

Some dogs bark because they feel that another dog, an animal or a person is encroaching on their territory.

Some dogs will bark because they feel alarmed.

There are also dogs that bark to say hello, or that bark because they simply want some attention.

You will even find dogs that bark out of boredom or out of frustration.

Which means that it can be hard to work out exactly why your dog is barking.

Ways to stop your dog barking at the fence

If your dog is barking at the fence, for instance, then chances are that they are doing this because they can hear or see things the other side of the fence.

If it is a sight based problem, then one of the things that you can do is to raise the height of the fence, which will stop them being able to see over the top and stop them from having something perhaps to bark at.

If your dog cannot see over the fence, then you may wonder exactly what is making them bark.

Some dogs bark because they feel fearful, or anxious which means that they need to seek some comfort.

Giving them a place to call their own and to escape to is a great way to make sure that they feel comfortable and safe. A doggy safe zone can be a crate somewhere in the garden or perhaps in the house which has a cover over it, or even is within a baby gate area, as this will help them to feel protected.

Some dogs bark out of boredom, which probably seems strange if they are playing out in the garden.

If you are concerned that their barking is related to boredom, then you need to make sure that you include plenty of toys in the garden, which should distract them away from barking.

Finally, you may find that you can help with barking by training your dog.

Recall is one of the best ways to do this, as this will call them away from whatever is triggering their barking and gives them a focus on something else.

You can also try settle or quiet, which are both terms that you can use to help your dog to calm down when they feel worked up.