A Simple Trick to Help Dogs Bark Less

I thought Nelson was a unique dachshund who rarely barked— a city dog toughened by sirens, subway, and neighbors fighting. But then we moved into an apartment in a stairwell with cathedral acoustics. Turns out, his hyper-hearing picked up every creak, footstep, and ghost. And suddenly, he had a lot to bark about.

Barking at the Door? It Could Be Noise Sensitivity, Not Intruders

Dogs hear far more than we do— they pick up ultra-high frequencies and quiet background noises we don't even notice. But hearing a sound isn’t the same as knowing what it is, and when a sound isn’t clear or familiar, it can feel threatening. That uncertainty may register as a potential danger, causing stress and reactive barking.

A Sound Solution: White Noise to Ease Anxiety

White noise works by filling in the silence. It dampens sharp, startling noises. The constant, gentle hum helps your dog feel more secure. Dogs find the stable, familiar audio environment soothing, reducing anxious reactions.

I use this white noise machine, it’s cheap and very useful. I keep it under the couch, and it still works great without blocking music from my phone. I’ve recommended it to multiple people—it’s not magic, but it’s an perfect fix for the price.

For the Loudly Opinionated Dogs

White noise isn’t magic, but it helps. It won’t stop your dachshund from barking at the big, scary vacuum. Add in desensitization training to help your talkative pup learn to use his indoor voice when he’s feeling scared. Give white noise a try— you both deserve some much-needed quiet.