Barking
How do I stop two dogs in the house barking at each other?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Barking between household dogs usually comes from either overexcitement around a resource like a toy or doorway, or a mismatch in play style where one dog wants to slow down and the other keeps escalating. Managing the specific triggers with separate feeding, doorway routines, and short supervised breaks works better than expecting the dogs to sort it out alone.
Identifying the actual trigger
Note exactly when the barking starts: at the food bowls, when one dog has a toy, at the front door, or during rough play that has gone on too long. Most household barking between dogs traces back to one or two specific, repeatable situations rather than random conflict.
Managing the identified triggers
Feeding in separate rooms, picking up high value toys when they are not being actively supervised, and teaching both dogs to wait calmly at doorways rather than barging through together removes several of the most common flashpoints within a week or two of consistent management.
Teaching individual settle cues
Practice a settle or place cue with each dog separately first, then together, rewarding calm behavior generously. A short supervised break in separate rooms, 10 to 15 minutes, after any excitable barking episode gives both dogs time to decompress before trying again.
Key takeaways
- Barking between household dogs usually traces back to one or two specific, repeatable triggers.
- Separate feeding and managed doorways remove common flashpoints quickly.
- Teaching each dog an individual settle cue builds a foundation for calmer time together.
- A short supervised break after an excitable episode helps both dogs reset.