Barking, Whining And Vocal Behaviour

Spaniels can be vocal dogs. Barking, whining and howling are normal ways for dogs to communicate — but when vocal behaviour becomes frequent, intense, or hard to interrupt, it usually has a clear cause.

The solution isn’t to “stop the noise” in isolation. It’s to identify what is driving the vocal behaviour (excitement, fear, boredom, attention-seeking, frustration, or learned habit) and then teach a calmer alternative.

This hub helps you understand why your spaniel is vocal, what different types of barking and whining tend to mean, and how to reduce the behaviour using practical training and management.

Key guides in this section

Start here: stop barking (spaniel-specific)

Breed-specific barking and vocal habits

Why dogs bark, and what it can mean

Related behaviour hubs

Related training hubs

What vocal behaviour looks like (and what it can mean)

Vocal behaviour is not one thing. Your spaniel may bark or whine because of:

Alert barking (sounds, visitors, movement outside)
Demand/attention barking (“do something now”)
Excitement barking (walks, leads, play, visitors)
Frustration barking (being restrained, blocked from something)
Fear/anxiety barking (noise sensitivity, separation distress)
Habit barking (a learned pattern that repeats easily)
Night-time barking (routine issues, attention cycles, anxiety, needs)

Your job is to work out which category you’re seeing — because the fix depends on the cause.

First: rule out the obvious (quick checks)

Before training, quickly check:

Does your dog need the toilet?
Are they under-stimulated or under-rested?
Is there a trigger you can identify (doorbell, delivery vans, other dogs)?
Is the barking related to being left alone?
Is your dog in pain or discomfort (itching, upset stomach, dental pain)?

If barking begins suddenly, escalates quickly, or is paired with other health signs, consider a vet check.

Separation barking vs general barking

This matters because the approach differs.

More likely separation-related

barking starts shortly after you leave
your dog cannot settle when alone
destruction/escape attempts happen too
➡️ Go to: /spaniel-behaviour/separation-anxiety/

More likely excitement/attention

barking happens when you’re present
barking is linked to play, leads, visitors
➡️ Go to: /spaniel-behaviour/over-arousal/ and /spaniel-training/impulse-control/

Start here: a practical plan to reduce barking

You will get the fastest progress if you do these in order.

Step 1: Identify the trigger pattern

For 3–7 days, note:

what happens right before barking starts
where your dog is
what you do next
whether barking gets your dog what they want

You’re looking for the reinforcement loop.

Step 2: Remove or reduce the trigger (temporarily)

This is not a long-term “avoid everything” approach — it’s a short-term reset.
Examples:

block access to a window that triggers barking
reduce doorbell chaos (manage deliveries differently for a while)
choose calmer walking routes temporarily

Step 3: Teach an alternative behaviour

Pick one “replacement behaviour” and reward it heavily:

go to bed / settle
sit and look at you
quiet check-in

The dog can’t bark and perform a calm alternative at the same time.

Step 4: Reinforce silence properly

Don’t wait for 30 minutes of silence. Start by rewarding:

1–2 seconds of quiet
then 3–5 seconds
then gradually longer

Step 5: Practise with controlled exposure

Create easy training reps:

trigger at low intensity (door knock quietly, show lead briefly)
reward calm behaviour
end the session before your dog escalates

Common causes and what to do (spaniel-specific)

1) Barking at night

Night barking is often:

habit + attention loop
under-rested dog with poor routine
anxiety or sensitivity to sounds
needs (toilet, discomfort)

Fix:

tighten evening routine, reduce stimulation late in the day, reward quiet, and avoid reinforcing barking with lots of attention.

Support: /spaniel-welfare/rest-and-sleep/

2) Barking on walks

Often driven by:

over-arousal
frustration (lead restraint)
reactivity
➡️ Go to: /spaniel-behaviour/reactivity/ and /spaniel-training/lead-walking/

3) Whining

Whining is frequently:

anticipation (walks/food)
frustration
anxiety
learned demand behaviour

Treat it the same way: identify the reinforcement loop and teach a calm alternative.

4) Howling

Howling is less common but can be:

response to sounds (sirens, other dogs)
separation distress
learned behaviour (it “works”)
Treat it as a vocal behaviour pattern: reduce triggers + build calm alternatives.