Does your dog bark at the TV? Do they become agitated whenever they see or hear an animal on the screen? I once thought my dog was unique in this behavior, but it’s actually a quite common issue among dog owners.
Over the past few years, I’ve received numerous emails asking for advice on this topic. So today, we’re going to explore how to prevent your dog from barking and lunging at the TV.
Before Laika, none of my dogs showed much interest in what I watched or listened to. But Laika, as with many situations, tends to react differently.
Whether it’s a dog barking on TV, a fox hunting in the snow, or any other animal movement—she’ll respond. She doesn’t just bark; she whines, grumbles, and gets up to investigate. If it’s something particularly intriguing, like squirrels, she’ll even jump up and nudge the TV with her nose.
Her behavior made me realize two things: first, I needed to help her stay calm, and second, I watch more animal-related TV shows than I thought. I haven’t stopped watching these shows, but I did figure out how to calm her down. Here’s how I managed to stop my dog from barking at the TV.
Why Do Dogs Bark at the TV?
Every dog is unique, and this applies to their reasons for barking at the TV—what, where, when, how, and why they react. Dogs are naturally drawn to movement, so seeing animals moving on screen often captures their attention.
Why do some dogs bark at the TV while others ignore it? Some react out of excitement, others in response to specific sights or sounds, some due to frustration, and others from stress or fear. With high-definition TVs now standard, dogs are more likely to take notice of the clear, lifelike images on the screen.
For Laika, it was a mix of these factors. Without intervention, her reactions became more frequent and intense. Her initial excitement at moving images turned into frustration—she saw animals “in her living room” but couldn’t interact with them. When her distress grew, I knew I had to act.
This is Laika, and she likes to bark and nudge at any mammal that moves on TV.
How to Stop Your Dog From Barking at the TV
To stop your dog from barking at the TV, the first step is to find videos that trigger a reaction. I used Paul Dinning videos for this—they’re ideal because they’re high-quality and focus solely on animals moving, so you don’t have to sit through commercials or setup footage to get a response. Once you press play, the training begins.
The second essential item is a supply of tasty treats. These will be used to keep your dog’s attention when the TV shows stimulating content.
With videos and treats ready, sit with your dog in front of the TV and start playing a video. Begin with one that you think will cause a mild reaction. I started with bird videos—they interested Laika enough to make her investigate but didn’t immediately overexcite her.
As the video plays, observe your dog’s reactions. Are they interested in the birds? Excited? Barking? Lunging? Understanding their response patterns helps you predict when they might react.
Once you can anticipate their reactions, intervene before they get too excited. Give them a treat and praise them for calm behavior while watching the birds. Rewarding calmness teaches them that staying relaxed during TV time is positive, and repetition reinforces this behavior.
It may seem simple, but you’re essentially changing their emotional response from excitement to calm by associating TV watching with treats.
Whenever Laika started to get excited during a video, I’d say “leave it” and give her a treat. If she grumbled, I’d tell her “be quiet” and reward her. Over time, her reactions decreased, and she learned to stay calm reliably.
Starting with mild-reaction videos is crucial. If you choose one that overexcites them immediately, calming them down becomes difficult. When dogs are overly aroused (often called “over threshold”), they can’t learn effectively.
After your dog stays calm with the first video, move to the next. Use the same method—reward calmness before excitement—and repeat until they handle it confidently. Gradually increase the intensity, moving from birds to more stimulating content like squirrels or cats, building their tolerance without overwhelming them.
TLDR Version
Here’s a concise summary of the method: 1. Find videos that make your dog bark. 2. Get some treats. 3. Sit with your dog and watch the videos. 4. Give treats before they start barking. 5. Repeat this process.
The goal is to shift your dog’s emotional response to TV from excitement to calmness by rewarding calm behavior with treats.
For best results, start with mild-reaction videos and progress to more exciting ones. Once they can control their impulse to bark at moving images, handling highly stimulating videos becomes easier.
Does Your Dog Bark at the TV?
Does your dog bark at the TV? What types of videos trigger their reactions? Do you think it’s due to excitement or frustration? What methods have you tried to keep them calm during TV time?
Resources & Recommended Reading
The method I used is called counter conditioning and desensitization. It’s an effective technique for various dog issues, from reactivity to separation anxiety, focusing on changing a dog’s emotional response to a stimulus—in this case, the TV.
Understanding this concept is valuable for all dog owners, as it applies to many situations. Counter conditioning involves replacing a negative response with a positive one, while desensitization gradually exposes the dog to the stimulus at a manageable level, reducing their reaction over time.
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