My dog barks at shows: how can I help them calm down?

Barking is a normal communication behaviour. It can express excitement, frustration, fear or a request for attention. The same noise can therefore correspond to very different needs.

The right question is: “What is making them bark here?” The answer will help you choose a suitable solution.

Beginner — Three tips for handling the moment

1. Move away from what triggers the barking

If your dog barks when another dog approaches, increase the distance. For waiting, look for a less busy spot, away from the walkways.

A worried dog, or one overwhelmed by excitement, finds it hard to learn in the middle of whatever makes them react. Giving them space is a useful first step.

2. Keep a calm voice

Avoid shouting “quiet!”, jerking the lead or using an anti-bark device to stop the noise. Punishment doesn’t address the cause and can increase anxiety.

In the ring, if your dog stays very agitated, tell the judge and ask how to stop the presentation safely.

3. Reward calm before the next burst

Take advantage of a moment when your dog is watching quietly, turns away from another dog or comes back to you. Praise them and reward that behaviour.

Above all, try to step in before they start: it is easier to reinforce a calm response than to wait until they are already going.

Intermediate — Three tips for preparing the next outing

1. Keep a small notebook of triggers

Note when they bark: at other dogs, while waiting, when you move away or when you are holding a treat.

Add what you observe: do they pull towards the other dog? Back away? Freeze? These details help you understand the context; they are not enough to make a diagnosis.

2. Teach them to settle away from shows

At home, reward the moments when they relax on a mat, without constantly asking them for exercises. Then work in places that are gradually busier.

If they already like that mat, you can use it as an anchor during waiting times. This is a practical adaptation to the show setting.

3. Plan a wait that suits their needs

Organise breaks to drink, relieve themselves, explore quietly and rest. Avoid stringing together encounters or exciting games just before the round.

A routine that meets the dog’s needs can help reduce some barking linked to waiting or frustration. It does not replace work on a fear.

Advanced — Three tips for making progress last

1. Work on triggers at a tolerable intensity

For a dog who reacts to other dogs, start at a distance where they can watch them without tensing up or barking. Reward calm reactions and their attention coming back to you.

Don’t shorten the distance on every attempt as a matter of principle. If tension rises, move away and simplify the situation. A professional can help you build this progression.

2. Build an alternative response

Teach a simple behaviour in calm surroundings: looking at you, following you a few steps or going to their mat. Then train it gradually with distractions.

At a show, offer this behaviour before your dog is overwhelmed. The aim is to give them a familiar, achievable action, without demanding a long period of keeping still.

3. Assess recovery, not just silence

Watch whether they find it easier to return to a relaxed posture, turn their attention elsewhere and rest between two events. A dog that is quiet but frozen may still be uncomfortable.

If the barking appears suddenly, clearly increases or persists despite adjustments, consult the vet. Behavioural support may then be needed.

Does barking lead to disqualification?

The FCI regulations for dog shows do not present isolated barking as an automatic ground for disqualification. They do, however, provide for “Disqualified” for aggressive behaviour and “Cannot be judged” when constant refusal of examination prevents assessment.

The judge therefore takes the observed situation into account. A few barks of excitement and threatening behaviour during handling are not assessed in the same way.

The habit to remember

Start by understanding, then adapt the distance, the waiting and the learning. A calmer dog has a better chance of finding peace than a dog who is simply told to be quiet.