Ever wondered how to stop dogs barking? This short article will tell you how, and two different solutions.
Stop Dogs Barking
If there’s one thing I know from living in Asia as a digital nomad it’s that people do little to control the stray animal population with neutering, animal adoption services, or animal control. That means you’ve got a choir of barking dogs and cats in heat around you at all hours of the day and night. Which can make sleep, concentration, or work virtually impossible.
Solution? A dog whistle. Or more specifically, a 15,000 Hz – 20,000 Hz tone on a free MP3 or MP4 file will stop dogs barking, almost instantly. Or a standalone device you place outside your home that automatically turns on when it detects a stray animal.
In this article I’ll show you how to stop dogs barking for free with an MP3 file over a laptop or Bluetooth speaker, or with a motion detector device that you put outside your home which emits ultrasonic sounds when it senses an animal nearby.
Both solutions are very effective, however I’d recommend a standalone device because it’s less annoying to operate and is fully automatic.
Related: How to Become a House Sitter
1. Stop Stray Dogs from Barking with a Free MP3/MP4
I love dogs and grew up with them my whole life –well-behaved dogs in a Canadian suburb. Stray dogs are also incredibly loveable and often better behaved than those in captivity (read: owned). I’ve only met one dog that ever made me feel threatened in all my years on the road, so for me, it’s important to use a solution that doesn’t cause harm.
I used to use a dog whistle app to stop dogs barking, but few work when the lock screen is activated or allow you to use them over a Bluetooth connected speaker through your smartphone. And on Android, dog whistle apps to stop dogs barking are often rife with malware.
Related: How to Make Money Really Fast, Right Now
The Free Solution
For testing purposes, I suggest you try both a 15,000 Hz tone and a 20,000 Hz tone on YouTube first to see which one works better for you. I tend to alternate between the two depending on the dog, as every dog is different.
After that, you could rip and download an audio MP4 of either tone using a service like YouTubNow and create a playlist on your smartphone for quick access –set it to loop, and you’re good to go.
To avoid any possible issue with copyright infringement I won’t share an MP3 here, although it is my understanding that these frequencies are not subject to copyright. I am not suggesting anyone break any laws in their respective countries.
These tones will both stop dogs barking and fighting cats (or those trying to do the dirty in your ceiling when you’re trying to sleep). These tones are an annoyance at best and they’ll usually just leave the area.
2. Stop Dogs Barking with a Cheap Motion-Activated Device
I mostly live in the Philippines these days, and on my last trip to Canada I bought several motion-detecting ultrasonic devices to ward off stray barking dogs.
They work automatically and are solar powered, which is a huge help. I don’t have to wake up in the middle of the night and run a YouTube clip or queue up my dog whistle MP3 on a Bluetooth speaker anymore.
I strongly recommend you pick up either of these to stop dogs barking.
These are the best ones I tested, the first one is a handheld device and the following devices are solar powered for outdoor use;
Additional Notes
The 15,000 Hz tone to stop dogs barking may be audible by adults, the 20,000 Hz tone probably won’t be so the latter is probably more discreet. Both tones can be heard by young children and teenagers.
Article update: If there are babies present, I suggest you avoid using either tone or keep them away from them. In these cases, I find a 60hz tone works amazingly well and it won’t be detectable to most humans. Try it out for yourself, it may actually work better.
These tones won’t cause physical harm, however some may cause distress to a baby and that’s not the intended use of this information. Our ears lose sensitivity over time which is why adults often won’t be able to hear these tones and a child or teenager might.
I’ve found that these tones will usually stop dogs barking within 30 – 60 seconds and they work most of the time. The only time they don’t is when a barking dog is tied to a pole on a short leash and can’t leave (which is incredibly cruel on the part of the dog owner and sadly common in Southeast Asia). In these cases, relocate –the dog’s already got problems.
I hope this solution helps you sleep better or get more done during the day! Did this travel tip work for you? Let me know in the comments.
Related: While you’re here, why not learn how to get an online job?
These frequencies are used on us, too! (Bonus reading)
Hey! Still reading? Now that you know what a dog whistle sounds like (harder to hear the older you are), did you know that your devices –laptops, smart phone, smart TV (any thing “smart”, really) –are talking to each other using a similar sound frequency? That’s right. You’re not going crazy, you hear it sometimes if it catches your ear the right way.
Here’s a few news sources that have reported on it:
- Your Phone Is Listening—Literally Listening—to Your TV – The Atlantic
- Beware of ads that use inaudible sound to link your phone, TV, tablet, and PC – Ars Technica
- How to Block the Ultrasonic Signals You Didn’t Know Were Tracking You – Wired
These signals aren’t just linking your profile to your own devices, it’s linking your profile to those around you. Sitting next to a terrorist in a bar unbeknownst to you? How about visiting your mistress 3 times per week? They know. And yet, no one seems to mind.
Some say it’s making the bees screwed up, others blame it for making babies cry due to their sensitive ears.
What do you think?
