No, It’s Not Normal: How Assumptions About the Social Norms of Dog Barking Prevent Effective Policy

A crisp morning in a small German village. The houses stand in neat rows along the winding streets, their thick timber frames and red-tiled roofs whispering stories of generations past. Smoke curls gently from chimneys. A neighbor leans over the hedge to speak with the man next door.

“I wanted to mention something,” she says hesitantly. “Your dog barks quite a lot, especially in the evenings. It carries through the whole street and even into my bedroom.”

Her neighbor shrugs, offering a sympathetic but dismissive smile. “Oh, all of us let our dogs bark. That’s just how it is around here.”

We hear variations of this sentiment all the time: This is our way of life. This is just what people do here. This is our culture. And with that simple assertion, the conversation is closed. For many policymakers and community leaders, these claims—when framed as expressions of deep-seated cultural norms—can feel untouchable. Who would want to meddle with local tradition? Who would want to be the outsider imposing unwelcome restrictions on an age-old way of life?

But let’s pause and examine that assumption. Is this, in fact, the local culture? Is the soundscape of this village truly defined by the barking of dogs, or is something else being erased in the process?

The Misrepresentation of Norms

In this same village, let’s assume 40 households line the streets. Of these, about 5 have dogs that bark frequently—an estimate that is quite generous to dog owners. That means that the overwhelming majority of homes—about 35 out of 40—produce little to no such erratic, intrusive noise. For most residents, the “normal” experience of living in this village would be quiet, save for the natural murmur of daily life: footsteps on cobblestones, the temporary hum of a lawn mower, or the occasional church bell marking the hour.

So what is the actual cultural norm in this village? It is not, as the dog owner claimed, one of universal and accepted dog barking. Rather, the prevailing norm is a shared respect for neighbors' well-being, privacy, and right to the peaceful enjoyment of their homes. 

Yet, when dog owners prematurely claim their experience as the collective experience, they are not simply mistaken; they are participating in a subtle but powerful act of erasure. By asserting that dog barking is an integral part of the community, they silence the majority who do not engage in or necessarily welcome such noise. They claim dominance over the shared environment and, in doing so, position those who object as outsiders to their own community.

The Policy Implications of Assumed Norms

This distortion of norms does not only shape individual conversations; it influences policy decisions in profound ways. Policymakers, particularly those unfamiliar with the nuances of a given community, often take such claims of cultural inevitability at face value. After all, it is far easier to accept that “this is just how things are” than to challenge a supposed tradition.

The result? Policies that fail to protect those who suffer most from excessive noise. Noise ordinances, when written under the false assumption that dog barking is a widespread and accepted norm, become weak or unenforceable. The burden shifts to those affected by the noise to either tolerate the disturbance or risk social alienation by speaking out. Meanwhile, those who contribute to the problem—often a vocal minority—benefit from a protective shield of supposed cultural legitimacy.

Reclaiming the True Norms of a Community

The truth is, the real cultural tradition in most communities is not unrestricted noise but rather a balance of mutual respect. The historical and social fabric of towns and villages has long been built on cooperative living, where individuals make accommodations for one another to maintain a harmonious environment. Noise, when it becomes intrusive and unregulated, is not an expression of culture but a disruption of it.

So, what can be done?

• Policymakers must interrogate assumptions. When noise issues arise, the question should not be, “Is this a cultural norm?” but rather, “How do we understand the full diversity of social norms in this community?”
• Communities must redefine the conversation. Those affected by noise should feel empowered to assert that their right to peace is not an outlier position but the true majority experience.
• We must challenge the narrative of inevitability. Just because a small group asserts that barking dogs are normal does not make it true. We must recognize and advocate for the actual shared values of respect, consideration, and coexistence.

The soundscape of a village, town, or city is not just an incidental byproduct of life—it is a reflection of the values we choose to uphold. And for most communities, the broader tradition is not unregulated noise, but at least modest respect for the right to quiet.