Should we address this barking issue or is it acceptable?

[Lowlight282]

Our dog is 20 months old. Everytime he needs to go outside he blasts out of the door barking, 2 or 3 barks and then he settles down to sniff. I don't know how to stop him doing it or if it's just a normal/acceptable behaviour and to leave him alone. I'm just concerned it might be annoying the neighbours. He does bark at other times in the garden but we bring him straight in.

This is one of those matters that comes down to preference - not something I'd worry about unless there were complaints

I wouldn't encourage it as if he needs the toilet late at night (illness) or early in the morning, he'll disturb people.

I'd start by taking him out on a lead, and if he barks, he comes back in right away. So barking = indoors. Every time.

Can you make him sit once he has stopped barking inside? Let him out only when he is quiet.
Our first ddog was brought in every barking episode..
Our other ddogs followed suit over the years. Our ndn says they never hear them.
We have 4 now.
Barking ddogs really affect my mental and physical health.. Wish I could make every owner properly train their noisey bloody ddogs..

Rushing out of a door is not a great activity for a dog.

They get into the habit of running through doors they easily tranasfer this to front doors and onto roads etc so it is worth putting in some work on this. Also charging out of the house highly aroused is not great for the dog.

Ask for a sit and wait at the door. Open the door slightly if the dog moves close the door and ask for a sit and wait. When the dog is happily waiting when you have the door open then ask for a heel and walk the dog calmly out throught the door. You may need to have a lead to start with but this is a great way to build on heel work in exciting situations. The reward is being out in the garden so dogs learn this pretty quickly.

Thanks for all the advice. He doesn't ever bark when he goes out in the dark so I'm not concerned about waking anyone in the night but it annoys me during the day so I'm sure the neighbours must be irritated by it. I'll follow the advice you've all given. Many thanks.