dogs barking when left alone

[eeyore]

hi i have a problem, my dogs are barking when we go out, didnt know this until we got a nasty letter stuck on our door from an angry neighbour, dont know why they hadnt come and told us earlier face to face.
we have spoken to a couple of the neaighbours that are closest to us but they said they hadnt written it but did say that the dogs are barking when we go out. jasper does a whining bark, molly howls and sometimes they hear a little barking from the puppy but not much from her.
obviously we need to sort this out or we will have more angry neighbours and the council on our backs, so any ideas?
i was thinking of getting a DAP spray or collar has anyone had experience of these?
any advice would be greatly appreciated thanks

[molliesmum]

You would need to be there to activate the spray,so I don't think they would work. There are bark collars you can buy, but not sure how they work.
Shame the neighbour didn't put name on note, that way you could ask how long they bark for, and ask them to patience while you crack it. Good luck

[eeyore]

You would need to be there to activate the spray,so I don't think they would work. There are bark collars you can buy, but not sure how they work.
Shame the neighbour didn't put name on note, that way you could ask how long they bark for, and ask them to patience while you crack it. Good luck

i know i wish they would come forward, we had the same problem when we moved in 3years ago the dogs had trouble settling and the coucil got invovled, they had to act as go between passing messages back and forth from me to the other person to find out when and for how long they had been barking.

[k9mania]

Many times that type of barking can be because of boredom. And if one starts, sometimes initiates the others. I had to use a bark collar on my youngest border. It only took a few times for him to learn. I would go out and sneak back w/o car (they can tell yours) to check after taking it off and if he was barking, I would say Mauree--come get the collar--he would come in and let me put it on and then never bark. Now, the others did not join in so...the others were old enough and did not get bored. He was young. They have a basket of toys they can pick from also interactive toys. :)

[J. Hall]

Are they usually inside? could be the problem they miss YOU:o Toys, Bones, If its cold make them a nice warm bed. Try to leave with them thinking your still inside the house. IF possible? I cant! And a lower protien diet.

[Brooke]

My smaller dog was barking, and I was told to use the barking collar. I got a very small one, as my dog is so little. He learnt not to bark, and still doesn't even when the collar is off, after a few zaps. I know people here don't like them, but for my dog it was the last resort. It worked perfectly though!!!

[angied]

hi eeyore
my neighbour has a lurcher cross puppy he is 5 months old he was constantly barking and whinning when she went out you could hear him down the road and over our telly thats how load he was. but i went to speak to her as i have 4 dogs and i tried to help her as i know she would get a complaint sooner or later.she tried everything even come to my house to see how bad he was. i suggested that as he has a kong when she goes out it doesnt last so to freeze the goodies inside take some of the toys away as he had too many she then bought a devise from pets at home which you plug in and whebn he barks it gives a high pitched sound. she only plugs it in when shes out it was a miracle it worked so why not give it a try. as for your neighbours it would be easier if they told you as if they were barking when youre out how would you know! i hope it works out

[ChristyRose]

I was informed by my landlord who lived downstairs from me that my dog Petie would bark when someone was in the back hallway. He would bark for more than 10 minutes straight. I went to Petsmart and looked at the different options they have for bark collars. I bought a bark collar that works off a very small battery. I tested it on Petie by having my Finacee come up the back stairs stomping his feet, and I watched Peties reaction with the collar on. It was not easy for me to see my baby get zapped, but it worked. He did jump up and he looked like a deer running around the kitchen for a second but he soon learned within 1 week to not bark. :) It works fast, after about 1 month I stopped using the collar when I was gone. He doesn't bark in the house anymore and my landlord ended up using the same kind of collar for his golden retreiver who was also barking. Trust me it works, but just don't leave it on him while your home.

Take Care,
Happy Holidays
ChristyRose

[Jr_K9_Expert]

Well to me it sorta sounds like seperation anxiety. In which case the dog will start barking, whining, scratching, etc. when you leave him/her alone.

There are certain things you can do to solve this problem, but first, you do have more than one dog correct? idk, but if you do i'd say that most likely its not boredom, for the most part dogs find things to do among themselves to keep busy.

If your dog is suffering for seperation anxiety then what you can do is one of the following:

YOu can excersie before you go out, a decent jogging may tire the pooch out, and then a little while after jogging (after the pooch cools down) you feed it its breakfast. The combination of being tired and having a full belly will most likely put the dog to sleep for a decent amount of time.

Second you can consider getting a kong, dogs will usually spend a long time trying to get the treat inside.lol. That can be something that will distract it for a time.

Leaving some toys out would sorta helped if this problem really is caused by boredom.

If this doesn't work, then I suggest you investigate to see what really is the root of the problem, you never know, there might be a cat somewhere and the dogs are barking at it.

Or get other neighbors to tell you if they agree with this anonomous neighbor, maybe that specific person was just being over-exaggerated.

Oh one last thing, i'm gonna have to disagree with those who said to resort to the the zapping collar, well at least it wouldn't be a good thing to start using it immediately; you are just using negative reinforcement to lazily solve a problem that must be dealt with patience, i suggest to save that as a last resort.(that just IMO)

Well i'm hoping some of this will help you.

[molliesmum]

The collar I was talking about doesn't zap the dog, it just makes a sound that we can't hear.

[Jr_K9_Expert]

The collar I was talking about doesn't zap the dog, it just makes a sound that we can't hear.

Oh, I'm sorry, i didn't mean to make it seem like an accusation, and i don't think you said anything about a zap collar either.lol. I was just pointing out someone else said.

[Brooke]

I know I said I used a zap collar, which i'm guessing you are talking about my post. Mine was as a last resort. I tried to get my dog to stop barking, and it just didn't happen. He learnt after 2 or 3 days, and now he doesn't even have to use it! Everyone has their own opinions on what works for them, and that worked for me.

[eeyore]

thank you for all your replies.

i am going to borrow my sisters camcorder so i can see exactly what happens when i am out.
i would like to try other options before having to try a shock collar as i do not really agree with them, but i do understand that they do work.
i think it is the older of the 3, jasper that starts them off but i will see.
i will let you know what i find out on the tape.

[1BadMal]

As a last resort I understand using a E-collar for people and their dogs, especially if it keep the dog from harm. However, let me share a little story with you. My trainer had an imported GSD (big money dog), she trained Police K 9's and had her dog out with them. Well she sent the dog to the decoy and was to "out" the dog. Long story short, her dog didn't out the first time and the cops razed her about it, since she was the trainer.

They told her she needed to put a collar on her dog, well, reluctantly she did. When the dog didn't out again they zapped her and the dog took off running into a shed and came out with it's head turned to the side and walking funny. Come to find out they busted the dog's inner ear drum and from that point on the dog was never the same.

My point, E-collar can be awesome (www.sitmeanssit.com) but they can be dangerous also and lead to very problematic behavior. Don't use them with out professional assistance, even a bark collar. That's my opinion!

[k9mania]

I think we have discussed before on other posts that the shock collar should a last resort. I agree with Jr_K9_expert seperation anxiety by one could cause the others to join in. Videotaping will help you see it progress. Good luck.

[molliesmum]

Oh, I'm sorry, i didn't mean to make it seem like an accusation, and i don't think you said anything about a zap collar either.lol. I was just pointing out someone else said.

Oh no, I didn't think you were accusing, honest. I just meant a different kind of collar.
I would try anything, starting at the least worrying, but would do anything to stop the dog being taken away from me.

[Brooke]

Oh no, I didn't think you were accusing, honest. I just meant a different kind of collar.
I would try anything, starting at the least worrying, but would do anything to stop the dog being taken away from me.

That's exactly what I thought. I tried to stop my pup from barking, but had no success. We had a complaint from the council, and they advised that they could take the dog away from me if I didn't fix it. I tried everything, but nothing worked. The way I saw it, I would prefer to use the collar (even if I hated it) so my dog and me could stay together. I love my dog to death, and I don't want to loose him for something so small. I thought I was doing the right thing, because i'm pretty sure my dog would rather a small zap, rather than being put in the pound, or worse killed!

[molliesmum]

Right beside you on that one Brooke. Whatever it takes. We love our babies to bits.

[Jr_K9_Expert]

See brooke i think in your case it was a last resort kinda thing, but the thing is that there are people that will suggest the Zap collar as the first suggestion, right off the bat! I think that this is wrong. And lemme say, shock collars or w/e, aren't as effecient as you think... I know a little maltese that has her shock collar on when she is outside (and sometimes inside) and she will bark regardless of what it does, all she does is shake her head and keep barking.

See you two the thing is Motivation, if the urge is strong enough it doesn't matter what you do! The BEST solutions, like i've said before, is get to the root of the problem and eliminate it, and finding the root of your problem won't happen overnight, it may not happen withing a week! You have to be smart and cunning. After a while ppl will just give up and say "okay lets go and buy the shock collar".

Be patient, cunning, and creative, you wouldn't put a shock collar on a baby that cries relentlessly....

[4dogsandababy]

Ahh I no what you mean!!! I have four dogs and it's my Lab n Border that make all the noise!
When we go out we keep them in the kitchen with a baby gate in the doorway as no door and everytime I got to the car and they heard my car alarm beep to unlock they would in turn bark!
Luckily I am close friends with my neighbour and she told me that they barked from the moment I left to the moment I got home! But not a bark as though someone was walking past just a constant wouf......(a few seconds.....wouf).
I tried toys, chews n everything but no success until one day when I came home I found my lab/Collie x in the living having jumped the baby gate!!! :D
I figured that could be why they were barked as they were seperated as the other two handn't joined her.
I put another baby gate on top of the other so they couldn't get over and left the house for a few hours. I then asked my neighbour if she had heard them and she said they hadn't made a noise! So just check that they aren't being seperated???
Sorry for the essay - hope it helps if not good luck :)

[Carol]

My cocker would howl when I left her alone.
I adopted Jake and it cured the problem.
Fortunately, both my dogs are crate trained.
This is where a dog should be when left alone in the house.
With the two dogs, they will share a crate or I can place the 2 crates side by side and they can see each other.
Works for us.
No food or water in the crate ...Jake gets a chew toy (Kong bone)
Casey is not a chewer and just needs her blankie.

[Beckie3889]

We had the same with our puppy barking everytime we left the house. we bought a bark unit. Not collar. As i was told they work better with quicker results but our local pet shop was charging £110 for them. So i decided to look on Ebay and got exactly the same make (a second hand one though) for £20. The person auctioning it said it stopped her dog barking in two days. I wasnt sure i really believed it but decided to buy it anyway and so glad i did. The effects were almost immediate. The unit must be within 10ft of the barking dog to be at its most effectiveness. It claims that only dogs can hear it. but our cats reacted to it when it went off. but i only had to use it for about 5 days and now its been sold as Holly doesnt bark when we go out of the door.
She hardly barks at all. Only when Smudge (One of our cats) teases her.

[BichonFowner]

I've read that Bichon's bark when left alone, although I would never know. He seems to be fine when I leave for work, however I always give him his Kong toy with treats inside that keeps him occupied. There are times I leave during the day without giving him a treat and he is fine. I don't make a big fuss when I leave. He definitely barks when he knows someone has pulled into the garage. I will have to test him sometime and pretend to leave to see if he actually barks.

[Danielle]

It is not boredom. If it were, then the dog would bark regardless of if the owner was in the house or not.

JR_K9 hit the nail on the head with an earlier post. It is seperation anxiety. The dog is barking for you to come back. This is how they find a lost pack member in the wild, they bark to one another to locate the pack and to be reunited. Your dog is essentially calling out "Where are you???!!!".

I dont think a shock collar will work in this situation. It may cure the symptom (barking) but it wont cure the anxiety the dog is feeling. Training may help, desensitising your dog to your absence will also help, and as a LAST RESORT maybe some anti-anxiety meds could calm your stressed out K-9.

Talk to your vet or a behariourist and that should solve your problem.

[TTBALLMOM]

I agree with Danni, but wish to add a few thoughts; Sometimes we don't realize our dogs have symptoms of anxiety, and that it doesn't always begin when we leave the house. I've heard it can start with unreleased energy that has been building up in them since they wake up in the morning. How many times do we wake up in the morning, let the dog out in the yard, or take it on a quick walk to do its business, then we eat breakfast, get the kids off, get dressed and ready for work, with the dog following us from room to room. We may think "Oh he always does that, he love me etc..." which may be true but it may also be our dog trying to show us they are anxious. If we leave and don't give the dog a way to release that energy then they will have seperation anxiety.

My Toto was crate trained, and at about 7 months old we graduated to the living room/dinning room area, and at about 12 months he got the whole house, but once he was out of his crate (mind you we live in a small condo) if I did not take him for a long walk, at least an hour in the morning, with ball playing and some running also, then he would bark when I left the house also. At first I added this morning workout to my routine for his benefit, yet it turns out I've probably benefitted from it more then him. I also give him a good breakfast so his belly is full and he's plum tuckered out and probably falls right back to sleep. :) He has his kong toys, and bully stick for keeping him busy, but I have not had any barking problems since. (I also read that if you don't have the time for a long walk like that, or the weather doesn't permit that you might try having the dog walk on a tread mill while you get ready for work)

Granted everytime I leave the house he doesn't get an hour long workout, but I'm not usually away for extended periods except for work. (I'm on the midnight shift this month so its been a bit hard for him. Not much fun to play ball in the dark) but he's been a real good boy...:)

I just love this site, with all the opinons and advice from different people, we take a little from here and a little from there and we just learn learn learn.

Let us know what you decide to do, and if any of the collars work, or the sound machines...:p

The only time he will bark now is when he is sitting on the chair next to the window and he sees a person, (and especially a person walking a dog) walk by. We're not in a high traffice area so that doesn't happen much. Believe it or not my immediate neighbors don't mind that he barks at times like these, because it also alerts them that someone is walking by. Kinda like our own little alarm system.

I've also been very successful in training him to stop barking on command. We learned that in beginners training (the step after puppy kindergarten) Naturally that wont help your situation since you have to be in the house with them when they bark, but since we got this command down pat it seems that he actually stops barking himself. I usually let him bark a few times (its only natural - protecting- his turf) and then will command him to stop. Many times I just walk up behind him and he'll already stop before I have to give him the command. I believe he somehow learned the lesson that "its ok to bark once or twice and then I better shut up" and maybe that has helped in preventing him from barking when hes alone, along with draining that energy. Thats critical. It really isn't boredom, as Danni said, its pent up energy.