If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Most dogs or puppies will settle down and stop crying or barking within a half-hour after they are left. However, some dogs simply cannot relax. They bark or cry for the entire eight hours their owner is at work. Obviously, this can result in some angry neighbors or an apartment eviction. Some people are even faced with giving up their dogs because they feel like they can’t leave the dog alone barking all day. They feel like they have no choice but to find the dog a new home.
There are ways to overcome this problem. Some people will call the problem separation anxiety. You can call it what you want, but in most cases what the dog really needs is more exercise and rules. “Separation anxiety” is an overused term by vets and trainers. Most dogs do not have anything wrong with them, but they are crying or barking because of pent up energy and boredom. Here are my suggestions for a dog that barks or cries all day:
Run with the dog every morning.
Run the dog for an hour in the morning before you go to work. Some people will laugh when I say this, but it’s not a joke. Run her (or at least walk fast) for a minimum of 45 minutes every single day, even if she is a small dog. How can you expect a dog or puppy to sleep all night and then go in her kennel all day while you are at work? Leaving her lose in the house is no different. To a dog, a house is just a big kennel.
Buy a dog backpack.
The backpack will help drain even more energy during the dog’s morning run. A dog can carry a small amount of weight in the pack and it will make her physically more tired. It will also challenge her mentally by giving her a job to do.
Buy a kennel.
If you don’t already have a kennel, get one. Don’t use it as a punishment for the dog. Give the dog a treat when she goes in the kennel, and tell her she’s a good dog. Leave her in the kennel for a few minutes at a time, maybe one minute at first, and only let her out if she is not crying. If she throws a tantrum for 20 minutes and is quiet for 30 seconds, let her out during those 30 seconds when she is actually quiet. Work with her until you can leave her in the kennel while you are away. The goal is for your dog to feel safe and secure in her “den” and know it is a place for her to rest quietly. Once you have a dog that can stay quietly in a kennel all day, you can begin to leave her loose in the house.
Ignore a dog that is crying or barking.
The worst thing you can do is let the dog out of her kennel when she cries or barks. Make sure she learns she can only come out if she is calm. If the barking or crying really escalates, then firmly tell her “No!” Yelling at her will not help. It will only increase her anxiousness. Just let her know that the behavior is unwanted. Putting a blanket over Ace’s kennel helped when he was learning to stay quietly in his kennel.
Gradually leave the dog for longer periods.
Once the dog can stay in the kennel for ten minutes quietly, increase that time to a half-hour. Try this while you are home with the dog. Once she is OK with that, you can act as though you are leaving by just stepping outside for a few seconds. Then leave for five minutes. Slowly increase the time until you can leave for a half-hour or an hour to go shopping. Eventually the dog will be able to be left while you are at work all day. Ideally you could practice leaving her in the kennel on the weekend or days you are home with her so she is prepared to be left during the work week.
Don’t make a big deal about coming and going.
When you leave, just quietly exit like it is no big deal. Don’t tell your dog she is a good girl over and over. Don’t say “Goodbye honey! It’s OK! It’s OK! Be a good girl! Mommy will be back soon!” This just gives her a reason to feel anxious because she will pick up on your excited, worried energy. Put your dog in her kennel a few minutes before you go to work, and then leave without saying anything. When you come home, wait a few minutes before you let her out. When you do, just calmly let her out and take her outside. Don’t throw a small party for her every time you come home for work.
Exercise your dog again when you come home from work.
Another hour walk or run would be ideal for a dog that has been left home all day. If this isn’t possible for you, then at least take your dog on a brisk 20-minute walk and then play with her in the backyard.
Did your dog ever have crying/barking issues when left alone? How did you solve the problem?
(Image from waggintailsdogtraining.com)
Related posts:
June 11th, 2008 at 12:23 am
Actually it depends a lot on how you have trained your dog to react when she is alone. I’ve seen dogs feeling comfortable to stay alone at home during day hours. On the contrary, I get to hear complaints about dogs being destructive when allowed to stay alone at home. So, your tips will help them to identify the cause of such undesired acts and find a solution.
John’s last blog post..Guaranteed Dad’s Day Delivery
June 11th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Very good tips! I’m thinking I will print a copy out and tape it to my neighbor’s door!! Their dog makes us crazy with barking ALL the time. I think they just leave it alone too much… it’s lonely and wants its people!
Tammy’s last blog post..Kitty Update
June 11th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Great tips! I was lucky with my dog - she was not a whiner at all…just a chewer.
Apryl DeLancey’s last blog post..Wild World of Wednesday - June 11, 2008
June 11th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I hate putting the dogs in their kennel but hate getting them out even more. When I do let them out I don’t say a word and I require that all three sit quietly. Of course, the second I open the gate they rush out and nearly knock me over. lol But I’m glad that they don’t howl all day when left in their kennel.
castocreations’s last blog post..Quinn is Doing Better - and Trooper Rocks!
June 11th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Great tips… getting a crate (vari kennel type) is the most effective when used with talk radio when leaving.
Lora’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday
June 12th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
We just had someone contact Sheltie Rescue because they were facing eviction due to their 7 mo. old Sheltie’s barking all day while they are at work. The dog is crated, and they claim that they are exercising twice daily for an hour at a time. We gave them several suggestions, (most what you have posted above), but I don’t think anyone mentioned a backpack, so I think I’ll doublecheck and then make that suggestion too! Thanks.
Marie’s last blog post..Walking the dogs
June 13th, 2008 at 1:11 am
Hi! i don’t have a dog but I carefull read through. It seems a common sense but I find your tips very helpful and practical. It is uniqgue as well. Is that your dog in the image?
October 12th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Hi
I just got a New Jack Russell puppy as a companion for my other dog who is a year old and a collie mix the older dog is really frightend of the new puppy and runs away if it comes near her.. Also the new puppy wont stop crying all the time regardless of where she is can someone help..
October 12th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Do something your older dog loves, like throwing a ball in the backyard or go for a walk or car ride and bring the pup along so the older dog associates the pup with positive things. Don’t push it, I think they will get along with time. When the puppy is sleeping, you could bring it over to the older dog and let her smell it. Other than that, just give the older dog breaks from the pup, especially when it is getting really rambunctious and nipping, etc.
As for the crying, the puppy should get over it with time. Try the tips I mentioned in this post. For a young puppy, the crying just means it wants attention, so don’t give in. Praise it for being calm and make sure it is getting enough exercise. I would definitely crate train the puppy if you haven’t already, just so it has a quiet den to retreat to for some down time when you need a break.
October 14th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
A puppy at 4 months old who whines when I am at work and toilets inside!