Help needed. My dog has started barking when we leave home.
Discussion
Our 9 month old Briard has recently started barking when we leave for work. Our next door neighbour is very hacked off, so much so that he phoned my place of work this morning and left a very abrupt message for me.
I’d like to nip this in the bud before next door declares war!
After the message at work today, I came home to find Enzo fast asleep on the floor with a “butter wouldn’t melt” expression on his face.
How do I go about controlling my dogs barking?
Following this with interest...
We've recently relocated to the highlands, and even when only one of us leaves the house our dog cries like mad!
I have to go and find him and tell him that there are still other people in the house and that he's not alone!
Weimaraner's are known as the grey ghost and follow you round everywhere, but ours hasn't ever suffered from separation anxiety before so not really sure what's changed, he's hardly ever left alone anymore....
Picture of our big lovable idiot Ralph.
We've recently relocated to the highlands, and even when only one of us leaves the house our dog cries like mad!
I have to go and find him and tell him that there are still other people in the house and that he's not alone!
Weimaraner's are known as the grey ghost and follow you round everywhere, but ours hasn't ever suffered from separation anxiety before so not really sure what's changed, he's hardly ever left alone anymore....
Picture of our big lovable idiot Ralph.
Edited by OFORBES on Thursday 9th September 15:40
Never really had this issue with our Briards as they were rarely left alone, and when they were, they had another dog as company which I am sure helped.
Can you train him by leaving for short periods then returning, gradually building up the length of time away so he realises you always come back?
Can you train him by leaving for short periods then returning, gradually building up the length of time away so he realises you always come back?
You could try settle mat training
https://positively.com/dog-behavior/basic-cues/go-...
It may or may not work, but won't do any harm to try and can be useful in all sorts of situations. I notice a couple with a pup using the technique in a pup the other day.
Dogs will (eventually) learn that a particular behaviour (barking in this case) doesn't get the desired result so if ignored will desist. Sometimes it's about breaking the cycle.
Is there somewhere in the house you can leave the dog where noise is going to less of an issue?
Something we started from an early age was a treat as we left, dog focuses on treat so much, going out is forgotten.
ETA
Other things we've tried.
Preventing access to front room, dog could see us disappearing and also bark at passers by.
Mixing it up a little so using the front and back doors for both entry and exit. Sometimes my wife will leave from the front door and a few moments later I'll leave from the back.
When we moved house, we found behaviour took a step backwards for a while, before he felt settled again.
I've set up cameras before, to monitor behaviour. More unsettling than you think.
https://positively.com/dog-behavior/basic-cues/go-...
It may or may not work, but won't do any harm to try and can be useful in all sorts of situations. I notice a couple with a pup using the technique in a pup the other day.
Dogs will (eventually) learn that a particular behaviour (barking in this case) doesn't get the desired result so if ignored will desist. Sometimes it's about breaking the cycle.
Is there somewhere in the house you can leave the dog where noise is going to less of an issue?
Something we started from an early age was a treat as we left, dog focuses on treat so much, going out is forgotten.
ETA
Other things we've tried.
Preventing access to front room, dog could see us disappearing and also bark at passers by.
Mixing it up a little so using the front and back doors for both entry and exit. Sometimes my wife will leave from the front door and a few moments later I'll leave from the back.
When we moved house, we found behaviour took a step backwards for a while, before he felt settled again.
I've set up cameras before, to monitor behaviour. More unsettling than you think.
Edited by 23.7 on Friday 10th September 09:39
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