Blog – Puppy Loves Me

Is your puppy barking in crate at night? Or barking in crate when you leave for work? Last week you were home all day, this week you're gone for 8+ hours a day. To help you manage your dog's barking behaviour, you have to think of this sudden routine change from your dog's point of view. Why do some dogs bark or howl when alone? He's bored, he's under stimulated both mentally and physically, and he might even be scared. Remember that you are the pack leader, and with you gone, he is without direction and protection. 1. Energy - If a dog is not mentally & physically challenged with exercise or mental training sometime through the day, then she will feel the need to get rid of energy somehow. Some dogs destroy things by chewing, and some bark. 2. Inconsistency - Dogs love routine. “If someone has a varying work/sleep schedule, or the dog is expected to sleep quietly at random times, then this can cause the dog to become vocal.” Practice short outings. Get him used to watching you walk out the door. When he is calm and distracted, casually walk out of the house. After 3-5 minutes, calmly walk back into the house. Start leaving for longer periods using the same technique. Go for a walk. Take a quick trip to the grocery store. Work your way up to a couple of hours, then longer. Most dogs will adjust back to their old routines in time, but practice can reduce stress and destructive behaviour. 3. Improper Crate Training - If the dog is crated and is barking, chances are that the initial crate training was not done properly. This can cause a dog to feel anxious. Its only way of expressing that anxiety may be in the form of whining or barking.”. With proper training, a dog should view a crate as a “safe zone" Puppies that are tired will bark less, so throw the ball or stick for them a few times and let them get plenty of exercise - also don't forget to take them out to potty before you leave. Give your puppy a peanut butter filled kong and he will be so busy chewing on it that he will be less likely to bark. Having some noise like leaving a fan or a TV on or some soft music on will help him feel less alone and will reduce the chances of him barking at noises that he hears outside. *Try calming solutions. Sometimes using a calming solution can help encourage your dog to relax. They can be used in combination with our other tips to increase your odds of success. Here is a couple of the most effective calming solutions: Thundershirt Calms during fireworks, thunder, separation, travel, vet visits, and much more. Calming Aid supplement Reduce Stress, Storm Anxiety & Motion Sickness for Dogs Dogs bark for many reasons when left all by themself. For some, it may be a sign of a deep insecurity, called 'separation anxiety'. And then for others, they are just bored and need to find an outlet for their energy so they tend to make lots of noise. Many dogs are highly territorial and when they hear noises outside and feel it's their duty to defend their house against what is out there. Training a dog to not bark when they are left alone, in part, depends on figuring out why your dog is barking, and then taking away the risk of them starting the barking. Pets are more sensitive to loud noises, flashing lights and strong smells. Dogs hear more than twice as many frequencies as humans, and they can also hear sounds roughly four times further away. On the Fourth of July, and other days people are likely to set off fireworks, it’s best to leave your pets safely indoors, preferably with a radio or TV turned on to soften jarring noises. Even pets who are usually kept outdoors should be brought inside No matter how old the dog is they can be retrained, so don't be heartbroken if you have an older dog. However, this isn't something your dog is going to unlearn overnight, so just be prepared...it will be worth it in the end. To retrain the dog you will need: A quiet room or a covered crate A fantastically tasty long-lasting treat that the dog gets when you go out Treats to give as a reward when you return Plenty of time and patience Read more at: TRAINING - The Desensitize Method Why Does My Dog Bark? Take These Steps To Prevent Dog Barking Do you want a fully potty trained dog that will go to the door and let you know when he/she needs to go outside to use the bathroom? Here is a video for dog relaxation to help calm your dog and help with separation anxiety