Dog barking when I'm at work.

[Mitfordhons]

Dd1 has just told me that when I leave for work in the morning one of our two dogs barks constantly, this has only come to light since the school hols (teens still in bed when I leave). What can I do?

They are walked every morning, I leave at 9 and return anywhere between 12.15 - 1.15 for 35 mins, then the first teen arrives at 3.30. Sometimes they have the run of the house, but often they're in a large kitchen and dining room so I can put the alarm on. I will admit that since working full time I don't take them for as long a walk as I used to, so probably 20-30 mins.

[sugarplumfairy28]

Rule out if they have any needs. My parents get up at 04:30, wake the dogs up in the process, but don't feed them or let them out for the toilet until they return at 07:30 - 08:00 as you can imagine the dogs bark constantly until they come back (which is incredibly annoying). So rule that out.

See if you can rule out boredom, either through whatever means you can, take them out for longer/more frequent walks or provide them with puzzle solving toys, or perhaps even have the radio/tv on for them.

If still no success perhaps look at a cage as a last resort. If all else fails I would say they seem unhappy and you might have to look at rehoming them. Also something just to consider if you have difficult neighbours, barking constantly for a period of 10 minutes upwards is considered a nuisance and the council can investigate and enforce fines or changes.

I hope you find out what is bothering your doggie x

[Floralnomad]

Sorry but can I just ask how a cage is going to stop an obviously distressed dog from barking ?

[WatchingFromTheWings]

One of my 3 dogs is caged trained (from birth) and feels more secure in a cage than say left to roam the house when I go out. From past experience I found it hard to cage a dog that wasn't trained to use one from very very young.

I leave a radio on for my 3 when I go out. Might be worth a try?

[sugarplumfairy28]

My Aunt is a puppy walker (trains puppies from 6 weeks to a year old before they start training as blind or hearing dogs) She got her first puppy 11 years ago when I got my Westie, and she hasn't had a dog fail their training yet, so I base this on her advice, and the advice/instructions she is given by the organisation.

The cage is meant to be their safe place, their bed and where they go to feel secure, which would actually help a dog in distress. It should however never to be used as a punishment as that would negate the whole point.

[Mitfordhons]

Ddog is a rescue, came to us at around 8 months with a very smelly bed, which I put in a crate to give her a safe place, she never once went in it preferring to snuggle with ddog1. I'll try the radio and longer walks, the neighbours haven't said anything, but I don't want to upset them or ddog.

[Mitfordhons]

She's 5 now btw said not a puppy anymore.

[5tardusty]

We have had quite a lot of separation anxiety with our dog, though thankfully he is not a very vocal breed. He has been quite destructive though.

Definitely a good walk to tire him out, followed by breakfast. I'm sure i read that dogs like to relax after their food. I've also found that special toys and tasty treats that only appear when you go out can be helpful. Always TV or radio on; something nice and chatty and light

Ours is better when he has got more of a run of the house. I've had to concede that he lays on our bed when we go out; he's not allowed to do this when we are in but that seems to be his little "secret" treat that he thinks he gets away with. I do however shut him out of the front room as he can see the passers by out of the window and this gets him too excited

[Mitfordhons]

Yes, I shut the front room for the same reason also suspiciously hairy sofas.

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

I left my phone videoing my dog when I went out. He was barking, whining, destructive and obviously stressed. I put him in the crate after that and videod him a few more times. He curled up and went to sleep. He must have felt better in the crate.

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

When he was a new puppy obviously, I hadn't left him like that for years.

[Willowfrost]

You could try a DAP infuser or try leaving an old piece of your clothing that you've worn and smells of you in the dogs bed. Sometimes a smaller secure area is more comforting for a dog. What size dog is it ? Could you get a igloo type bed the dog can go into. If a dog is happy going in a crate you can cover it with blankets/sheets, leave the front open so it's little a den for them to snuggle in. Def leave a radio on in the background, something soothing like classic fm 😀

[Mitfordhons]

She does like to burrow under blankets, so that might be an idea. I thought having two dogs would mean they had company, I think ddog1 is too laid back maybe (greyhound). Ddog2 is a mix of who knows what but some smaller hound in their somewhere as she has the chest.

[SuePerkins]

Have you asked the neighbours if this usually happens a lot? I only ask as my mum's dog barks when mum's husband goes to work early in the morning and my mum is still in bed. Somehow the dog knows my mum is still there. The dog doesn't bark when they both go out (mum has asked the neighbours! )

[Willowfrost]

You always film/record them while you are out.