New puppy barking constantly when left alone

[MGMidget]

Our neighbour got a new puppy about 3 weeks ago. We hear it barking constantly through the walls if it is left alone. This has happened at night when they tried shutting it in one of the bedrooms (at least I assume that was what occurred as it was barking constantly in the bedroom next to ours and the stopped when it sounded like the owner came and got it from the room). It now happens in the daytime when I assume it is now being left alone in the house as there is no other noise coming through the walls apart from the barking dog. I wondered if this is normal for a new puppy as they are unused to being left alone? Is it a phase that most puppies go through when first left alone by their owner and do they quickly adapt and become calmer when left alone?

Unfortunately they’re setting their pup up for a lifetime of separation anxiety.

It can take a long while for a pup to settle on their own, and they need to be shown that they can do it. Leaving a new puppy on their own is a bit like leaving a human toddler on their own, they don’t know what to do, they don’t feel safe, they’re either going to be loud and anxious or get busy finding their own entertainment (aka destruction).

Are you on speaking terms with the neighbours? They may be unaware how much noise there is when they’re out.

It's highly unlikely to change unless they do something about it.

They need to start out by leaving it for literally 30 seconds, building up the time as they learn the puppy is happy (not howling!).

Training is key or they will never be able to leave it

My neighbours have 2 dogs who bark constantly when they are out. It's heartbreaking to listen to but nobody is interested in doing anything about it. We have explored all avenues

If you are in speaking terms I would raise it with them

Yes completely normal. Stop leaving her alone.x dogs are social animals (which I assume is why you got her) and therefore cannot cope without her pack. As PP said you need to build up under threshold. Start with a few seconds and only build by a third each time. They don’t have separation anxiety now (as it’s normal
Puppy behaviour) but will do in the future unless you fix it now.
The other option is you could keep going which I know some people do. But then they’ll stop barking as they just know no one will come.. which is quite sad really and results in a ‘shut down dog ’ that doesn’t bark because there is no point. But the feeling is still there. It’s tough.. but it’s worth it. And will help with other behaviours in the future if they know that if they can communicate their feelings you’ll listen.

Oh shoot sorry realised you were talking about your neighbour. That completely sucks!

Yes, it hard to listen to the pup howling it's heart out. Its also noisy and non-stop when they are out and its only small at the moment. I imagine it will get noisier as it gets bigger! We were on speaking terms but a few weeks ago the lady decided to bring in a company to cut great chunks out of our shared garden wall without warning. Although we tactfully tried to point out that they needed to discuss it with us first they just pushed on ahead. Since then they have avoided us so basically I have written them off as inconsiderate twats. The dog is a sticking plaster for a divorce that is under way ...to please/distract the children. So I don't think the mother cares much about the dog to be honest.

An update on this. They have been leaving the dog in the bedrrom next to ours overnight and it howls and barks hysterically until the middle of the night. It also starts up barking in the day if anyone is arriving at our door and it hears voices (as its on its own for much of the day in the same room. Obviously its hopeful that someone is coming to let it out. However by having it in the front bedroom I am wondering if they are training it as a guard dog as the children and now mother are all sleeping away from the front bedroom so dog will alert them if anyone comes to their door? Is this what many people domwith their dogs? We are in the ‘ master’ bedroom next door which is a bedroom in most people’s houses and I cant get to sleep with the dog barking -its quite loud!

I would speak to them about the barking when they're out and overnight. Approach it nicely but then start logging with council noise nuisance particularly for overnight disturbances.

Poor puppy sounds like he's not being well looked after at all, possibly best result for everyone if they surrender it back to breeders.

So its still barking and disturbing your sleep so what are you going to do about it?

I would suggest you take a weeks worth of recordings of its barking and then report to the noise nuisance team at the council. But I would also be speaking to my neighbours