Hi all,
I have an eight month old WCS. We've had her since she was eight weeks. She's a great dog. I'm a part-time teacher and she's used to me being out of the house regularly. She goes to doggy day care from 9-2:30 on my working days (I get home about half four.) She could go all day but she gets over-aroused and nippy so the dog walker drops her home at half two. She's not on her own in the house as DH works from home, but in a different room.
Nearly two weeks ago my DS caught Covid, and since then the entire household has come down with it. This has meant we have all been at home all the time. DDog has not been attending day care as I've been at home. She has been walked, but mainly on a lead. Normally, with me and the dog walker she has a good off-lead run twice a day.
Since the weekend she has been barking much more than she usually does, especially when she's been in the kitchen on her own. This is very unusual - before Covid hit us she hardly ever barked. I know this for definite because DH works from home and has told me that this barking is very unusual.
I don't quite know if this is a reaction to the change in her routine or just that she has hit teenage and become more reactive to things. I don't want to be in a situation where I am with her constantly in case this creates an issue with separation anxiety when her routine goes back to normal.
At the moment I am ignoring her whilst she's barking, going into the room when she stops, and then doing some training or games with her. This has been working well but is not particularly reducing the barking when she is left alone again.
Please don't get me wrong, I really don't want to leave my dog bored and alone for hours on end. I'm just wondering what is the best way to tackle this new, unwanted behaviour.