Dog howling in eve when left

Bufftailed · 2025-12-19T00:04:58+00:00

I occasionally need to leave my dog alone in the evening. Tonight did so for a 2.5 hours and she howled, both neighbours said. She is fine in the day. I walked her before and left music and lights on. Feeling a bit shaken as what can I do, give up ever going out at night? Move to a detached house. Agh. My lovely dog is 5. I can sometimes get someone to come over but this feels so restrictive. Any suggestions or experiences. I adore my dog but not keen to be so restricted.

Honeysuckle16 · 19/12/2025 00:16

Check out Dog Training Advice and Support on Facebook. It’s run by dog behaviourists and they publish training guides including leaving your dog in the evening.

Original poster

Bufftailed · 19/12/2025 00:36

Honeysuckle16 · 19/12/2025 00:16

Check out Dog Training Advice and Support on Facebook. It’s run by dog behaviourists and they publish training guides including leaving your dog in the evening.

Thank you.

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MrsSkylerWhite · 19/12/2025 00:37

Another dog?

Neverflyingagain · 19/12/2025 01:07

Your neighbours are probably concerned more than having a whine about your dog, especially as they don't usually howl. It's the change in routine probably, so you need to get doggo used to you sometimes going out without them after dinner.
Firstly, I'd make sure doggo has had walk and proper toilet before you go out.
Then get them used to you going out in the evening for a while. Maybe pop to the shops quickly and build from there? Leaving the radio on can help too, I think.

vanillalattes · 19/12/2025 08:42

Do you normally leave her in the evenings? And how long are you leaving her during the day before leaving her again at night?

Some dogs aren’t okay with being left for multiple long periods of time each day.

Original poster

Bufftailed · 19/12/2025 09:57

vanillalattes · 19/12/2025 08:42

Do you normally leave her in the evenings? And how long are you leaving her during the day before leaving her again at night?

Some dogs aren’t okay with being left for multiple long periods of time each day.

She isn’t left v much these days, I work at home. Yesterday I went out to gym so that was about 1.5 hours. Then in the evening. Now and again leave her 4-5 hours with no issue. V v rarely if ever left her for two long periods.

Her response to being left alone in eve has always been a bit hit and miss. Because we are in a terrace have tried to minimize it/ make sure someone else is here. With a walk/ music/ lights on she has often been fine, so was hoping ok. It just struck me last night that it was really bad as both neighbours said and I can’t leave her as it’s disturbing them. Odd that no issue in day.

I might get one of those cameras and try short periods with a marrow bone and see if any good. Thanks for advice everyone.

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Original poster

Bufftailed · 19/12/2025 09:59

Neverflyingagain · 19/12/2025 01:07

Your neighbours are probably concerned more than having a whine about your dog, especially as they don't usually howl. It's the change in routine probably, so you need to get doggo used to you sometimes going out without them after dinner.
Firstly, I'd make sure doggo has had walk and proper toilet before you go out.
Then get them used to you going out in the evening for a while. Maybe pop to the shops quickly and build from there? Leaving the radio on can help too, I think.

I think I’ll try this yes. Radio and walk not helping. I go infrequently in eve mainly because of risk of her barking, but this has probably exacerbated issue.

The howling is v loud. I don’t blame my neighbours. I would feel the same tbh

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SpanielsGalore · 19/12/2025 10:13

One of my previous dogs was fine being left during the day, but had SA if we went out at night. Leaving lights and the TV on didn't help. We found if we left him in his covered crate, he happily went to sleep.

Original poster

Bufftailed · 19/12/2025 10:23

SpanielsGalore · 19/12/2025 10:13

One of my previous dogs was fine being left during the day, but had SA if we went out at night. Leaving lights and the TV on didn't help. We found if we left him in his covered crate, he happily went to sleep.

I’m reading a lot about crates. I haven’t used one since she was a puppy and now 5.5 years. Not sure how she would respond to going back to it. Guess it would be very gradual…do you mean you put a blanket over it?

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Sidebeforeself · 19/12/2025 10:26

Im not being funny but having a dog IS restrictive. 2.5 hours is quite a long time to be on your own for a dog. Is this just a recent thing/ How have you coped for the past five years?

Original poster

Bufftailed · 19/12/2025 10:43

Sidebeforeself · 19/12/2025 10:26

Im not being funny but having a dog IS restrictive. 2.5 hours is quite a long time to be on your own for a dog. Is this just a recent thing/ How have you coped for the past five years?

As I said, she is fine in the day up to 4-5 hours, although not left very often atm. Few times a week for less than 2 hours is prob norm.

She isn’t alone much in eve, so sort of muddled through. Someone might be here with her or sometimes she has been ok alone for a few hours. Dawned on me last night though impossible to go out if disturbing neighbours that much, until I can get an improvement.

Dogs are restrictive, yes. But I think expecting to be able to go out for 3 hours in eve every so often is entirely reasonable. Got a few ideas from this thread

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noctilucentcloud · 19/12/2025 10:54

My dog has this. He is a rescue/rehome and had separation issues when I got him. I did months of training to get him used to being left, he's fine during the day but not in the evening (even when it's summer and daylight). My options were to do the alone training again in the evenings (which I couldn't face as I don't go out that much in the evenings), not go out, or to pay someone to sit with him when I do want to go out. I go for the dog sitter option, but if my dog was younger and I wanted to go out more than a handful of evenings a year I would go through the alone training again in the evenings.

SpanielsGalore · 19/12/2025 10:56

Bufftailed · 19/12/2025 10:23

I’m reading a lot about crates. I haven’t used one since she was a puppy and now 5.5 years. Not sure how she would respond to going back to it. Guess it would be very gradual…do you mean you put a blanket over it?

Edited

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Yes. I used a double quilt cover for mine, bought from a charity shop for £3.
I know some people frown upon using crates, but it worked for him. I would rather he was crated and sleeping peacefully, than roaming the house and stress pooing. (Before anyone comments, I didn't mind the pooing. I minded the fact he was so stressed he did it.)

Original poster

Bufftailed · 24/12/2025 10:35

noctilucentcloud · 19/12/2025 10:54

My dog has this. He is a rescue/rehome and had separation issues when I got him. I did months of training to get him used to being left, he's fine during the day but not in the evening (even when it's summer and daylight). My options were to do the alone training again in the evenings (which I couldn't face as I don't go out that much in the evenings), not go out, or to pay someone to sit with him when I do want to go out. I go for the dog sitter option, but if my dog was younger and I wanted to go out more than a handful of evenings a year I would go through the alone training again in the evenings.

Hi, was there a particular method of training you used? Thanks

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Coffeeishot · 24/12/2025 10:40

Mine has always been crated and always been fine I also cover mine, you could try if you wanted. Also I would just go out i always think doing something different might trigger them and raise anxiety so you are walking her to tire her out but really alerting her to you are leaving.

DinoLil · 24/12/2025 10:49

I've tried everything with my rescue, I've had her just over a year. I can't leave her so have to pay for a dog sitter. That's not been an easy transition either, but she's getting better. Dog, that is! She used to howl when I was taking the bins out for 30 seconds.

But, she's an old girl, has gone through a lot, I've chosen to look after her and if that means paying for a dog sitter, that's what I'll do.

Original poster

Bufftailed · 24/12/2025 10:51

Coffeeishot · 24/12/2025 10:40

Mine has always been crated and always been fine I also cover mine, you could try if you wanted. Also I would just go out i always think doing something different might trigger them and raise anxiety so you are walking her to tire her out but really alerting her to you are leaving.

I wondered about this too

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Coffeeishot · 24/12/2025 10:57

Bufftailed · 24/12/2025 10:51

I wondered about this too

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Could you try doing the same thing every night get a new "thing" maybe a treat so your dog looks forward to that rather anticipating you leaving so doesn't build up the stress, I am no expert just my thoughts. It is a shame she is distressed.

noctilucentcloud · 24/12/2025 10:57

Bufftailed · 24/12/2025 10:35

Hi, was there a particular method of training you used? Thanks

Show quote history

I'd walk my dog then low key tell him I was leaving. To start with I'd just go outside in sight for 1 min, then slowly built it up to around 15 mins, always also low key when I came back in. I then moved on to 1 min out of sight and so on. I'd only move on a level after a few sessions if he was happy with that, if he showed signs of distress we'd stay at that level or drop back one. I did the training 5 or 6 times a week and it took several months. But because my dog (and yours) is ok during the day I think it'd be less time to get him (them) used to being OK in the evening.

LibisMum · 24/12/2025 11:05

I have four dogs - so they are ok to be left together, but one is an old man now and needs walking separately to the others. One of my other dogs started howling like a banshee when I left the house with the oldie (despite having just come back from his walk - the FOMO is strong in this one) which sets off the youngest dog.

i had bought a webcam when the youngest was a pup (and I was leaving her with the oldie while walking the others), but not used the voice option until recently. It’s like magic. As I leave the house and hear them howl I just log onto the camera, tell them “quiet, go lie down” …. And they do! I had thought the sound of my voice coming out of a little box would freak them out - but it definitely calms them down.

it was a cheap option from Amazon, very simple to set up and really useful.

Original poster

Bufftailed · 24/12/2025 11:37

LibisMum · 24/12/2025 11:05

I have four dogs - so they are ok to be left together, but one is an old man now and needs walking separately to the others. One of my other dogs started howling like a banshee when I left the house with the oldie (despite having just come back from his walk - the FOMO is strong in this one) which sets off the youngest dog.

i had bought a webcam when the youngest was a pup (and I was leaving her with the oldie while walking the others), but not used the voice option until recently. It’s like magic. As I leave the house and hear them howl I just log onto the camera, tell them “quiet, go lie down” …. And they do! I had thought the sound of my voice coming out of a little box would freak them out - but it definitely calms them down.

it was a cheap option from Amazon, very simple to set up and really useful.

oh good tip.

My dog has always sat looking our window on first floor. She relaxes there in day but that is where she howls at night. I could move her from there but not sure how she would adjust age 5.5

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