Barking Min Pins

Question
Dr. Gordon,
I have two Miniature Pinschers, six and a year and half.  They are crated side by side when I am gone.  The younger one has separation anxiety that manifests itself as barking constantly while I'm gone.  Once one starts they both bark.. All day!  How do I work them both through this?  Should I put them together in a doggy play pin during the day instead of crating them separately?

Thanks!

Carmmal

Answer
Hello,

Oh that can be so frustrating - I know the "one dog triggers the other" very well, having had three Shelties at the same time :). I'm happy to hear you are using the crates, which is good because it not only keeps your house safe from doggy "incidents", but keeps them safe from each other, and feeling safe at the same time.

How sure are you that it continues all day? In a familiar setting like the home, it might go on for fifteen-twenty minutes after you go, and then resume when they hear you (or think they hear you) return.

They could be doing it all day - and to a neighbor who has to hear it, it could seem like all day - but you want to find out how long they actually do it first. So, you might want to put them in as usual. Say goodbye 'matter of factly'. And walk out the door.

They should begin to bark. You should go for a walk yourself - and when you are a short distance from your house, stop and listen to them. Are the barks ongoing? Do they ebb and flow, maybe stopping after twenty minutes or less? Do they do the barking at other things as well, such as people passing by, etc.?

Separation anxiety is a difficult one to work through. It is something you need to work on every day, until the dog knows that you will return and that it is ok for you to not be there. You might want to start by having someone keep the younger one on a leash, and you just go in the next room. You could do that several times a day, in the evening, for increasing amounts of time.

Whoever is holding the leash should have a supply of cookies, and when the dog is "good", i.e. not barking, say 'good dog' and give a cookie.  Eventually, in maybe a week, you would do it with both dogs - so they are staying with someone, and not barking. When you come back into the room, just be matter of fact about it, i.e. take the leash, and sit down, take the leash off the dog, etc.

Or, put them in the crates, but sit in the room with them. Leave for a moment, and then come back. Do this until you can leave and return without 'the barking'.


In the mean time, you still have two dogs, one triggering the other to bark all day - and that can't continue for their own sake (and that of your neighbors! :) If they get along very well, and you have observed them in a community pen together, then you could try leaving them in an area, such as your kitchen, blocked off - or, as you say, a doggy play pen. You would want to try this with you around for a few weeks before actually leaving them, to be sure they get along, and to be sure the pen is suitable.

After thirteen years of Sheltie ownership (they LOVE to bark), I found the only way to stop my dogs from setting each off when "the barking" started was to put the smaller one in a crate, by himself, in the bathroom. Lights off, door open, but no stimulation. Sometimes there are a few barks, but not for long. (This did take a few days - eventually it was bark bark bark).

The other - who will be quiet when I say "its ok, no barking now"  runs free and doesn't bark. It doesn't sound "fair', but they are both much happier this way.

Hope this helps