home alond

Question
Hi Patti,

i leave my dog home alone while im at work, most days thought my father in law will come in and bring my dog for a walk or just sit with him. But my neighbour just told my that my dog is not happy as he barks all day looking in the window. I dont think its good for him to be inside all day and he loves to chew...he is 12 months old.

i love him to bits and im really worried about him not been happy.

can you give me advice

thank you

sonya

Answer
Hi Sonya,

Your dog is still quite young, are you giving him ample exercise? Make sure you give dog plenty of exercise. A good run or long walk before you leave in the morning will use up some of his boundless energy, and will help keep him quiet when you leave him alone. Letting a dog outside in a fenced yard by himself just isn't as good as taking him for that walk or run.

Rotate the toys you leave with the dog. This will help keep the toys seem new and exciting longer, and keeps your dog mentally stimulated. That translates into occupying more of your dog's time. When you come home, put away these special toys to keep them exciting. Chew toys (such as Kongs) can be stuffed with different tasty treats, which would help keep your dog occupied and busy.

Leave the TV or radio on (talk radio or classical music works well). Dogs often find the sound of music or people talking to be reassuring. Using a TV or radio helps cancel out sounds from outside.

Don't allow your dog the run of your house while you are away. Have a long-term confinement area with the help of a child-gate, or use a dog crate. Most dogs feel more secure in a small enclosed area.

When you are home, reward him for his silence. When your dog is quietly sitting near you, tell him "good quiet",  and give a treat.  

Here are a couple of really good web pages that tell you how to train your dog not to bark when you leave him home alone. If you work with your daily, and are consistent, you should see improvement in a about 2 weeks.

http://www.pets.ca/articles/article-bark-alone.htm

http://www.placervillevet.com/training_your_dog_to_stop_barking.htm

http://www.wagntrain.com/SeparationAnx.htm

Using a product called D.A.P. (Dog Appeasing Pheromone), might really help while you are training your dog not to bark. Developed by veterinarians, D.A.P. is a synthetic pheromone that naturally controls and manages pet behavior associated with anxiety, fear, stress or phobias.
D.A.P calms dogs by emitting synthetic pheromones that mimic the pheromones of a lactating female dog. By replicating this signal of comfort, D.A.P. helps alleviate fear and stress related behaviors. Research has shown that the appeasing pheromone can be very effective in many areas of canine behavioral therapy. This chemical communication can be central to providing simple, effective treatment for thousands of dogs with stress related conditions and behavioral problems.
You can buy this product online (do a web search for Dog Appeasing Pheromone) or look for it at larger pet stores. Read more about it here:
http://www.nextag.com/dog-appeasing-pheromone/search-html

Let your neighbors know that you are working on the matter. Their irritation will lessen once they know that
their complaints haven't fallen on deaf ears.

I hope I've been a help.
Best of luck,

Patti