Dog barking while I am gone

Question
My dog is about 9-10 months old. We adopted him about a month ago, he was a stray. Not sure if he was abused or not.  He is a shepherd mix, male and was neutered prior to adoption. My neighbor is telling me that he barks the whole time that we are gone.  I know he doesn't like his cage, he barks as I am leaving, he doesn't go in unless you put him in.  He doesn't touch his treats in the cage until after I come back home.  I am home with him a lot, I leave on certain days for about 2-4 hours at a time. He is a very good dog, we are training him to walk better on leash and all that stuff.  The trainer at the animal care center told me to put him in the cage more when I am home and ignore the bark, so he gets used to it. Also, to leave the TV on.  Even if I go outside and don't put him in the cage, he barks till I come back in.  The trainer also said, it sounds like separation anxiety.  So, please help me with some other tips to do.
I thank you very much for your time.

Answer
This is not full blown separation anxiety, as that usually involves dogs being quite destructive to themselves or their environment in an effort to get to you.  But, it could escalate.  So, my advice is to purchase a copy of Patricia McConnell's book, "I'll Be Home Soon".  In it she provides an excellent protocol for training your dog to be less anxious when you must leave him.  I do not think you should just "put him in the crate more" when you are home.  Rather, you should re-acclimate him to the crate by practicing some classical conditioning and desensitization exercise, and so called "graduated departures".  The book will give you great advice.  Trish McConnell is a Ph.D. level behaviorist with much more experience than most, and the book is quite inexpensive.  You could also visit Karen Pryor's web page, www.clickertraining.com and type barking into the search.  A lot of us trainers use clicker training to minimize nuisance barking.


Hi - Thank you for the nice evaluation, and I'm glad you are ordering the book.  If you need further help once you have the book in hand, and have tried the protocols, your dog may need further help from a behaviorist and a veterinarian who can prescribe anti-anxiety medication during the training period.  The Animal Behavior Society and the IAABC web pages are good places to seek out a qualified person.  Good luck, and thanks for making a commitment to this little guy who really needs your help.