Our neighbour came by yesterday and told us our dog barks non-stop when we're not home. This is the first we've heard of it (have had him for 6 months), and were a little shocked to find out. We appreciate him telling us, and we obviously want to fix the problem.
Our dog is a mainly outside dog, and alone for about 6.5 hrs during the day. I walk him before I go to work, and DH walks him when gets home from work.
Has anyone had this problem and found a solution that works?
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts
Doggie daycare? Bark collar! Boot camp? I have friends who have had success sending their dogs to boot camp for a week and getting "re-trained".
I guess I should back up and ask why the dog is in the yard? Dogs get really lonely by themselves and it sounds like he's self-stimulating. Have you considered crate training?
apricot / 261 posts
@Mrs. Jacks: Unfortunately we can't afford something like doggie daycare. We have started researching different types of bark collars, and I'm hoping others will chime in if they've used one. I hadn't thought about boot camp.
He has lots of energy, and when we're home he usually just runs around and plays with his toys by himself, or hangs out in his dog house. We keep him in a crate inside at night to sleep. I assumed it would be too long for him to also be in it for 6.5-7 hrs during the day?
pear / 1547 posts
Before we trusted either of our dogs outside the crate during the day they each were crated during the day. We would do up to 6-7 hrs before we'd hire a dog walker for a midday break if we couldn't do it ourselves. Now they hang out in the kitchen when we're gone and one always sleeps in the crate (by choice - the door is open) anyhow! In fact when we're home if the door has gotten shut they whine until we open it. So I vote either crate during the day or doggy daycare!
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts
@Willow: some dogs can tolerate 6-7 hours in the crate, but I probably wouldn't do day and night. My Berner did daytime crate as a puppy, but my brother came and walked him at lunchtime.
grapefruit / 4800 posts
We had to do short stints away first and get him used to longer time away. Also just sprinkling dog food around the yard usually distracted him for long enough to chill out. And he hAd to see us leave and know we weren't in the house.
pomegranate / 3375 posts
I wonder if crating during the day would be the solution. It's the only thing that works for us!
Then, maybe a high school student in the neighborhood could come by after school (around 2:30) to play with the pup in the yard for 20 minutes. I'm sure if you offered $40 per week, you'd get some interest. Not sure if that's a solution that could work for you.
Having your dog bark is such a crappy situation ... You aren't there to hear it, and it seems impossible to fix! FWIW, I've heard good things about citronella bark collars.
grapefruit / 4649 posts
I don't have any real advice but I wanted to suggest you check with kick pet shops (small boutique ones) about renting a bark collar. We have one that offers that service and it seems like a good option for something that will hopefully only be needed short term.
We did crate our dog day and night for awhile, we felt badly doing it and squeezed in a third walk or extra long evening walk as a result but truly I don't think he minded too much. Even after we stopped he sleeps there at night by choice and while we are gone he sleeps too although usually on our bed.
Good luck!
pomegranate / 3706 posts
Our neighbor behind us got a new dog last year and it barked like crazy, woke my kids from naps, and made me downright ragey. I let her know and she immediately got a bark collar. It worked, and we really appreciated her being neighborly and prompt in fixing the issue.
apricot / 261 posts
Thanks for all of the advice. We're borrowing a bark collar from my brother for the time being. I've also increased the length of my walk with him in the morning, and bought some more toys to try and keep him occupied. Really hoping it works.
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