any good ideas on stopping a dog from barking or howling when left alone?

Question

She has separation anxiety.My daughter now has to take her to work with her.

Answer 1

Leave the TV or radio on (talk radio). This worked when my dog was a puppy. The drone of voices makes them think someone is home and calms them down. Also buy him toys that hold the owners scent (they sell them in any pet store- they're usually beige and fuzzy).

EDIT: Wow, I love it when some genius comes through and thumbs downs every answer. And for the record drugging the animal is NOT the answer. Would you drug your kid if it didn't shut up? No, of course not. Same principle is at work here.

Answer 2

I had this problem when I moved. My shih tzu never barked when I left but after she got into a strange house, she had separation anxiety. I got advice from an animal behaviorist who told me to keep leaving the house. The first time for a minute then extend the time. Each time the dog will be more confident you really are coming home again. I also bought pharomones that I plugged into the wall outlet. Kinda like those deoderizers only for dogs.. (pet stores) Do NOT fuss over him when you come back. Just act normal. Good luck!

Answer 3

Get a kong toy or a hollow marrow bone fill the center with peanut butter, squeeze cheeze or even smushed up bread. By the time they work all the goodies out they often forget why they were upset. There are toys made to dispense little biskets and "filler" goodies for the kongs too.
They TV/radio is also a good idea and at laest one person I know solved the problem with a second dog (the first wasn't ALL ALONE any more)

Answer 4

If your dog has separation anxiety, that is a much bigger problem to solve than just barking or howling. You need to contact a dog behaviorist, preferably one who can come to your home so they can observe how she lives & interacts with you, and the behaviorist will be able to help with the separation anxiety by recommending certain things that you can do with her such as training exercises to build trust.

In order to solve this problem, there is going to be a lot of work on your part--but it will be worth it in the longrun.

The other route is to just dope your dog up on medication all day, but I think that is bit cruel and unfair to your dog unless you try these things first, not to mention most veterinarians will not prescribe medication unless it is *absolutely* necessary.

Once you fix her separation anxiety problem, she won't have a problem with the barking and howling anymore.

Answer 5

My dog does this too. We used to use a bark collar which worked miracles, but our neighbours said it wasn't necessary and they felt bad because sometimes it would go off for no reason at all. Our new trick is to exercise the heck out of him before we leave. We take him to the park and throw the ball or let him chase birds until he's exhausted and he just flumps down when we get home and isn't as anxious when we leave.

Answer 6

My puppy had separation anxiety too but the best thing to do is just ignore it. Because if you answer to her barking or howling she will register this as "oh, if i bark or howl someone will come". It might be annoying for a couple of days but you have to ignore her when she barks/howls. Come to her when she's quiet.

Answer 7

She either needs to get her a playmate or she can just play with the dog in the morning so it gets worn out a bit.

Answer 8

Feed it peanutbutter. Keeps them preoccupied w/ licking for about a millenium.

A pack of yapping poodles could trounce all over him and naw his ankles off ... and he'd:

Just. Keep. On. Licking.

Answer 9

toys, food, water, a nice bed, and clean dog house..trust me, your dog will sleep the whole day! My Pomeranian loves the way I treat him!

Answer 10

give the dog a bone or a new toy ,something for him or her to do while u are out