Barking when i leave?
 

I am home with Scamp during the day every day, he sleeps or plays and is gated in the kitchen sometimes when need be.

But there comes the time when I have to go out and he cant come since he is a D-O-G (crazy I know), to the store in the evenings, weekends we go out as a family, grocery store, etc..and he goes nuts!!! He only barks when I leave the house..noone else..even if i just go to the neighbors to get something, or whatever..

I have had to start crating him when we leave vs leaving him just gated in the kitchen as we initially started when we got him (he is crated at night too by our bed), since he started chewing the cabinet corners and baseboards in our apartment in his gated area! He has pooped in his cage from being left alone even!

He barks LOUDLY...you can hear it in the parking lot, I leave the television on for him, He yelps, chews his cage, and like i said poops very very occasionally.

How do i help this??? I have stood and listened and it goes on for a while..but is always quiet when i return.

Sounds like separation anxiety!

I would start by doing little things.. such as when you leave -DO NOT say goodbye to him, don't make eye contact, don't make it a big deal. Just walk out the door. No bye byes, no "be a good boy," nothing! Same deal with when you get home... you can say hi but don't acknowledge him until he's in a calmer state of mind. He's probably very anxious and nervous and thinks you may not be coming back. How old is he? And how old was he when you got him? Being taken away from his mom/litter mates can cause this sometimes. It's a scary time in a pups life and you are ALL he has in his mind. You are his everything.

Try this little routine training exercise where you pick up your keys, your purse, etc, but DON'T walk out the door. All the things you do when you normally leave - putting shoes on, purse, keys as I said, jingle them around, let him know that you doing those things doesn't necessarily mean you are leaving. Get him used to those things. Walk out the front door for 5 secs, come right back in but don't acknowledge him, just act totally natural and walk by, then do again... walk outside the door for 10 secs now, walk by him calmly and naturally again. It will take some practice!

The biting, chewing, peeing, pooping, etc could just be him lashing out built-up energy! How much exercise does he get during the day? Try to take him for a good long walk before you leave the house. It will tire him out majorly and make him just sleep the whole time you are gone!

I have the total same problem!! Although with 7 boy it is loud! I also have a wall and baseboard chewer. Not sure which one it is I need a hidden camera so when I leave I can find out!!! How do they chew on a wall. Looks like it would be tooo hard. But, believe me it is bad!!!

I am going to print this off and try too!!!!

Mine still barks occasionally. He is 3. But I am told by my roommates that he stops after I leave the parking lot (WEIRD) my room is no where near the parking lot. Anyways. Give him a treat toy that he LOVES. Only when you leave. A treat/toy that will preoccupy him for a while. I use peanut butter smoothered knot bone/pig skin things (dingo look alikes but not rawhide). Put a ticking clock near him if he is a puppy ... this sounds similar to a beating heart of mom (it sounds nuts but it worked).

I hope my little advice helps you out at least a little bit! I'm not sure how it would be with seven, LOL, but it's worth a shot! Let me know how it goes.

Maybe try doing it with them one at a time? For example, lock 6 of them in another room where they can't see you or where you can't hear them (as little as possible) and take one and leave him out near where you normally the house and then practice the routine I told you.

Also, remember to give them a YUMMY treat whenever they do not bark as you leave the house!!

Ok Im going to try your suggestions. He is 5+ months (Birthdate is 12/12). We got him at 14 weeks, so not too early I dont think.

Oh, no, definitely not! You can never train TOO early! I began w/ Jackson when I brought him home at 9 weeks old. He's now 6 months.

Had this problem with Nolee too! I will try what is suggested, but I started putting him in a daycare. I believe he was bored being alone. Anyway, it does help with the separation! Good Luck!

I have the same problem too!! If my boyfriend is over watching her and he leaves, she doesn't bark or do anything like that..but when I leave..OH BOOYY, my Bella goes crazy! I used to have her in the kitchen too until she started to chew up my baseboards! I also live in an apt complex, so I knew it was time for her to stop doing that. I bought a huge gated pen, that actually fits in my kitchen, and I put her in there now..she has SO much space, but she can't get near the walls or baseboards...

I have tried leaving for 5 secs and coming back then 10 secs, etc...doesn't seem to work yet...I'll definitely keep trying.

and when I'm coming back from the parking garage at my complex, I open the main door to the complex, and I can hear her down the hall. Not as loud..maybe a bark every 5 secs, but still...I could be gone for 4 hours, and I just wonder how long she has been doing that. I always think about my neighbors too!

Any other suggestions would be so helpful! I will also try the getting ready to go out part, but not going anywhere and see if she gets calm..I have noticed when I get ready to leave, she starts to run around a little more, and starring at me..so I know she knows..I give her a treat and toys too..we'll see!! Good luck to everyone else having this problem!!

Another small tip - when you're doing the routine I posted above... (the walking in and out, etc) if he/she is still barking when you come back in, do NOT pay one bit of attention to him/her. If he/she is NOT barking, give her a ton of attention and treats. They should catch on what you want them to do... even if it takes an hour of trying to get her not to bark.

This is Scamp to a tee--except when i return he is quiet until he hears us at the lock.

HAHAHA! Yes, as soon as I am in front of the door...Bella is SO quiet..and when I put the key in, that's it! barking again! hahaha!

Any success, anyone?

scruffs barks like crazy and pounds on the window when we leave. I can still hear him barking after he can't see us anymore but I'm not sure whether he is barking because other dogs/people are walking by or not.

Is it bad when we comehome to be excited with him? Should we just act like its not a big deal when we come home just as when we leave?

definately try the do your normal "I'm leaving" routine. But only leave for a few seconds. Come in and make NO fuss. Do this a couple times a day. It really works.

Another thing is crate training. My guy used to bark up a muck but now he barks until I leave the parking lot and then he is quiet until I get home.