puppy behavior when family leaves

[tinalove]

When ever a member of our family goes to disarm our security alarm and heads out the door, Khloe goes crazy. She barks and pulls on our pant legs. I don't know if she is trying to hold us hostage in the house or what. She is about 10 months old. How can I break her out of this habit? We tell her sternly to stop but it doesn't help. Its like she wants everyone to stay in the house and never leave. She only reacts this way when my family leaves.

[bobohyde]

Originally Posted by tinalove

When ever a member of our family goes to disarm our security alarm and heads out the door, Khloe goes crazy. She barks and pulls on our pant legs. I don't know if she is trying to hold us hostage in the house or what. She is about 10 months old. How can I break her out of this habit? We tell her sternly to stop but it doesn't help. Its like she wants everyone to stay in the house and never leave. She only reacts this way when my family leaves.

Well, she's a very smart dog and has learned to associate disarming the alarm with you leaving. My dog is very treat motivated, so if I had that situation, I would probably try giving him a treat in his bed just before I leave, and he would still be chewing on it as I leave. Also, he would learn to associate the disarming with getting a treat and hopefully be distracted from pulling pant legs. I always give my dog a treat before I go out if he's not coming with me because I feel guilty for leaving him. He looks forward to that even though he's bummed we are leaving him. I just give him those little "Charlie Bear" treats, which aren't anything he could choke on while unattended.