The Barking Dog

[breuckelen101]

My Yorkie is 8 years old. She was rescued from a puppy mill 2 years ago. She has serious barking problems and we are at our wits end. We have not left her alone for the 2 years we have had her and we take her pretty much every where we go. Our life style has been totally limited since we live in NYC and dogs are not allowed in most places.
She barks for the entire time she is left alone. We live in a large apartment complex. Neighbors are complaining as she barks whenever we leave which is not very often. We have tried suggestions that we leave her for short periods then increase our time absent. Does not work. We have had a few dog therapists come in and they have made suggestios. They don't work. We have purchased "Stop That". It doesn't work. We have bought 2 sound frequency items. They do not work
Anyone have this problem?
Help!

[Maximo]

Welcome to Yorkie Talk. Barking is a tough habit to break, especially in a dog who had a rough life before coming into your care.

Since you have consulted professionals, I fear I won't have any better advice.

First, I would say exercise, wearing her out with long walks. (I know this is tough in inclement weather).

A calming defuser for dogs -- aromatherapy: calming scent for dogs - Google Search

Relaxing music: Through a Dog's Ear, or TV, radio

Confine her to a single room with a covered sleeping area so that she doesn't feel like she has to defend your entire home.

Does she seems panicked when you leave, or just generally vocal? Is it separation anxiety?

[breuckelen101]

Total panic.
We have tried the Music for a Dogs Ear and the calming spray.. She is such a sweetheart but we are going stir crazy.

[seastheday]

I used marrow bones bought in the pet shop, stuffed it with peanut butter and froze it. Right before I left for work I gave it to my puppy. He was so busy working on the bone he never saw me leave. I found it works great with separation anxiety. I am now doing the same with my two new puppies and we haven't had a problem. Worth a try.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Is she teachable? Has she the ability to learn? If not, it sounds like a brain tumor or early senility or something preventing her forming the ability to associate one thing with another. Can she sit or come or lie down when asked? Has she any impulse control? If you haven't recently, I would have her neuro checked by a vet who specializes in neurological diseases of the small dog, a true doggie specialist.

If she is teachable and has no brain dysfunction, you can teach her not to bark but so much depends on the teachers she's had. Just because she has had more than one doesn't mean they were all good. A good teacher can read the individual dog, find out their currency and what they will work for, what inspires them and work with even the most recalcitrant dog and get results. I won't kid you, it will take a good investment of your time and a lot of persistence and unremitting consistency on your part and never losing patience, but you can make it fun and rewarding for both of you. Training a dog can be such a delight if you both really get into it.

[SWHouston]

I would suggest a second Dog...

Same Breed,
Opposite Sex,
A little younger than the resident, (2 yrs would be about right).
Both altered of course.

[Charlies Mamma]

Does she only bark like this when you are gone or does she have barking spouts when you're home too?

I imagine being a mill puppy she is just scared. those poor babies have very little human contact and now that she has you to love her when you leave maybe she is panicking.

I imagine you have tried this but you could leave clothing down for her with your scents on them to help ease her, maybe a t-shirt that you have worn and played with her or held her while you wore it then it would have her scent too.

Do you crate her when you are gone it could go in the crate if not I would just leave it where she is most likely to be when you are gone.

you could also set up a web cam or baby cam to see what she is actually doing while you are gone maybe then you could get an idea how to help her.

I dont have this problem so Im just throwing out ideas.

[breuckelen101]

Thank you all so much. We are considering a foster dog for her, I have purchased the peanut butter and the clothing on the floor is a good idea.

She can learn. She sits and goes to the wee wee pad. She does not learn quickly and seems to forget some things.

She barks when we are home but mainly at issues (smoke alarm, timer, door knocking.)

We love her so much and we will do whatever it takes to make her happy.
Thanks again.

[yorkietalkjilly]

I have used the below technique to train anxious and barking dogs how to accept being left alone without misbehaving or becoming destructive. It is long, wordy and the copy/paste from my Word program can cause some of the words to run together but you might read it over and see if it might work for your girl. It was originally posted about an adult, male dog with female owner. When enough time and repetition is used to teach this method, it has worked every time to desensitize the dog to the concept of being left alone and they learn to relax and accept this fact of their lives. But it takes a lot of dedication and repetition by the owner, working faithfully with the dog. I hope it can help your sweet dog feel less anxious when you leave her home alone.

Separation Anxiety

Most anxious dogs that aren't used to it get nervous and anxious when their owners leave the home. Firstly, take all emotion out of your leaving. Do not feel sad for him or tell him goodbye - just like pack leaders in the wild don't when they decide to go on a hunt or take a walk - they just walk away and nobody freaks. They are impersonal and matter-of-fact in how and what they must do. So no emotional goodbyes or hello's when arriving home. Act like a pack leader. Your dog is a pack animal and is genetically in tune with a firm but fair leader. As far as your actual leaving, just slowly desensitize him to your leaving and soon he will come to accept it. But you must desensitize him to it slowly and allow him to adjust to each step. Be patient with that baby - his anxiety can be overcome with time and patience and knowing what to do. Keep your training sessions short and impersonal, matter-of-fact. (You can reward him once each exercise is over with a big, loving play session and lots of loving hugs, kisses.)

Give him a lovely food-stuffed kong toy, sit down and watch him playing with it, take up your keys and purse and whatever else you do as if to leave home and sit back down and just watch him. Don't go anywhere. Just sit there. Now this is key: keep repeating this for a day or two on a weekend over and over, giving him different things to chew on or play with as you get ready to go but don't.

After a day or two of this, when he's playing with his kong and has accepted your getting your things together, get your keys/purse, watch him for a while then get up and without saying one word to him or looking in his direction, just like an alpha wolf who acts in its pack without question from one of his pack members, walk out of your door outside. Shut it. Stand there 10 seconds and walk back in, DO NOT NOTICE HIM AT ALL, no matter how he's dancing around your feet or whining in joy, put your things away and sit back down where you usually sit when you watch him with his kong toy. Repeat this over & over and keep increasing your times outside to let him learn slowly that though momma goes out the door, she will be back and I'm really okay. Slowly but surely as you stay out longer and longer but do come back in, he'll have grown to accept this action as inconsequential in his life and soon grow to accept your leaving without thinking a thing of it -he'll know he gets a good thing to play with and some good food, momma will be back and he'll accept it. B4 long, he will just accept your leaving without any toys or kongs or anything. After a while, include getting in the car in this training exercise, even starting it up and getting right back out and coming in the house without noticing him. Repeat repeat repeat - sitting in the car awhile with it running. Eventually, drive around the block and then back home, inside, not noticing your dog and putting your things away, coming to sit in the same place on the couch where you always sit during this training. Once you have sat there a while after each training session, now it is time to play and reward that anxious baby who is learning to be a goooood dog so now have a blast with him. Lots of love, hugs, kisses, tugowar, etc. Happy, happy rewards for his efforts are definitely in order!

If you are patient enough to do this, it works EVERY SINGLE time and turns an anxious, crying dog into one that accepts leaving as just a part of his day.They soon learn to adjust their day to sleep while we are away and be ready togo when we get home.

I would also start him on a good positive-rewards training program such as inTamar Geller's The Loved Dog book. This will teach him to bond well with you as you develop a strong relationship that he will not question, no matter what as he knows momma is always gonna keep it fun, loving and always rewarding for him.

[Maximo]

A friend of mine had luck with the Thundershirt for her girl who was suffering separation anxiety. The only caution I would give is to make sure your apartment isn't too warm so that she doesn't overheat in it. (I'm the kind of person who like the thermostat a little higher than most people)

A doggy friend could help, but is not a guarantee that neither dog will suffer separation anxiety when together.

Another friend takes her dog to doggy daycare because of separation anxiety. I know this is a huge investment and not always possible.

Your Yorkie is very lucky to have a loving home with you and I hope that you can resolve her anxiety.