How to Stop a Dog From Barking When Left Alone
Even though dogs bark to communicate, excessive barking can be a nuisance. Dogs bark for many reasons, including loneliness and separation anxiety. When a dog owner leaves his dog home alone, the dog may bark uncontrollably; it's lonely, and as the anxiety grows, its barking increases, only to stop upon return of its owner. To leave your dog home alone, adjust its behavior gradually. Over time, your dog will understand what it is you are trying to achieve.
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Instructions
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Set aside one day of the week to start training your dog. This can be on a weekend or a day that you are off from work. Get ready as you normally do before leaving the house; get dressed, feed your dog and grab your car keys.
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Arm yourself with a spray bottle filled with water, or a can with coins in it. These are the "weapons" you will use when your dog starts barking. Leave the house and close the door behind you, but don't lock it.
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Wait 30 seconds outside the door and listen for your dog's barking.
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Open the door quickly, walk up to your dog and reprimand it for barking. Avoid yelling at your dog, because this only makes it think that you are joining in on the barking. Instead, say "Quiet," and spray water in your dogs face or shake a can of coins vigorously in front of it. These actions startle your dog, and it'll associate them with its barking. Keep in mind that you may have to repeat this process several times before your dog understands.
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Extend the length of time that you wait outdoors to one minute. Once conquered, extend it to three minutes, followed by five to 10 minutes. Get in your car and go for a 10-minute drive. If your dog's barking upon your return, reprimand it. If it's quiet, give it a treat as a reward for good behavior. Once your dog can stay home alone without barking for up to two hours, it will most likely be able to last throughout an entire workday without excessively barking.
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Tips & Warnings
Take your dog for a walk before leaving the house. Play with your dog and tire it out. A tired dog is less likely to bark and may prefer a nap instead.
Turn on the television or radio before leaving the house, to make it seem as if you are still at home. The noise will also cancel out any outdoor noises that may trigger your dog's barking.
Give your dog a chew toy to play with whenever you leave the house. The toy keeps your dog entertained so it's less likely to bark.
Have a friend or neighbor take your dog for a walk on days you are away from home for long periods. This will make the time away from you seem shorter to your dog.
Ignore step 3 if your dog isn't intelligent enough for this. To now if he is or not, read about his breed.
References
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