Because I work from home my dogs are rarely left for long periods of time. Barney can't be left in a run as he will bark constantly which I've always assumed was related to being stray/in a shelter for a while. However, from being a puppy I have periodically left Rusty in a run with my friend Roger's dogs when I've had to be out all day. Barney goes to work on the building site where Rog works. (he had a hi viz jacket especially ) Apart from a few breakout attempts recently Rusty has never had a problem being in the run. This week on Tuesday though Rog had a complaint from a neighbour that a dog had been barking non stop all day. We couldn't figure out why and wondered perhaps if someone had been working nearby or similar had upset him. Yesterday I had to work again and again he barked constantly and had wrecked the kennel and the sofa that acts as a bed. He's just turned 15 months old. He does scream/bark/whine when I walk Barney and he's left behind in the crate but he stops once we're gone and as soon as he hears us approach the house again he starts up again but he's always done this. Could it be a side effect of me crating him most of the time now? About 4 weeks ago his trainer said he wasn't looking to me as a leader but a protector and recommended that he spend the day in the crate to learn that he had to be where I told him to be at all times and that it wouldn't do Barney any harm either. They share a crate so it's just occurred to me that he's now got so used to Barney being there all the time he now hates being separate from him. Is this a plausible theory? Anyone got any others and more importantly how can I get him happy to be on his own or in the run?
Re: barking in the run Oh dear, so sorry you have this problem . I have to say that to me anyway, crating a dog for the day is punishment and not dealing with the problem in the right way . It sounds like seperation anxiety to me and yes, your theory is very plausible indeed . My youngster Sam was fine to be left before we lost Lily two months ago, no problems at all but since she died , he shows a tendancy to be destructive, he chewed up the kitchen rug, something he has never ever done prior to losing his friend . I really do believe that the have the capability to miss their friends , what I do now is to make sure that he has had a really good run and leave him with a marrow bone , it seems to do the trick, hope you can find a solution .
Re: barking in the run thanks Kate although to clarify he's not in all day without a break - I let them out every couple of hours for a run around the garden and a pee - while I have a cuppa and when I'm ready to go back to work they go back to bed.
Re: barking in the run Hi Carole I am sorry to hear you have this problem. Whilst I have every respect for your trainer, and the fact that he has a lot more background information, plus knows your dog personally, I am not sure that crating is the way to resolve 'leadership' issues. Especially if it generates a potentially difficult problem. As the barking is a new behaviour, and the crating is a new behaviour I would be tempted to revert to what you were doing before, and maybe reintroduce the crate for shorter periods of time when things have settled down. Barking when you are out is very difficult to cure so best not let the habit get established. You probably already do this but kongs packed with food and frozen solid keep many a dog happy in a crate for half an hour. Pippa
Re: barking in the run Hi Carole , I wasnt for a moment thinking that you left him all day , sorry if that came accross ,but I was referring to your trainers suggestion that he should maybe be left crated for a day to enforcee your authority. I hate to disagree with anyone , especially when I dont know all the circumstances , but I did feel that this advice was not particularly good, for any dog .
Re: barking in the run After some deliberation I decided to stop crating the boys during the day. They seem to be making the most of having the freedom of the kitchen by dragging the blankets out and sleeping in the middle of the floor. I haven't since tried Rusty in the run, we plan to try him in there for a little while on Sunday so we can be there and react if he barks again. I have to say the downside is Rusty is ignoring me more - and it is deliberate - sometimes their heads are too busy to hear but he'll look then decide not to come - grrr! But it's marginal - he was ignoring me sometimes before. I thought I'd list my routine to see if anyone can spot a potential problem. I know its more likely to be how I'm doing things but maybe some of you can help me rule out the "what". 6am go downstairs to let them out - Barney will bark to let me know if I don't get downstairs - I open the crate door B flies out so does Rusty who will make a point of licking my hand. Much excited wagging and wrestling and tug of war with blanket ensues. 6.05 when they've calmed down a bit I open the back door and B flies out. R stretches and comes and sits next to me waiting for a fuss 6.10 B flies back in - opening the door himself if I'm not quick enough. I send them back to bed so I can go and get more sleep (door not locked now) 6.45 I come back down wait for calm, sit them on their spot while I dish up breakfast, make them stay until it's on the floor for a few seconds then give them go ahead to eat. I give them another chance to go outside but once again Rusty will just sit and look at me. I go and get dressed and come back at 7.30am put Rusty "on the bed" shut the door and put B on the lead once calm. Wait for calm again - take B for 20 minute walk come back. Rusty will scream /whine when we leave and again as we near the back gate. I swap dogs, wait for calm take Rusty for 20 min mix of walk/training. About 1/3 on lead heel, rest frequent recall, stop whistle followed by recall or stop whistle followed by retrieve, some off lead heel practice with varying degrees of success. back to kitchen I have my breakfast while they run around the garden letting off steam together. 9am I leave them in the kitchen while I work upstairs or next door with clients. 10.30 I let them out /have a drink for 15 mins then back to work. This usually involves quite a lot of fuss & cuddles. 12.30 lunch I used to make them be on the bed while I ate then this seemed mean when i was crating all day and allowed them to lie near me but not right under me so this has continued. No scraps from the table but if I do have something they can have I move away from the table once I've finished and make them sit /wait etc - they know there is no point begging from me. B will sit by the door to the rest of the house and look at me reproachfully. If the door is open he'll sit in the hall to be out of the kitchen but face in to be able to see what i'm doing 3ish another break like 10.30 4pm dinner then walk - repeat as breakfast 6pm my dinner then we all go into living room (unless i'm working) - they have a bed each in there which they LOVE it's next to the sofa. 10pm let out then put to bed.
