How to stop my dog barking when I go out? Would it be okay to leave my dog barking? These are just some questions our fellow dog owners frequently ask.
Your dog may make you crazy, even if he is one of your best friends. All dogs will bark, however it is undesirable for certain dogs to bark continually if being left to their own devices for long periods of time.
Even if you don’t have any neighbors, this might be a major problem for you.
The last thing anybody wants after a long day at the office is to find out that their neighbors are furious because their dog growled and yapped the whole time while they were gone.
Remember that dogs aren’t simply yapping for no reason. As a result of several events, including invaders, hunger, and fear, they result in an increase in this activity.
When this happens, it’s always a response to a specific event. First, you must understand why your dog is acting the way it is; then you may learn how to stop your dog from barking when left alone.
Why Is Your Dog Barking?
Will your dog eventually stop barking when you leave?
If you are aware of the cause of your companion’s constant barking, you will be able to know how to stop dog barking when you leave your home by eliminating the source of the barking and putting an end to the undesirable habit.
In case you’re interested, the following are some of the possible causes of your dog barking:
1. Anxiety
Separation anxiety is a problem that many pet parents encounter on a regular basis. Some dogs aren’t permitted to be left alone due to the risk of property damage or excessive barking.
The more agitated your dog becomes when you leave, the more likely it is that he is suffering from separation anxiety.
2. Boredom
Dogs, like wolves, form close-knit groups. If a dog develops a strong bond with his or her owner, he will constantly desire to do activities with us.
If they have nothing else going on, they might resort to excessive barking in an attempt to draw attention to them. As a result, they do not like being left all alone by their thoughts and surroundings.
In fact, boredom may lead them to engage in destructive behavior, resulting in damage to your home’s furniture.
The breeds of sled and herding dogs, have a high level of energy and a propensity to get bored. They should be provided lots of chances for physical exercise before being left alone at home.
Types Of Dog Barks
How to stop dog barking when you leave the house? Well, you should know two types of dog barks to understand the problem very well.
1. Alpha/Territorial Dogs
Alpha and territorial barkers are often males that have not been neutered and came from guarding breeds.
Dogs, squirrels, mailmen, and neighbors are all potential trespassers for these barkers, which believe they need to protect their homes and yards from unwanted visitors. Your dog could relax its territorial inclinations if it has been spayed or neutered.
With proper training, the dog’s natural instincts may be channeled and the issue solved. The use of stockade fencing instead of chain-link fencing may assist lessen the amount of barking your dog does while you are gone from the house.
If your dog is barking at passersby while you’re away, be certain to closely monitor him so as to prevent this behavior. If you can’t get him to stop talking when you’re there, don’t expect to be able to do it while you’re not.
2. Genetically Vulnerable Bark
This group includes almost all terriers as well as the vast majority of other tiny dogs. In particular Poodles, Maltese, and miniature Schnauzers.
These breed kinds have the hereditary propensity to bark in response to any noises or movement that they detect.
The original purpose of these dogs was to let the farmer know there is a mouse in the plant pot. But nowadays they are more likely to alert you to the return of your neighbors, the ringing phone, or the arrival of the elevator.
To keep your dog from barking excessively, it is essential that you teach it proper manners. It’s important that your orders have the power to switch your dog on and off.
We are aware that you are not intending to stifle their individuality; yet, it is essential that they behave in an acceptable manner. Determine a certain location or period of time during which your hyperactive canine may make as much noise as he pleases.
3. The Demanding Dog
This self-assured youthful soul doesn’t like to be left alone after the fun is finished. If you don’t come back to play, he’ll wait at the doorway and bark at you.
Citronella anti-bark collars, barking setups (described later on), and fun toys may all help to calm this rambunctious dog.
4. Underexercised and Bored Dog
Breeds of the hound, herding, and sports sorts were purposefully developed to work throughout the day.
There are a lot of pointers, retrievers, collies, setters, and other similar breeds of dogs that, sadly, don’t get enough exercise, and urban environments are particularly bad about this.
In order to avoid barking and other irritating tendencies from these canines due to boredom, they must be kept occupied at all times. This breed requires 2 hours of aerobic and rigorous activity a day if you own one.
When you leave for work in the morning, the dog you leave behind should always be wheezing and fatigued from the tough play you had with it earlier.
5. The Nervous and Confused Dog
Toy and small-breed dogs, as well as dogs acquired from shelters or handed down from one family to the next, belong to this category. In their pasts, they may have been subjected to overprotective behavior from their parents or caretakers.
After moving into a new house, your dog may exhibit fearful behaviors if it has never left the back yard or lived in an apartment before. Leaving a dog of this breed alone for even a few minutes may lead to serious separation anxiety.
These dogs need to be appropriately socialized to their surroundings. When a dog’s confidence is built via obedience training that involves a lot of positive reinforcement, it will be better equipped to deal with new challenges.
This video shows you how to reduce your dog’s anxiety when you leave the house.
How to Stop Dog Barking When Leaving
Some, if not all, might have asked their friends or vets a question like “How to stop my dog from barking when I leave my apartment?” It’s really quite annoying for your family and even your neighbor to hear your dog’s uncontrollable barking.
For that, we made a list of things you can do on how to stop dog barking when you leave your home:
1. Exercise
Physical exercise is essential for dogs to stay healthy. It’s important for dogs like these to be able to burn off their excess energy via physical activity and mental stimulation.
Excessive barking may be a sign of destructive tendencies in dogs whose energy has not been properly channeled.
The simplest way to stop this is to exercise your canine for around an hour to exhaust him. Dogs may go to sleep when their owners leave their home if they’ve done this.
2. Food and Water
The barking of a hungry dog can go on for hours. If you’re going to be away for an extended period of time, it’s ideal to provide water and dog food for them. Because of this, your dog won’t have to worry about being hungry or thirsty.
3. Blanket
A security blanket might be a major help if your canine suffers from separation anxiety. It is normal for your dog to miss you from time to time due to loneliness.
It’s a good idea to provide them a blanket or clothing you normally use. Your dog may be soothed by the scent of your clothing or a blanket since they feel as though you are nearby.
4. Dog Toys
With the right chew toy or bone, your dog have hours of entertainment. Once a dog experiences boredom, he may cause damage to your furnishings or bark nonstop.
Offering them their preferred toys may distract them and prevent them from realizing you’ve left. Bully Sticks and other toys like Kong are two of the most recommended toys.
One of these stiff bones, known as Bully Sticks, takes quite long for your dog to consume. Rubbery toys like Kongs are a lot of fun. For hours on end, your dog is having fun with this toy.
In order to keep your dog entertained, you should make it difficult for him to open the Kong and obtain the treat inside. As a result, your dog will bark less and play more.
5. CBD Dog Treats
As CBD dog treats become more popular, so has their popularity. Snacks have been cited as a common remedy for pet anxiety and stress. CBD therapies, unlike medication to treat anxiety, are all-natural and free of any harmful side effects.
In dogs, endocannabinoid receptor activation reduces anxiety. Serotonin, a happy-making neurotransmitter, is secreted by the body after these receptors are switched on.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that reduces stress and boredom, which may lead to excessive barking.
6. Eliminate the Reason to Bark
Pavlos experimented with feeding his dog by ringing the doorbell and then putting food in his bowl. Soon after, the dog began drooling whenever he heard the doorbell ringing.
Positive reinforcement, also known as classical conditioning, is used in this situation. In turn, your dog will begin to associate barking with positive reinforcement. A regular person wouldn’t do this.
Most importantly, find and remove the cause of your dog’s barking behavior. Having a dog who is able to bark continually is not something you should allow for.
The best thing to do is to put him in a separate room if he’s constantly barking at strangers and pets going by the house, for example. If he starts barking at people who come and go in the yard, bring him inside.
Removing the causes of your dog’s excessive barking is an important lesson from this experience.
7. Ignore your dog
The barking of your dog might be a way for you to grab their attention. The best thing to do is ignore them till they stop bothering you again. Your attention merely encourages them to bark, so be aware of this fact.
Your dog will bark more if you speak to, touch, or even gaze at him/her. When they finally give up, give them a reward and a pat on the back. For this approach to succeed, you’ll need lots of persistence.
Often, owners resort to shouting at their dog after he barks for an hour. It’s possible that the aggravation and irritability may tire you out. When your dog barks again and you recognize him, he’ll continue to bark for a further one hour and a half.
Crate training your dog is the most effective method of teaching your pet in this circumstance. Then just walk away from him. After they’ve calmed down, give them a hug, a pat on the back, and a treat.
They’ll come to realize that being silent is a certain way to get attention and appreciation. Start by rewarding him for only a few seconds of silence, then gradually increase the amount of time you reward him for.
8. Your dog should be desensitized
Some items may cause your dog to bark excessively because they terrify him. Regardless of what initially sets off your dog’s barking, you may teach him to accept it with time. In order to start the ball moving, begin with a stimulus.
Make absolutely sure it’s far enough away from the dog that he will not be able to see it. You may see whether they start barking by moving nearer to them and seeing if they react to the stimulation. If they don’t like it, try something different.
As soon as your dog barks, pull him nearer and nearer till you can hear him well. If you reward your dog when he barks, he will learn that it is acceptable behavior.
Once the dog begins barking, try moving it back and forth a few times. Trainers want their dogs to understand a stimulus may lead to rewards and/or treats, such as food, if it occurs often enough.
The barking of your dog may be reduced if a friend holds another dog in front of him. You should always give a treat to your dog when they see you.
Once your dog barks or your friend’s dog goes, you should stop giving out the treat. Once your dog has been exposed to other dogs a few times, he will come to associate being around them with getting a reward.
9. Quiet Training
You may train your dog to bark or keep quiet when you give him instructions. Wait for your dog to bark a few times after giving the command “talk” before rewarding him with a tasty treat. When your dog stops barking, you may reward them with praise.
It’s important to keep doing this until the dog understands that “talking” involves barking. Start training your dog to stay quiet as soon as it is able to react to your directions by barking. Talk to your dog in a quiet place.
The nicest thing you can do for them is to put a prize in front of your dogs and congratulate them for keeping their mouths shut.
As an example, your dog is likely to bark once the doorbell has rung. This is a good time to try training your dog the command to keep him quiet so that he knows what you expect of him.
Final Thoughts
Dogs who bark all day while their owners are gone from home might be appropriately trained with all this knowledge at their disposal.
Learning how to stop dog barking when left alone by owners should be prioritized when you have an anxious dog.
Training your dog may be difficult at first, but if you provide it with love and compassion, your dog should ultimately recognise that there are more rewards for their quiet.
We appreciate you taking the time to read this and learn from it. But if there’s anything that we haven’t covered in this article, please let us know in the comments section below!
Please feel free to share your thoughts with us, and if necessary, we’ll make suitable changes to share with other dog owners.
