Question:He is only in it for 1 or 2 hours at a time, instead of being stuck in the house when we go out. He does eveything to try and get out.Should I persevere? will he get used to it?
Answers:
Stop leaving him there in the mean time. He needs to be retrained as he associated the run as a terrible frightening lonely place. Start by taking him to the run regularly and play with him there for a little while each day. Feed him there. If the run has gaps that he can see moving things or hear people nearby, consider sheilding the gaps so he can't see out. After a couple of weeks start leaving him. At first walk out the run - WITHOUT warning or making a fuss of him. Stand for a couple of minutes out of sight. If he doesn't bark or whine go back in, give him a tit-bit and play with him a while. Keep this up over the next few weeks increasing the time you leave him. If he barks or whines walk back in the run but do not fuss him or even meet his eyes, just let him know your there. Eventually you should be able to walk away and stay away for an hour or so. Do this several times a day EVERY day. He will learn that your leaving him is not permanent, or for long and is followed by a good thing. I did this successfully with my lab. He does bark but only when someone pushes at the gate and usually quietens down quickly. He was in the run from about 16 weeks old too and is now 5 months old.
There is a gizmo for sale on the net that attaches to the collar and makes it uncomfortable if it barks. worth a try
It takes dogs a while to get used to a run. If this is an ongoing problem, I suggest a bark collar.
he is young and still has much to learn...it may be frightening to him, he may miss being with others etc...spend time with the dog outside ...take your lawn chair out there and read,pay bills whatever.do not let him associate the run with punishment.this is a training issue and at 16 wks you are just getting started.
Are you my neighbor? If you are not, just keep in mind that if you have neighbors, they might be suffering. I get up in the middle of the night cause this puppy barks all the time and for a long time..Please review the noise policies of your town or area and find a way to train your puppy...Some neighbors wont knock at your door and will call the cops on you...PLEASE...I have had a hard time sleeping for the past two weeks...
Thank you and GOod luck
With all the crazies out there like Mr. Vick, you're taking a real chance leaving him outside when you aren't home. I'd bring him on the house and crate him while you're gone. Your neighbors can't be real thrilled either.
One day just as a training session, put him in the run just as if you where leaving, walk away from him where he can not see you and when he starts to bark, make some kind of loud noise (do not use your voice), he should then stop the barking and when he starts barking again make the same loud noise, repeat this until he stops and eventually he will get the idea that every time he barks that loud sound that he doesn't like is associated with his bark and there for, he will not bark anymore, it may take a couple of sessions, but he should eventually get the idea.
Dogs left alone usually bark for attention. They don't understand why they've been separated from their "pack". (they are pack animals and you and the family are his pack) ...He doesn't understand why he's out there and no one is with him. Also as he's fairly young it might be separation anxiety too .. I'd suggest taking him out there and playing with him some without just locking him up. Take treats, toys, etc. So that he begins to associate his run with something that is familiar and soothing to him rather than being put in a strange place with no one he knows around. ... Also if you start with taking him out and staying a few minutes to calm him and acclimate him and then leave him only like 15 minutes before coming back to get him and do that length of time for a while (week or so) and then extend to 20 or 25 minutes for a while, then 30-35 minutes...stretch it out slowly...he may acclimate.
Alternatively, get him a kennel and leave him in that indoors. At least the sounds and scents are familiar and he'll learn to calm himslf and lay down and nap while his pack is out of the house.
good luck.
Look at it from his point of view. He's a baby, all happy and together with his pack in common territory (I'm assuming the house) when suddenly they leave AND put him in a place that is not his territory... and he can't get out.
I've used dog runs quite successfully, but never use them when I am not home. The potential for escape, for bothering the neighbors, and for injury from heat, trying to escape, knocked over water bowl, or ingestion of something is too great for me. My young pups are confined in a pen in the house, my older pups are crate trained.
Edit: Fruitcakelady is right, you are taking a real chance that he won't be stolen out of the run... or shot by a neighbor wanting to silence him.. or confiscated by animal control.
He could be suffering from separation anxiety. If so, I have some suggestions. It's what I did with my little girl Bella and she's much better. Not 100%...she barks and whines a little when we leave at first, but we stay out of sight and she quickly calms down and stays quiet until we come home. We know this b/c our neighbors tell us how much quieter she is lol.
Get him some special toys that you'll give him ONLY when you leave. Any special chew toys, or get those hollow toys that you can fill with chicken liver (you can get them at PetCo or Pet Supermarket or any other pet place). Put him in a room, pet and love on him, give him the toys then walk out of the room and close the door. If he starts barking, go "AH!" loudly and sharply. This works better than saying "no." As soon as he stops barking, praise him. When he starts barking, say "ah" again, as soon as he stops, say good boy. When he's finally staying quiet for a little bit (30 seconds-1 minute) walk in and praise him, give him a special treat he normally doesn't get. Repeat this until you can leave the room for longer periods of time without him barking.
By saying "ah" sharply and loudly, he'll stop because that noise automatically tenses your body and you're voice changes. When you praise him as soon as he stops, he'll eventually understand that barking is bad, being quiet is good. And by staying out of the room for only a little while, then coming back and praising him, and by repeating this (for longer periods of time) he'll start to understand that when you leave, you will come back for him.
yes he will because my dog did.
he will get used to it but he needs a companion if you are leaving him alone regularly
Dont use these barking collar that are on offer they can cause extra anxiety.I think you dog has seoeration anxiety, however it may be his way of saying hurry up. To get him used to it when you at home put him in the run for 5 minutes bring him out and say good boy. However if he bark there are to things you can do
1. get a tin with stones in it and if he barks through it on the ground near the run and say NO in a frim voice, this will help him get used to the word no and will stop him barking quikly
2. get a smalll water bottle or a washing up squishy bottle and fill it up with water if he barks squirt him and say no or stop.
whichever one you chose makesure the puppy does not see it coming otherwise he will no what your doing.
also if you dont chose to stop him barking you may find neighbours complain to the council ending in fines. And he will think barking is good.
i would say he is objecting to being alone rather than being in a run
has he spent time in the run when you are around as well?
speak to a behaviourist about possible solutions as he will quickly learn the run equals alone time and therefore barking.
please please please do not consider any type of shock bark collar if you must try a sound or scent collar against the barking.
however none of these will work if you do not spend time training your dog and decreasing any possibility of boredom,
This pup is suffering from separation anxiety, in a natural pack a pup this young would never be alone.
Start off by leaving your pup in the run for very short periods - very slowly build up to the couple of hours.
I'm sure you have considered this, but make sure he has plenty of water, shelter and shade. Also check that passers by can not tease him as this will naturally cause him unnecessary stress.
Try reading 'The dog Listener' by Jan Fennell (you can probably get it from your local library). In this book she deals with the issue of separation anxiety along with many other problem behaviours. If you are not a 'book worm' she has also released a DVD of the same name, which illustrates her techniques very well.
Remember to apply ALL the principles outlined or you will only be giving your dog half of the reassuring messages it neads.
You might also find 'The seven ages of your dog' by Jan Fennell helpful, this 'manual' takes you through everything you need to know from birth to old age and is a must have for first time dog owners.
Good luck ;o)
A bark collar should do the trick... or neighbours will moan!
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