My dog barks when I leave the house or my apartment: It is a frequent problem but irritating for you, for your neighbors and for your dog! Indeed, as soon as you leave the house, your dog starts to bark incessantly and to whine for hours. These howls are persistent and seem to be triggered only by being left alone. In fact, boredom, excitement, fear or separation anxiety can cause your dog to bark. To stop it, you’ll first need to find out what’s causing it so you can understand how to respond. That’s what we’re going to find out in this article with some great tips to get your dog to stop barking when you leave the house.
Why my dog barks when I leave the house?
While your dog is adorable and never barks when you are with him inside or outside, he starts barking as soon as he sees you leave your house. This canine attitude is not normal because it is a sign that your dog is suffering from anxiety. Here are the main reasons why a dog starts barking as soon as his owner leaves him.
Dog that barks because it is bored when you leave him
Boredom in dogs can lead to barking, howling and destructive behavior. Some highly intelligent breeds of dogs, such as Border Collies or Retrievers, are more energetic, need a lot of stimulation and are therefore more prone to boredom. When your dog leaves the house, he has nothing to do and will start barking because he is bored, he has nothing else to do…
Dog barks because it is anxious to see you leave the room or the house
It is quite normal that a dog prefers to stay with his owner and to be sad to see him leave. But some dogs absolutely cannot stand to be separated from their owner. They suffer from separation anxiety syndrome. This syndrome translates into suffering for the owner (feelings of abandonment and guilt) as well as for the dog when they are separated. The dog can’t stand being alone without its owner and has to face an anxiety that it has difficulty managing. As a result, he develops unwanted behaviors that help him manage his stress. Barking is one of these behaviors.
Why does my dog suffer from separation anxiety?
If you adopted your dog when he was too young, he must have felt a sense of well-being, a feeling of security with you, strong needs to feel close to you. However, if you did not teach him to stay alone, to play without you and to socialize with other dogs and other humans, a hyper-dependent bond was created between you and your dog. It is this type of relationship that causes suffering during separations.
My dog barks when I leave the house – Tips
To get your dog to stop barking as soon as you leave the room or the house, you’ll need to reduce his separation anxiety. To do this, you’ll need to re-establish a healthy, non-excessive bonding relationship with your dog. This is quite possible by establishing new rules and a different daily routine (see my method below). However, you will have to be patient because this reconditioning will take several weeks…
Reducing your dog’s separation anxiety
Here’s what I suggest you do to reduce your dog’s anxiety and the barking triggered by your departure:
- Limit the time you share with your dog on a daily basis.
- Your dog should not be near you all the time, even when you are at home.
- You should leave him alone more often outside or in a separate room if you live in an apartment.
- If your dog is too demanding, you will have to learn to gently push him away by diverting his attention or by distracting him with something else (with treats, interactive toys, by taking him to another room…).
- Gradually get your dog used to staying home alone. You can leave the house for 1 hour a day at first, then for 2 hours, then for half a day and finally for a whole day!
Establish a routine when you leave the house
By setting up a departure ritual, your dog understands that you are going to leave the house, he becomes conditioned to it and accepts it better. This routine must be done systematically each time you leave the house:
- A short play session or a 10-minute walk;
- Always place your dog in the same room of the house;
- Turn off the lights;
- Turn on the TV or radio;
- Give him interactive toys and a well-stocked Kong (see my recommendation below);
- Put on your coat;
- Leave the house without saying anything, without turning around and without feeling guilty..
The objects and environment conditioned to your departure will reduce his feeling of abandonment because :
- With the TV or radio, he will hear noise and therefore feel a presence;
- With interactive toys, he will be distracted and occupied so he will be less bored;
- With the Kong, he will spend time trying to get out the treats and have a compensation, a kind of reward…
Stop a dog from barking – Recommended equipment
To prevent your dog from barking in your absence, provide him with an environment where he can be entertained with many chew toys, squeakers, balls… Here are 2 essential pieces of equipment:
The Kong
Here is an essential toy to prevent your dog from barking when you leave the house. It is the Kong. By filling it with treats, your dog is mentally and physically stimulated and occupied during your absence.
The special interactive camera for dogs
Here is a revolutionary equipment for dogs who are bored alone at home: Furbo. Furbo is a smart, interactive camera that allows you to see, talk and throw treats to your dog wherever you are. It is the only camera designed specifically for dogs who stay home alone. It allows you to monitor your dog by having the video in real time on your mobile but also to throw treats to your dog without you being with him! In addition, you can use it to talk and reassure your dog as if you were at his side. Indeed, the Furbo camera has a microphone and built-in speakers so that your dog can hear you clearly.
