I got a puppy 4 months ago, and apparently, she was supposed to be crate trained. When we’re home, she’s fine in the crate, but the second we leave the house, even for a few minutes, she starts barking really loudly. We’ve been practicing every day, leaving for short periods and rewarding her when she stays calm, but nothing seems to work. We’ve tried giving her toys, treats, and even taking her on long runs to tire her out, but she still freaks out when we leave. I’m running out of ideas. Anyone else dealt with this? What worked for you?
Sounds like separation anxiety. Have you tried leaving a piece of clothing with your scent in the crate? That worked for my dog.
Bright said:
Sounds like separation anxiety. Have you tried leaving a piece of clothing with your scent in the crate? That worked for my dog.
Yeah, we tried that, but it didn’t seem to help much. She starts barking within 5 minutes of us leaving.
Bright said:
Sounds like separation anxiety. Have you tried leaving a piece of clothing with your scent in the crate? That worked for my dog.
Maybe combine it with a calming diffuser like Adaptil? It releases pheromones that help dogs relax. Worth a shot!
What about doing shorter absences? Like just stepping out for a few seconds and gradually increasing the time?
NomadNerd said:
What about doing shorter absences? Like just stepping out for a few seconds and gradually increasing the time?
We’ve been trying that, but she doesn’t even last a few seconds before barking like crazy.
NomadNerd said:
What about doing shorter absences? Like just stepping out for a few seconds and gradually increasing the time?
I had the same issue. I had to really start small—literally just closing the door and opening it right away, then extending it second by second. It’s tedious but worked eventually.
Have you considered anti-bark collars? They can help with excessive barking.
EdwardGenesis said:
Have you considered anti-bark collars? They can help with excessive barking.
Aren’t those kind of harsh? I feel like there might be other options before trying that.
EdwardGenesis said:
Have you considered anti-bark collars? They can help with excessive barking.
Some collars have vibration or spray options instead of shocks. They’re more humane but can still be effective.
Does she have a favorite toy or something super engaging? Maybe leave her with a Kong filled with frozen peanut butter?
Faithjones said:
Does she have a favorite toy or something super engaging? Maybe leave her with a Kong filled with frozen peanut butter?
She loves her Kong, but once we leave, she abandons it and just starts barking. Not sure how to keep her focused on it.
Faithjones said:
Does she have a favorite toy or something super engaging? Maybe leave her with a Kong filled with frozen peanut butter?
What if you only give her the Kong when you leave? That way, she associates you leaving with something positive.