What Can I Do When My Dog Barks When I'm Not Home?

A dog barks most often as a sign of affection or distress. Barking is natural for dogs. A dog barking can alert a homeowner to intruders, but this helpful barking can also drive neighbors crazy. When a dog is left alone and barks excessively, it might be a signal that there is a serous problem with your dog's well being. A few tips can help both you and your dog deal with barking.

  1. Determine Why the Dog Is Barking

    • Several explanations are available to help you understand why your dog is prone to excessive barking. The dog might be anxious when he his alone. Dogs are social creatures and are pack animals, so they are naturally attached to other animals and humans. His pack is his owner and not having others around can go against the nature of being a dog. The dog might also be frightened or insecure while you are not there. A dog not only feels an inborn duty to protect, but to be protected as well.

    Give the Dog What She Needs

    • A common sense approach to help your dog while it is alone is to provide it with what it needs to be well throughout the day. Provide plenty of fresh water in a bowl. Give the dog a comfortable place to sleep with blankets. Provide plenty of chew toys for him to gnaw on during the day.

    Exercise the Dog

    • Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise. Take the dog for a walk before leaving the house for the day. This will give the dog a chance to be outside a little while before returning to the security of his home. An excessively barking dog might have a lot of pent-up energy. Giving the dog time outside to run can release some of that energy and help the dog to relax during the day.

    Delay Greeting the Dog

    • Delaying a greeting to your dog might seem like the wrong approach, but when done correctly it can teach the dog a valuable lesson. The dog is, after all, waiting for your return home. If the dog is greeted with excessive affection he will be conditioned to wait at the door, perhaps all day. Dogs do not have a good sense of time and might correlate his barking with your joyful return. Once you return home, take a few minutes and let your dog settle down, then show your dog signs of affection so that he will not relate your immediate return as a barking reward.