Good afternoon. Our family pet is a beautiful Blue Merle Aussie called Boomer who is now 7 years old. We rescued him 2 years ago and since then he has had constant company from my wife who has been at home as a Mum. The problem we now have is that the children are at boarding school and my wife has started a degree course at the local university which means that, with my working hours, Boomer is being left for upwards of 6 hours a day on some days.

Recently, we had a visit from a delegation of neighbours who told us that he barks incessantly from the minute my wife leaves, until she gets back and, understandably, it is driving them crazy. He has the run of a very large garden, with his own kennel, blanket, food and water, as well as his own radio (I know he's spoilt!).

Our vet advised us that he would take a little while to make the transition to being left alone and that the barking would stop. That was 7 weeks ago and I am now facing the prospect of a formal complaint from one particularly awkward neighbour. I am rapidly running out of ideas and we may have to take the heartbreaking step of finding him a new home as he is clearly distressed at being left.

I would welcome any suggestions and, all else failing, some advice on where I might be able to find him the kind of home that he deserves.

Many Thanks

Have you tried leaving him in the house (kitchen/utility room whilst you are out?

If he has been used to constant company then it is a big shock to him to be left alone for so long

Theresa

Bluemerle,

It's maybe just too much of a change all at once for him. Was he used to being kept out in the garden? If not, I would agree with Theresa. Try him inside. In the room he used to spend most of his daytime in if possible. Even if it's only for a while till he first of all gets used to being alone. Once he's used to that you could maybe try him outside again.
Dot

Hi Bluemerle

As someone who is "owned" by Aussies, I can appreciate your dilemma.

Have you considered the possibility of someone coming in to "sit" or walk him for, say, an hour or two a day? ....maybe even involve the akward neighbour - or is s/he one of these people who hate dogs?

Do hope you can find a solution to your problem.

Margot

Thanks for all the replies so far. If I take them in order:

We are not comfortable leaving him in the house as he can open any door and as any Aussie owner knows, he steals anything vaguely edible when he can. Plus he has about a 4 hour bladder!

With regard to a Dog Sitter, it takes him about a week to get used to someone knew, and I am not sure he would let anyone near him that he wasn't completely comfortable with.

Alan

It sounds as if your options are limited and time is short :(
Perhaps trying out a "citronella" collar might work?

The only other thing I could suggest is crating inside of the house to give the neighbors a break from the noise. Crating would keep your house intact and your dog safe.
I know 6 hours is long and you feel that a dog walker would not be liked/trusted for a some time ...but it would eventually become manageable.
It is definitely preferable to court plus an order for you to either move or get rid of your loved pet. :(
good luck,
toodles

Hi Alan,
I had a similar problem to this with my old aussie who was also a rescue and I tried allsorts to stop him barking. Two things worked for me: 1) Citronella collar - which squirted him every time he barked and he hated it. This worked for about 4 months and then he became used to it and when he realised it only squirted him and didn't hurt, he just barked anyway so I resorted to number 2) Kongs and Activity balls. If your aussie is anything like mine, he will be food orientated so what I did every night was get a large Kong (sold in pet shops), and filled it full of cheese, dog treats, chicken, sausage, block both ends of it with Dairylea or chicken paste and froze it and when I went to work the following morning, I gave it to him and it lasted him a good 3 hours trying to get everything out. I also stuffed an activity ball full of treats that had a strong smell to get his attention and this worked really well and I still do it now with my 2 young aussie bitches. The only thing is that you will have to alter his food intake to accomodate the extra food he is getting in the Kong and ball. Aussies love to be near their owners but their minds need to be kept active all the time as they are a very clever breed.
What breeding is your aussie out of interest??
Hope this helps a bit,
Gabrielle x

Hi Alan, Ive just tried the citronella collar on a "barker" and it was brilliant. I didnt use it all the time though, just when I wasnt here, and corrected him verbally when I was home. He still barks a bit, but it is only a bit now, so best of luck

Late into the conversation. But I agree with Gabrielle, Aussies NEED something to do! If you dont give them an activity they will find something... and it is ussually not what you want. I dont think I would leave mine in the house alone either, at least not unless she is crated... but I tried that and came home 7 hours later with a badly chewed baby gate I think the best is to give him an activity. I once heard of someone who taught their Aussie to pick up after the children, put laundry in the bin... toys in the toy chest, ect. Wouldnt that be a dream come true... a doggy maid :D:D;)!!! Anyway good luck!!
QT

Wow!!! I NEED that person to help train our Aussies (actually if s/he he could train my other half I'd be grateful..... :-) :-) :-)

This will probably not go down very well, but if I had to choose between a degree course and parting with my dog, it wouldn't take me long to make up my mind. :)