We have recently moved house (a month ago) and it has been pointed out to my boyfriend and I that when we are out Bonnie (18 month old Staff) cries and howls the whole time. This is obviously quite upsetting as I hate the thought of her being so distressed. How can we make her time at home alone a more pleasent one? Will she just grow out of it? Please help

Hi,
I was just wondering, do you know that she definitely didn't cry at your old house? It may just be that no-one told you! ;) Obviously, either way you want to make her happier, but it may help to work out the problem - whether she is uncertain with the unfamilier house, or whether she hates being alone.

:)

Hi

She may have done but I'm not entirely sure. The last house we were in was alot bigger than our new one. She was originally our landlords dog but when we moved we took her with us. He got her when she was six weeks old and we were living there when she joined us. We have to cage/crate her during the day as this is the way she was brought up, she tends to chew wires, but now that she is our dog I have been trying to get her used to being out on her own for the odd half an hour here and there but she keeps trying to dig her way out!! So not only does she cry and howl she pulls back the hall way carpet and digs. When she was tiny originally she was left out on her own but only in the kitchen and she used to try and dig her way out then so it's an ongoing problem. I really want to help her and be able to trust her on her own but I'm stuck on what to do. I thought by leaving her for short periods of time it would help as she would evetually get used to it and know that we are coming home and not leaving her..... Sorry to waffle!

Hi,

I'd put her back in her cate for now and see if that makes a difference to her behaviour - it'll certainly make a difference to the damage she's causing.

Fiona
x x x

We've moved her crate into our bedroom today as there isn't anyone above or next to that so hopefully she won't appear so loud to the people above us and to the right of us, unfortunately they both work nights. I think she just doesn't like being left alone, but she should be used to it by now surely?!

Hi lisa marie, I think you staffy probably feels more secure in her crate, my boys all have a crate and go in and out at their leisure, I leave the doors open. Perhaps you should still use the crate and leave it open for her, I think she sees the crate as her den and is quite happy with it. I don't agree with leaving dogs in cages shut in however, for long periods of time. My dogs are shut in when they are fed and if I need to get on with cooking or something that may be dangerous to them. She needs to adjust to new owners, I understand she wasn't your dog to start with and a new enviroment, so it's going to take a while for her to find her feet. Do you leave her with things to occupy her, like a Kong toy with treats in it or something similar, that will take her mind off the fact that you have gone out? How long is she left for a one time? Hope this helps Julie

ps are you saying she cries in the crate as well or just when she is left out of it??

Hi

We tend to leave her for about 8 hours a day but I go home at lunch time to let her out so that she can go to the toilet. She has lots of toys, and we've brought her Kongs in the past but she chews the ends off of them!

When we lived in our old house she used to listen more to my partner Chris than Dave her owner so she is used to us.

I'm not sure if me going home at lunch time is helping the situation as she then has to get used to being on her own again!

Lisa

Hi Lisa - that's a long time to leave a dog alone. I definitely wouldn't stop coming home at lunchtime, you need to be able let let her out to the loo etc. and give her some company. julie:)

I will, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't making the situation worse.

She does cry when she's in her crate aswell, she obviously just gets lonely but I feel so bad leaving her now that I know there is a problem.

Awww, poor thing!!! If she chews the ends off kongs, have you tried the black ones? They're for extra chewy dogs, and are lots more solid than the normal red ones. There are treat balls/cubes you could try as well, the dog has to play with it or it doesn't get the food. And puzzle cubes, which i think the dog needs to work a bit harder for the treat with so might be helpful?
If this is a new problem then she might just need time to settle into your new home? Is there anyone you can ask if she used to do it in your old house?
Hope you're able to get it sorted, she is only young i'm sure she'll get better with time :)

Hi
Have you tried exercising her before you leave her?I have 3 dogs and work nights so I get home from work at 5:30am let the dogs into the garden for a wee then go to bed.I then get up at 7:45 to get the kids off to school and take the dogs for a good run,then home and they have their breakfast.With dogs suitably tired and with full bellies I can go back to bed at about 10am for another 4 hours sleep not feeling guilty cos I know they're happy and content.The pup(9 months) would not settle and would cry and whine if he was not tired and fed so maybe its worth a try.
I decided to bring my boys into my life and so I arrange my life around them and if that means dragging myself out of bed then so be it. .
Regards Archer.