A friend of mine has asked me to post this on here for him, as he hasn't got any internet access of his own. He recently rescued a four year old male bullmastiff cross [castrated] as a companion as he lives by himself. Marley [the dog] is a lovely laid back chap in all respects but one - he barks when his owner leaves the house.
It didn't start straight away - in the first week of having him he was fine [was left for half an hour on the sixth day, and an hour and a bit the seventh day, no problems. But this last week he's been barking from within five minutes of his owner leaving the house [he left a tape recorder going to check how long he does it for] up until he gets back. The noise isn't the issue - Marley has the kitchen and hall to himself when he's left and the neighbours can't hear the noise so it's not complaints he's worried about, more that Marley is unhappy. Is there any way to break the habit? He has things to occupy him while he's alone - he is left with a stuffed kong and a nylabone, which are only brought out and given to him when he's going to be left alone. He had a buster cube but he managed to shatter it....
He is not left alone frequently, it's once or twice a week for a maximum of two hours. Any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated!!!!!

Annette

Nobody got any ideas at all i could pass on??? :(

Annette

Does he actually play with the toys he's been left with? As it starts up so soon after his master leaves it sounds seperation anxiety based - I'd suggest training the dog to be left on it's own for very short periods (seconds to start with) and rewarding it when it's been quiet......... DAP defusers can help with this too..

Marley LOVES his kong, and it's always empty when his owner gets back. He's not that impressed with nylabones, but he does have a bit of a gnaw on it.
Will suggest a DAP diffuser - can't hurt to try it! Gave him Tarot's kong today [Taz doesn't think much to it], so having two might help - he can't bark if he's still eating!!
Shall tell him to start small - Marley is quiet for the first few minutes, and being quite a foodie i'm sure he'll cotton on if he's rewarded for the minutes he's quiet :)
Cheers!!!

Annette

Hi Annette - if he loves his Kong, maybe a variation on the filling to make it more challenging will help him forget to bark? Freezing the Kong (and it's filling!) seems to be a good one to try........ My two find the bone shaped ones more of a challenge too (and they can get almost a whole days meal in one of those - which I think is a much more natural way of feeding a dog than out of a bowl.......)

Good idea to freeze 'em!!!! Shall pass it on - can you get the bone shaped ones in pets at home do you know???

Annette

'fink so :)

As someone has suggested it does sound like seperation anxiety, he's a rescue so may have a bit of baggage/history/previous for this type of thing or perhaps lacking in confidence, maybe he was shouted at or picked on????? Who knows??? Sounds like a lovely dog though - perhaps your friend could help install some confidence in him so he doesn't panic when left alone, I agree with 'training' him to stay alone even when your friend is in the house with him. Perhaps your friend could leave the room for a few minutes to begin with - if it was me I would use a clicker to reward him (see clicker threads for more info) if he doesn't bark. I would make a point of extended the time he is left gradually but also play with the time scales so that Marley doesn't know/expect his dad back at a certain time - the aim is to make Marley more confident so that he will hopefully be happy alone because he will know dad will come back to him, don't know when, but he'll be back - I wont panic :)
Good Luck,
Sarah

It sounds ironic i know, but as he is only left rarely, he will feel it more when he IS left :(

I agree to start small and build up - also, try not to open the door on return when he is actually barking (If at all possible) or he may feel his barking magics his dad back!!!

It may be a good idea too, to get him used to being in that part of the house in a restricted sense when his owner is at home so it is not such a big thing when he is left alone. Child gates do the job very well :)

There are also some good books on rescue dogs, which give ideas on problems such as this. Try "The Rescue Dog" by Gwen Bailey for ideas; think Carol Price has done one too.

Lindsay