my shichon wont stop barking when I leave him for a few hours any tips on how to help him

My Border Terrier has started doing this again as he just does not like being left alone when I nip off for a couple of hours to my job.  My solution (as he is very food minded) is to hide lots of gravy bones around the livingroom, which gives him something to do as I leave and takes his mind off it, or to leave a stuffed kong for him to play with - or both.  My neighbour has told me he still does bark when the postman comes or roadworks etc but he seems to be OK when I leave food.  He is almost never barking when I return home after a few hours.  I think they need to have something to do when you're not there to take their mind off it.  If its dark, leave the light on, maybe leave the TV on and leave some kind of activity.  Its not ideal but it might help.

CG

I find a really long walk helps, also a food ball ( 2 ) which keeps her  occupied!

Hi I always take him for an hours walk just before I go to work but this does no good also now he has started crying during the night! I always leave him a treat to chew while I am out and the radio on. any othre tips!!!

If none of the pointers above help, and everything that you try fails, pop your dog in a crate with a dark cover thrown over it.  A dog won't bark if it can not see anything to get excited about, and will not be calling for you if it can not see. Leave the radio on for some company and hopefully he will then just go to sleep.

Leave some water in there and a little chew toy or bone whilst you are out, and not for any longer than a maximum of 4 hours. :-)

Thanks I will give it a try with the cover at night. During the day I am only out for three hours.

i heard someone once suggest putting in some well worn clothes of yours, the scent is ment to help settle them. anyone else know if this helps? what about the atomiser things for relaxing them? (sorry forgotten the name, never had a prob with seperation anxiety)

It's like having a baby AGAIN!!  I feel so guilty about leaving him he seems to be going backwards in leaving him, he is nearly two and never been like this before.

Have there been any changes recently, change in work hours, make up of the family etc etc.  Some dogs get very anxious if there is a change to a previous routine.

If not can you pinpoint when this started.  Also could there be anything wrong with his health, sore ears etc.  dogs can be very stoic when something hurts and not show obvious signs of pain but changes in behaviour instead.

Hi the only thing that has changed we have started going away in a caravan taking Buster (my dog) with us whether it is because we are all sleeping in the same room I don't know.  He has just been checked out at the vets for his jab etc so I know he is ok in health.

Have you tried the balls you can add food to?

Anxiety- can you elaborate? the person who said long walks has the answer to your problem!!  never leave them for more than about 3-4 hours, if you have to do this now and then the dog needs the long walk before ( 1 hour) dogs are social pack animals thats why i always keep more than one dog. 

Hi the most buster is left is three hours in a morning and before I go to work I always take him on a long walk for one hour and again when I come home my neighbours said that 5 mins after I have left he will bark for about an hour, but now he is also waking up during the night and crying. During the day I leave him the radio on too. I do not have the room for another dog but I do walk with my friend who has an airdale terrier they get on well and he is a very friendly dog with others.

Is there a certain name that you call them don't want to go in the pet shop and ask the wrong question!

>what about the atomiser things for relaxing them?

A DAP diffuser might help, although it doesn't work instantly.

hi, how much exercise does he get each day , does he get let off lead?

Hi yes he gets lots of exercise altogether nearly 3 hours and we live in the country so where I take him he goes off his lead then back on when we are in the village. I often get comments off people saying how much walking we do!!

A DAP diffuser is that the food ball?

The food ball may be known as a 'Buster cube' (appropriate in your dogs case) and the DAP is a plug in thing that releases 'dog appeasing pheremone' with the aim of calming your dog down.  I think.

So they are two different things :-)

You can also get Dap collars as well :-)

Thanks for that I will ask around

thanks for the info I have just ordered a DAP plug-in  I will try anything once

How do I put a photo of my dog on?

Go onto Options on the menu at the top then Avatar the post your picture. :-)

Thanks for that I will have a go at it when I get home from work.

Just happen to have a photo of him at work!