This weekend we put up a kennel and run for our Labrador dog to keep him enclosed and safe when we need to leave him. He spent the weekend running in and out of it, playing in it and eating in it. He seems quite happy until we leave the garden. We stand in the kitchen with the back door open so he can see and hear us but he just barks an howls. He was only left in for short periods of time and only let out during a quiet period. Also, when he is barking he is still wagging his tail and so giving us mixed messages. So that we don't have all our neighbours hating us do any of you have solutions that we may try? Thanks in advance, Rachel

The old water pistol trick.
But if your inside may be a bigger one aimed from upstairs window.
Do not let the dog see you when he barks fire the water.
Works for me but you have to be persistent.
Also while your out with the dog save his favorate toys for when you leave. Leave him long enough so he can have the time to stop barking and get used to being alone.

I have a kennel and run, and it only gets used for the girls to sleep in, and a safe area for puppies to play when I have them. If your dog is a housdog it may be quite difficult to get him to accept being in there whe he would rather be with you. He may be quiet when he knows you are gone, after he gets used to it, or on the other hand he may bark whenever he hears any of the neighbours or passersby. the only way you will know is if you enlist the help of a neighbour to tell you if he barks when you are out.

For this reason my dogs are shut in the kitchen with the radio on, to prevent them reacting to outside stimulus while I am out. You have to think of the neighbours, as if your dog gets to be noisy you could have problems!