How to break a dog of whining, crying, barking, etc. when alone?

Question

My neighbors live several houses away from me. They have a large lab that bothers the neighborhood from 8 am until 5pm everyday. He whines, cries and barks ALL DAY LONG in his backyard.

I spoke to my other neighbors and they are going crazy too. A lot of people stay home with their children or work at home. I can hear the dog even when all my windows and doors are shut.

We all wrote the neighbors and told them we are bothered by their dog and to please do something.

The neighbors wrote back and said they use to work at home and now don't, so their dog needs time to adjust to being home alone all day.

It has been 6 weeks and the dog still howls all day.

What can we do? We have a HOA and there are rules (no excessive noise, dog barking, etc.). I am at my wits end- I would like to report them so they have to answer to the HOA board.

Any advice?

Answer 1

Suggest to them that they exercise the dog vigorously before leaving for work.

They can also buy a Kong, stuff it, and freeze it. The dog will be quiet if he's eating!

They might also consider leaving him inside if he's causing so much trouble to the neighbors.

Perhaps a neighbor who stays at home can offer to bring the dog to their place for the day?

If all else fails, consider finding a positive-reinforcement dog trainer in the area to help them deal with the problem.

Answer 2

I would write another letter to them as a second warning, but to also inquire at the same time what steps or measures they are ACTIVELY taking to help curb the dog of its separation anxiety.  If they are doing nothing, by all means, report them to your HOA.

If they are putting in some effort, then make some suggestions.  But the first obvious problem is that they are isolating the dog to the backyard ALL DAY LONG and BY ITSELF.  Isolating a dog to the yard increases separation anxiety and produces a very aggressive dog because he feels he is separated from his 'pack'.  

Second, the dog needs to be walked BEFORE they leave so his mind and body is tired out.  Since it is a lab, it'll probably mean a one hour walk, but a tired dog is a HAPPY dog (which means less inclined to bark)

Next, they need to bring the dog indoors in a room (not the whole house) that the dog is comfortable in, with access to his food and water dish, a favourite toy or chewy, and his bed....with the windows shut.

Finally, get a high value treat, as all these other posters have suggested.  If no one has a nut allergy, natural peanutbutter is the best way to go.  I do the stuffed Kong thing with my bichon as well, and she is too engrossed by the peanutbutter which allows me to close the door and leave for work WITHOUT her making a fuss (and I live in an apartment, surrounded by neighbours!)  Buster Cubes work too, as it keeps the dog occupied getting treats.

If all else fails, then the dog needs a visit from a pet psychiatrist...

Answer 3

recommend that the play soft music when the dog is alone. It will get the feeling that he is being protecting and it might put him to sleep.  

Answer 4

It sounds like the dog has a Seperation Anxiety condition. The dog owners should take their pet to the vet before the animal injuries itself or becomes overly distressed. Perhaps you can report them to animals services, or maybe first ask them to see a vet about their dogs condition. Not only is he disrupting the neighborhood, but he is also being poorly cared for if his owners refuse to acknowledge this problem. The constant whining and howling and fear that his owners will not return is not good for his health. Plus, he might try escape methods which could prove to be hazardous. Hope this helps. Just don't blame the dog too much, blame it's irresponsible owners

Answer 5

the dog MUST BE HEAVILY EXERCISED DAILY.. and the whining will stop

Answer 6

Try using something that is a high end reward that your dog only gets while you are away. I take peanut butter and freeze it in a Kong toy for our foster dog while he's in his crate. This gives him something to do so he's not bored and he gets excited because he knows that when he goes in his crate in the morning before we leave he's going to get a special treat. You can also try "Buster Cubes" which are toys that you can put treats in and they have to knock them around to get the treats out.