Puppy Barking When Left Alone

joshjosh210 on 05/04/2018 - 17:15
Last edited 07/04/2018 - 14:09 by 1 other user

Hi all,

My girlfriend and I recently got a new puppy, an 11 week old Kelpie x Koolie.
We brought him home on Monday and it is currently Thursday (of the same week) and he is constanty barking when left alone or it is time for bed.
We have had him locked up in the laundry at night and also when we have to go out for work (which is about a maximum of 3 hours alone time) and have had him in the backyard pen today while my girlfriend has been doing things inside. We find that once he is left alone he will constantly bark.

I am wondering if this is normal and if so what we can do to combat this?

Regards
Josh

Pets

Comments

  • o53djz7qTPY4der on 05/04/2018 - 17:17
    +26

    If I were your neighbour I'd be furious. Kudos for trying to fix it though.

    I'd suggest some kind of training school.

    As a side note, people who get dogs and then lock them in the laundry when out shouldn't be allowed pets. A dog is as needy as a child. You wouldn't leave the child alone for 3 hours.

    • mskeggs on 05/04/2018 - 18:25
      +86

      You don't know what I am prepared to do to my kids.

      • ozzpete on 06/04/2018 - 16:53

        Leave the puppy in front of TV for 3 hours. Put lassie reruns on :) .
        Plenty of people do this to their kids for a break .

      • Ultraman on 06/04/2018 - 19:19

        Yeah ;) but there's a limit though. The question is would you go past that limit with a pet dog just because it is only a dog?

      • timmeh15 on 08/04/2018 - 01:06

        Play Baby Shark non-stop 12 loop on YouTube of course :)

    • Zedsdeadbabyzedsdead on 06/04/2018 - 06:26

      I have the distinct feeling that OP has bigger problems than puppies.

    • singlemalt72 on 06/04/2018 - 07:48
      +3

      There is a damned big difference between a dog and a child - a puppy or a kitten for that matter will survive totally on it's own if need be from about 4-5 weeks of age.
      What do you suggest when the owners are out? Give it free reign of the house? That is not how you successfully raise a dog. Shutting it in the laundry is no different than a training crate in any other room.

        • Nitro on 06/04/2018 - 09:17
          +26

          If your dog can't be left alone at all, and needs someone with it 24/7, then you have raised it wrong, and you shouldn't be allowed pets…

        • ozzpete on 06/04/2018 - 16:59

          @Nitro: Perhaps hire an attachment psychologist for the puppy. Seems like 'insecure attachment' issue, if it were an infant human (following (Ainsworth& Bowlby theory on infant attchment) .
          Maybe get like an animal whisperer in, if you can OP.
          I might be available, if you are in wollongong area. Lol. I did some animal whispering type stuff with a cat before.

        • Miss B on 06/04/2018 - 18:14

          I was working from home for the first 7 years I had my dog, that job no longer exists. I now have to leave the house to work. She has free run of the house and large backyard and she doesn't bother the neighbours. My housemate's home with her some days, but not every day. In your expert opinion, should I surrender her or have her put down?

    • Therage on 06/04/2018 - 16:43
      +1

      Well I can tell you our puppy who is now 7 years old was in the laundry for the first couple of nights and is left outside by herself 4 days a week from 7am - 4pm and she is just fine. She is inside from the moment we are home, sits on the couch with us, lays on the end of the bed at night and sleeps inside.

      Being involved in the dog foster system and seeing them in the kennels I can tell you that being left at home alone for 4 hours in OPs case is a MUCH better life than most dogs have.

    • poohduck on 06/04/2018 - 17:17
      +6

      Especially a working dog; both kelpy and koolie are working dogs. He's going to go nuts without activity, and lots of it.

  • jbmb on 05/04/2018 - 17:32
    +4

    you can try a clock, that has a loud ticking noise, yeah i no it sounds bad, but seriously it mimicks the mothers heart beat. I did this for my puppies. btw totally normal with the barking, new surroundings and all. do try kong treat toys, anything that stops him being bored. hope this helps

    • Kiz on 06/04/2018 - 21:45
      +4

      We put treats in the Kong and seal it off with peanut butter. We then freeze it. You can then give it to them in the morning.it will keep them entertained and feed them too aswel as slow their quick eating.
      I also found crate training is great.its effectively like a den for them
      When leaving,if you're putting them in the laundry. Do it some time before you leave (like 15 mins or so). That way they won't associate it with you leaving. Same when getting home, don't go straight to them…give it a bit of time after getting home before you see them
      Highly recommend puppy school too, it's not just for the puppy but also for you as a new parent.
      Enjoy your new best friend :)

  • altomic on 05/04/2018 - 17:59
    +25

    I'm just offering my perspective as a neighbour

    my neighbour had a dog.

    bought as a puppy.

    for a year all it would do when she wasn't there was bark.

    I'd be inside and it would bark.
    I'd go out the back door- bark.
    I'd be in my shed - the dog would bark.

    my neighbour would leave for work at 6am and the dog would start barking.

    I saw the neighbour walk the dog once (in 12 months - and I work from home twice a week and my office over looks her front yard).

    once she left the gate open and the dog sprinted out the gate and straight on to the relatively busy road (2 lanes each way).

    dog had no sense.
    owner had no sense (she was a [rude word] idiot)

    I was so happy when she moved out 1 month ago.

    • PR0r on 05/04/2018 - 19:22
      +2

      God that sounds like hell! Glad you've got quiet again :)

    • [Deactivated] on 05/04/2018 - 23:44
      +7

      sorry altomic, thats was my exgf

    • Zedsdeadbabyzedsdead on 06/04/2018 - 06:36
      -5

      Neighbours,
      Everybody needs good neighbours
      Just a friendly wave each morning
      Helps to make a better day

      Neighbours,
      Need to get to know each other
      Next door is only a footstep away

      Neighbours,
      Everybody needs good neighbours
      With a little understanding
      You can find the perfect blend

    • Zenyatta on 08/04/2018 - 15:34

      I'm in a similar situation. The dog is still in the property, however. I keep hoping that one day the gate will be left open. I know the dog is not registered or microchipped so I suspect they would not get it back once it goes missing. I know it isn't the dog's fault. It's untrained, bored, never walked.

  • WTF on 05/04/2018 - 18:03
    +27

    Puppy are like kids. They shouldnt be locked up in a laundry. The puppy is barking because it is lonely and sad. Either make time or give the puppy to someone who has time.

    Sorry to sound harsh but its the truth.

    • lnq on 06/04/2018 - 19:14
      -1

      Dogs can see and sense things normal people can not!

      • tre180 on 07/04/2018 - 09:08
        +4

        Shit, maybe OPs laundry room is haunted!

      • WTF on 07/04/2018 - 14:10
        -1

        WTF ?

  • Quantumcat on 05/04/2018 - 18:04
    +23

    Yes that's normal. You're neglecting it. When you get a new puppy or kitten someone should be home with it all the time for at least a couple of weeks, and take it to puppy preschool etc. You should return it to the breeder or shelter and get an adult dog instead, and take a week's leave from work for it. Or, return it then get another one when you are on holiday for a few weeks anyway for example around Christmas/new year.

    • Randxyz123 on 06/04/2018 - 07:57
      +3

      It doesn’t work like that. You can’t just return a puppy.

      Grow up and take a week off work to help him settle in

      • Quantumcat on 06/04/2018 - 09:41
        +8

        If you bought from a responsible breeder - yes you can. Good breeders care about the welfare of their animals.
        If you bought from a shelter - yes you can. Shelters exist because they care about animal welfare.
        If you bought from a backyard breeder - probably not. They may not care about the welfare of their animals.

        Do you get all your animals from backyard breeders?

        And it would take more than a week to settle in a new puppy.

        • Randxyz123 on 06/04/2018 - 10:23
          +1

          Sorry should’ve been clearer yes a good breeder will take him back but probably never sell a dog to you again.

  • chumlee on 05/04/2018 - 18:36
    +7

    Hot pot

    • kahn on 05/04/2018 - 20:45
      +17

      That's awful! At least provide a recipe.

    • freakatronic on 06/04/2018 - 15:52

      Working dogs are too stringy

      • poohduck on 06/04/2018 - 17:19
        +1

        The poor bugger hasn't had a chance to get stringy. Working dogs that work are too stringy.

  • kipps on 05/04/2018 - 18:53
    +41

    Don’t buy a dog to lock it up in a laundry during the day and at night.

    You got a working dog breed. Why would you get one if you’re not giving it space?

    They need attention, particularly during the early days.

    What about walks? Play time? What are you doing to wear out the dog?

    • Quantumcat on 05/04/2018 - 20:14
      +11

      +1 for noticing it is a working dog breed, someone I know has a border collie and two walks a day that include throwing a ball for it at an oval for half an hour are barely enough to wear it out

      • Procyon on 07/04/2018 - 09:47
        +3

        Same thing - I have a kelpie, and regularly take him on intensive hikes/runs through nature reserves. When we get home he frantically runs around the house to find his toys because he wants to continue playing! Luckily we also have a friendly cat that keeps his inner desire to herd things occupied.

    • Wallyt99 on 07/04/2018 - 10:10
      +3

      Exactly. Kelpie / Collie cross needs a farm not a bloody laundry.

    • [Deactivated] on 07/04/2018 - 15:14
      +1

      +1 to this. You get a working dog and take it away from it's litter, you can't just lock it away in the laundry and hope it will take care of itself.

      We have a five month old border collie, raised it since it was ten weeks. My husband and I took 2 weeks off each (me first, then him) to adjust the dog, train it and get him used to the house and backyard. We also took him to puppy school one night a week for five weeks.

      Now that he's fully vaccinated, I take him for a walk in the morning, do training, play with him then go to work - he's left in a big backyard with plenty of toys to play with and I hide treats for him to sniff out. We repeat the same in the evening (walk, training, play etc). On weekend mornings we go to the local dog park so he can run and socialise with other dogs.

      As a result, we have a very happy dog who sleeps through the night and rarely barks. Not saying you need to go to all that effort - but if you get a working breed, you need to be active and know what you're getting into.

  • crentist on 05/04/2018 - 18:56

    few years back i moved into a new spot with my dog, around 9 years old at the time. we had lived in one place until then, and there was other family and people staying with us most of the time. the new place was just me and the dog. it was an apartment, so i wanted to be cautious about disruption

    he barked sometimes but not too much, until moving. suddenly anytime i stepped out the door he would sit at the door and bark for ages. he was distressed and made me distressed. i set up a webcam one day and saw him sitting at the door almost an hour after i left, still barking. once i pushed the couch into the hallway to block him in the back of the apartment (and not lock him up in a bedroom) and when i came home he had somehow scaled the back of the couch (tiny dog, tall couch) and i never tried it again. it was hard to leave home during this time, because of concern for the dog and the neighbours

    after a few weeks he settled down and was okay. just the new surroundings and such. main thing is to spend time with them, and make sure they get plenty of walks and exercise. dogs that bark a lot tend to be ones that never get outside at all, or spend too much alone.

    dog wants to stay close to you because he doesnt know whats going on. let him, until he gets more comfortable

    • H E B on 06/04/2018 - 08:50
      +1

      It depends. Some dogs will be fine but others won't ever adjust if you don't put in the work.

      It's like parenting I don't think it's fair to criticise other people's style of parenting.

      Is it fair to allow a baby to cry left unattended in a cot in the middle of the night in order to teach it to learn it's ok, it's in a safe environment it doesn't need to be attached and dependent? This doesn't mean you are just neglecting the baby obviously.

      I would agree and suggest if the OP is going to leave it unattended for periods at a time to have a monitor or something and be close by in case the puppy gets into problems.

      3hours for a brand new puppy is not ideal, especially in the first week but at least it's not for the whole day. Eventually it will likely have to get used to the concept of being left alone for 3 hours at a time or be a confident pup by itself. It's tough love bordering neglect but if a puppy has food, a proper method to relieve itself (possible in a locked laundry) and it sleeps most the time that it's left alone to be destructive. What's the basic difference between that and crate training?

      • aspirepranesh on 06/04/2018 - 16:34

        Personally for me, I would pick a crate over a locked laundry anyday. Based on the dogs I have had in the past, my experience with the current one and numerous people I have talked to, I find that dogs find a crate more like a den which becomes their safe place and it calms them once they get used to it.

        Our dog automatically becomes quiet when he is in his crate along with his couple of soft toys and prefers to be left alone.The crate is set up next to our bed. Also, I have learnt that he doesnt pee inside his crate since its his safe spot. Like you said, each to their own. but I dont see any harm in spending $50 on a crate which becomes a safe spot for a family member.

  • [Deactivated] on 05/04/2018 - 19:00
    +16

    "We have had him locked up in the laundry at night"…..

    there's your problem right there.

    you should have got a goldfish if you can't provide the attention a dog needs.

    • Zedsdeadbabyzedsdead on 06/04/2018 - 06:40
      +5

      I wouldn't trust OP with a butter knife yet alone a goldfish…

  • Randxyz123 on 05/04/2018 - 19:42

    Can you or your gf work from home ? Or arrange to work from home ? For the next month at least?

    Or do crate training and have him in the main area of the house.

    What about the backyard is it fenced ? Can you get it fenced ?

  • barginhunter11 on 05/04/2018 - 19:44

    there is so much to learn about puppies .
    They still need a lot of sleep.
    The puppie has just left its pack and now has to adjust to you being the pack leader.

    research crate training.

    It didnt work for us , so we set the crate up in our ensuite so she could see us at first , then closed the door more and more each night.

    Then we moved her to her own area in the lounge , she was set up in a baby gated area , its her space and she sleeps 830pm to 7am not a peep. We have no removed the gate and it is her area.

  • ms_caz on 05/04/2018 - 19:58
    +6

    When our lab was a puppy, he didn't really bark - but by goodness did he destroy things. Inside and out - our place was chewed to pieces. He was walked and schooled etc but was alone for about 3 or 4 hours a day and this was usually when he went on a rampage - but not one night! We had just decided that a companion was in order and we would start to search for one when we woke up that morning to find he had basically eaten the coffee table and the back of the sofa. Fortunately for us, another labrador of the same age was available that day at the RSPCA. Both dogs were introduced and got along perfectly. Dog 2 came home with us that day, and from then on the problems diminished. Luckily we had a large backyard, and with space to run around and play bitey face, lots of toys, and daily walks and boredom busters, we made it through to the end of the terrible twos. Dogs slept locked in the laundry, by the way, but they had a strict bedtime routine and knew that laundry was time to settle down.

    TL/DR: Dogs need companionship. This could be a human or another dog.

    **Dogs need to be involved with you and whatever you are doing. Take your dog with you wherever possible - heading out in the car to run an errand? - take the dog with you. They can happily sit in the car for a short time (depending on the weather of course). Pack the lead and a poo bag and walk them round the block near where your errand is. It only has to take a few minutes, but it gives them new smells to process and keeps their mind occupied.

    *** and a Kelpie/Koolie is going to need to run and to work. They will need lots of physical exercise but also LOTS of mental training and stimulation - games, teach it tricks etc. It needs an occupation, not just to be a yard ornament.

  • dcep on 05/04/2018 - 19:59
    +1

    "We have had him locked up in the laundry… …so what we can do to combat this?"

    Get another puppy for him/her as companion.

  • JIMB0 on 05/04/2018 - 20:16
    +3

    I have a neighbour that got a puppy which was barking a lot. Turns out it was lonely and scared as they seem to leave it outside on its own. At first it would bark at me when I was in my backyard, but I made friends with it and now it is happy to see me for a pat. Giving it some attention once or twice a day seems to keep it relatively quiet.

  • lbsyc on 05/04/2018 - 21:06

    Check out reddit's puppy101 subreddit wiki, it covers a lot of what to and not to do things when having a puppy. You should find your answer there.
    https://www.reddit.com/r/puppy101/wiki/index

  • Iamnotcheap on 05/04/2018 - 21:22
    +9

    I am a dog owner, and we got two pups specifically for this reason. To have someone with them when we out at work. It’s truely sad to hear that you have it in the laundry. As many have mentioned you should really consider if a dog is for you. As it sounds like it’s almost a burden on you given you locking it in pens etc when you at home. That’s truely neglect right there…

    However judgement aside, you need to take it to puppy school, and then maintain doggy school for at least 6 months after that. They will help you train the dog to be comfortable on its own. Also it’s recommended to take your dog walks, probably before work and when you get home, this should deplete their energy, which will minimise their alone time activity and subsequent barking.

  • joshjosh210 on 05/04/2018 - 21:34
    +14

    Thank you for all of the comments, except maybe hot pot?

    I want to clear a few things up,
    Firstly I am aware of the Kelpies need for exercises and work. I've done a bit of research and my parents have had a Kelpie before. I plan to walk/run the dog daily as well as take it on mountain biking and dirt biking adventure.
    Secondly we certainly don't mean to ignore it or not give it attention but we both have work, it is left alone for a maximum of 3 hours. It was in the yard today as my girlfriend had to work on her uni study. This didn't work out, so we plan to drop the dog off at my parents to be baby sat along with their dog.

    We do have a backyard, which I have just 'puppy proofed' yesterday so it spent an hour or two running around and playing today, and then took a visit to my parents to get even more energy out of its system.

    We have also decided to attempt to crate train it, I have borrowed a solution and I am very happy with it so far, the dog is asleep without any issues at the moment. It has allowed for more background noise and a ticking clock which we are also trying.

    Thanks!

    • Iamnotcheap on 05/04/2018 - 21:53

      Also leave a radio on for you dog with classical music. It’s proven to destress dogs. We do this when we out and expect other loud items in the neighbourhood (like parties or at New Years).

    • Quantumcat on 05/04/2018 - 22:56

      Glad you have a baby sitting solution for it. Best of luck with your new dog.

    • markb28 on 05/04/2018 - 23:39
      +1

      Thats a step in the right direction. Our schnauzer was very anxious when we left the house as a puppy and howled, we sorted this with a Kong which is a dog toy that dispenses treats.

      He then started to associate us leaving him alone with the treats and calmed down and stopped howling completely. He ate all the treats and then went to bed until we came home (or followed the cat around).

      https://www.kongcompany.com/kongsolutions/separation-anxiety…

      Puppy school and socialisation is also a must. It was a nightmare between 2 - 6 months, then it got way better once toilet training and anxiety was nailed.

      Hang in there and keep up the exercise, makes a big difference.

    • Zedsdeadbabyzedsdead on 06/04/2018 - 06:50
      +5

      "I plan to walk/run the dog daily"

      You're supposed to plan in advance then actually do it Josh.

    • aspirepranesh on 06/04/2018 - 09:40
      +1

      Here is my recommended list for the first 2-3 months of having a new puppy (after having ours for 3 months now) :

      • Crate (to sleep at night or have a safe place if/when he/she needs to have)
      • Play pen (you have a back yard, so thats fine)
      • Chew Toys
      • Tug toys (they only come out for a tug or fetch session)
      • Chewable natural meat (puppies love it and will be extremely good for their teething). These could keep them engaged for sure.
      • Kong toys where you can stuff treats or pea nut butter… this will stimulate their brains and keep them engaged for a while
      • 2 or 3 walks a day
      • atleast 2 play sessions
      • basic training sessions with treats (& a clicker maybe) to learn sit/stay/down. Dont push the pups too early as they have a very limited attention span.
      • plenty of socialising when they're young with people, animals and kids (after their 2nd vaccination of course).
    • freakatronic on 06/04/2018 - 15:57

      Daily? OP my dog's legs are two inches long but I walk him three times a day. For a kelpie (if you want him to behave) you'll need to do the same. Maybe half an hour for each walk.

  • Donaldhump on 06/04/2018 - 08:33

    When you were a baby and your parents left you alone did you cry?

    What did you expect it to do, chill out and relax?

  • aspirepranesh on 06/04/2018 - 08:44
    +1

    We got out Cairn Terrier when he was about 10 weeks old on Dec 31. The first week was a bit hard on him as well as us, because he was adjusting to the new environment, the noises and the smells. He was born in a farm and spent his initial 10 weeks with 3 of his siblings as well as his parents and a few elder dogs. So naturally when we left him alone he was barking and crying.

    Luckily, I work from home and I made it a habit of being home most of the time and if both my wife and I had to go out, we put him in daycare (after his 2nd vaccination).

    One thing we learnt, if he has his 20 minute walk in the morning and an other 20 minute play time, with tug of war and fetch, it takes out a lot of his energy. And we give him enough chew toys/bones for him to engage himself with.

    He is 5 months old now, and I have been training him to Speak and be quiet and he seems to catch on. He barks a bit and cries when we leave, but he sorta engages himself straight away with this chew stuff or goes to sleep.

    If it is less than 4 hours on his own, we let him alone in the balcony with all his stuff and we monitor him via a camera. If it is anything longer, we put him in day care for the day. It's also a good way to socialize him when he is young and gets him used to being away from us.

    In relation to crate training, I highly recommend you train him when he is young and get him comfortable with it. Dogs dont go potty in their safe place, so you are better off putting him in his crate at night and also when you go out briefly so he feels safe and also wont pee/poo inside, which he may most certainly do in the laundry.

    One thing I would recommend big time: on youtube, there is a guy named Zak George ( https://www.youtube.com/user/zakgeorge21 ), please do watch his videos if you can. They helped us big time.

    let me know if you've any further questions. happy to help. Cheers.

    • H E B on 06/04/2018 - 08:52

      Cairn Terrier. I remember you! You guys did a lot of research before deciding on this breed and was renting or something at the time in an apartment.

      Yeah agreed, let out some steam, tire it out then leave it alone to sleep.

      • aspirepranesh on 06/04/2018 - 08:56

        Spot on! good memory my friend :)

        and certainly. We live in an apartment and now have the dog with the owner's permission and have had an inspection since we got him and they are extremely happy with the condition. Gets his 2 or sometimes 3 walks a day and about two 20 min play sessions everyday which is plenty to get him to sleep most of the time.

        One of tenants in the apartment block has got a 6 month old kelpie puppy and they are almost on the same schedule and both of them are very well behaved when left alone!

        • H E B on 06/04/2018 - 08:58

          Yeah you guys sounded super prepared with things and even offered the owners extra money and bond or something right?

          Glad it's working out. Good work the first few months are tough right. At least you got some work done? Pups are very cute and distracting hey.

        • aspirepranesh on 06/04/2018 - 09:02

          @Heb: yea! we have put down $3000 deposit, but we are comfortable that we will get it back if he keeps up with his behavior.

          It's certainly a good work out during the first few months so far. But he keeps us engaged right from waking up at 5.30 am every morning. Now we have a reason to go out and be more active. We have had him in pre school just for the fun of it so that he could socialise with other pups.

          He loves kids and other dogs… and is almost happy to stay at day care if we dont go to pick him up! lol

    • Starlight8 on 07/04/2018 - 07:49

      May i ask you which camera you have? Cheers

  • H E B on 06/04/2018 - 08:54

    I recommend the OP sort out some consistency with the pup and how that ties into their personal work/life balance. I'd try and a few more days of work initially to get this right. Puppies can be terribly terribly hard work. Sending it to parents and then expecting it to readjust at home when it's still very young might not necessarily guarantee results with barking /anxiety if your parents are going to baby it 24/7.

    I try and make sure everything is consistent for at least the first 2 months till it gets into the groove but again, that's just how I do it everyone is different.

    Let the haters hate.

    • aspirepranesh on 06/04/2018 - 08:58

      I second this. Changing his environment too soon wont help him learn or get used to the situation. Puppies need consistency in their environment and training for at least 6 months.

  • clloyd on 06/04/2018 - 10:30

    I am very impressed that you are trying to stop the barking.
    I have a barking dog on one side and it drives me crazy.

  • chichi on 06/04/2018 - 11:35

    I just googled the dog you have and it appears to be a working dog. You say you had the dog outside in a pen? So you don't have a proper backyard - is that correct?

    Oh never mind I just read your reply above.

  • [Deactivated] on 06/04/2018 - 14:58
    +3

    Like most 20 year olds you have limited exposure to what we call 'life'.
    A dog is not a toy to be played with when you feel like it then locked away like a X Box.
    It is a living, breathing animal with needs and emotions that you seem to be unaware of.
    You've been together for 6 years. If you need 'something else' in your lives then maybe make it something inanimate.

  • bumheadboi on 06/04/2018 - 15:36
    +1

    puppy school. Its for them and you.

  • ronnknee on 06/04/2018 - 15:54

    We have had him locked up in the laundry

    Maybe that's why.

  • L0new0lf on 06/04/2018 - 16:02

    This may sound random, my wife and I had the same problem with our pup and we played some puppy calming music on Youtube which worked a treat :)

  • TransportPosters on 06/04/2018 - 16:17
    +1

    The pattern I see is that dogs which are "problems" simply don't get walked, socialised and stimulated mentally enough. Start doing this at the young age and you'll make yourself a great family member.

    You've got half a kelpie there, a very active, smart and persistent personality (I've had two). It needs a lot of exercise, and then some more after that.

  • [Deactivated] on 06/04/2018 - 16:26

    should of just rented a pet at www.petsovernight.com

  • MessyG on 06/04/2018 - 16:43
    +4

    Hold on, you bought a working dog and you both work full time? What possessed you to buy this particular breed? An hour or two a day wont cut it - these dogs are working all day in their natural environment. The kindest thing you can do is give the dog to someone with acreage and buy a more suitable breed for your lifestyle, or, not at all if you're both working full time. If you must keep them, I would walk them in the morning, the evening, and hire a dogwalker as well. It might sound extreme but it's half a kelpie ffs, and it's not like koolie's are housepets either.

    • o53djz7qTPY4der on 06/04/2018 - 18:01
      +3

      I agree. Those who work full-time and expect their pet to just tolerate being locked up all day are misguided and selfish.

    • TransportPosters on 08/04/2018 - 19:50
      +1

      There's a dog off-leash park right near my house and every time I am going out or coming home, I swear a guy with a kelpie is always there throwing the ball for it, and it always drops everything to chase my car along the fence! They need so much exercise or they are a danger to the property they are contained in, and thus a danger to themselves!

  • neosin on 06/04/2018 - 16:43

    buy some treats from woolworths like the hide/pig ears. Give it as a treat when you leave, dogs will chew on it for hours and keep them busy :)

    worked for my boy when he was young :)

  • itsdougie on 06/04/2018 - 17:21
    +3

    Lend puppy to op with 'Live in Apartment and Neighbour Smoking What to Do?'

  • roundnumbersonly on 06/04/2018 - 18:52

    Get another dog so there's a buddy to keep them occupied. Just make sure they're both desexed.

  • marquise on 06/04/2018 - 19:11

    You need to call Dr Harry

  • oscargamer on 06/04/2018 - 19:40

    Get another puppy to keep it sane

  • srcc1 on 06/04/2018 - 20:59

    Your puppy is still young so you can easily train him to not bark as much. Especially when indoors it's a little easier without any distractions (people at the gate,..)

    First of all you should get a crate to get him comfortable. Dogs like to have their little "cave" in which they sleep and are safe. Don't let anyone tell you that it's a cruel thing. My dog absolutely loved his crate after a few week. Look online how to do proper crate training and make it as much of a pleasant experience as possible (positive reinforcement is key!). Start with 30 seconds in the create without crying, barking, scratching and always stay positive and reward. Don't tell the dog off, he won't understand it anyway. Once a reward such as playing or a treat is involved, he'll know what's good behaviour. 3 hours of alone time is not too bad for a puppy and especially as it's a working dog it sounds better than a whole day by himself. Just make sure you get the crate (link below) and do proper training. He'll know that create means safety, time out and sleeping he should be calm for the time when you're not home.

    http://www.kmart.com.au/product/folding-pet-crate/1640348?gc…

    Barking is another issue. Look up the rattle bottle (coins in a plastic bottle). Another thing where people think it's cruel but it's simply a distraction.

    Best advise I can give is puppy training. We did it every Sunday for a year which can get quite expensive ($20 each time) but it's so worth it. Can highly recommend http://www.positivek9training.com.au/ if you are in the Melbourne area.

    Edit: Even consider taking a week off work for your puppy. He deserves it and you can train him a lot in that time

  • DarwinBoy on 06/04/2018 - 22:07

    Lots been said in the comments but no one has mentioned this stuff yet https://www.adaptil.com/au/Adaptil/Adaptil-Collar
    Good luck anyway. The first 6 months make a dog for life so do it right. Lots of people will keep their puppies away from other dogs and dog parks in fear of parvo till its had its full set of vacinations but the dog losses out on key socialisation skills in that time. Hopefully it mixes well with your parents dog and any others you are comfortable socialising with.

  • TheBilly on 07/04/2018 - 07:28
    -5

    Slap it, if it barks again slap it again … Back in the day you could slap kids. Those kids that got slapped back then went on to purchase all of Sydney and Melbournes prime property causing a shortage in supply and hence a property boom. Making many slapped kids and their unslapped shitty offspring became millionaires later in life. Negative to positive.

  • joshjosh210 on 07/04/2018 - 07:34
    +1

    Hi guys, another small update since this has had a lot of comments on it..

    1. We have began 'crate training' the problem and this has instantly solved the problem of him crying at bed time, we have him in a crate near us (we plan to move it away as he gets more comfortable) but since being in the crate he hasn't made a noise at night. We are really happy with this, he is also rather happy to sit in the crate while we do something without him around if he can see us.

    2. We have purchased him more toys including a 'Kong' style toy to hide treats in and I saw a comment here about a pigs ear or the likes, I will look into these today. This is the first time he has been alone since I posted this and he seems a lot more happier, still barking but a lot less. (Currently in the laundry, don't want the crate to be a 'bad' exprience but he does have his toys, bed, water, etc).

    3. He spent yesterday socializing with my parents, sister and their dogs and had a great time, boy was he tired out!

    To address a few comments here,
    1. We don't really have space, money or time for another dog so it isn't on the cards at this exact point in time. But he does get lots of socialization!

    1. We can't yet take him for a walk or out as he is not yet fully vaccinated as he is not old enough. Once he is he will certainly be walked daily at a minimum.

    2. There are no puppy schools or care in my area, so something like this is not really an option.

    Thank you for all the comments!

    • chrisd262 on 07/04/2018 - 11:58

      He needs to be taken on walks asap! If you keep to the street etc all OK just avoid dog parks. Mine have been taken out after 8 weeks.
      What are you concerned about him catching?

      Go to cafes, sit outside schools etc. If you leave it too long you will have an aggressive unsociable dog.
      This is one of the main reasons why they get dumped when the puppy novelty wears off.

      • DarwinBoy on 07/04/2018 - 21:09

        Parvo virus is a real threat to puppies till fully vacinated as the virus can lay dormat in the ground for years. If puppies catch it then they will most certainly die from it and its a gruesome way to go.
        The issue that arrises from people waitimg till their dog is fully vacinated before visitng dog parks amd other areas is that they are not properly socialised at the key time of their social development potentially causing behavioural issues.

        • chrisd262 on 08/04/2018 - 10:53

          When I asked my vet how many pups with Parvo had he seen in the last year - answer was zero.
          I have always done major street walks, coffee shops etc with my pups - if careful where you go should be OK
          Parvo is only transmitted by dog faeces?

        • DarwinBoy on 08/04/2018 - 10:59

          @chrisd262: i work with animals up here in Darwin and its infrequent but not unheard of. The vets up here are all well aware of it.
          I would conpare it to measles but worse transmission wise. If you know a property had parvo you would be crazy to take a pup there anytine within 12 months.

    • bl1027 on 07/04/2018 - 13:51

      To give you context, my boyfriend and I both work full time and our dog is alone inside and outside the house by himself for 8 hours a day without issues. He just sleeps, plays and wees. I know this because I had set up cameras to monitor him. The fact is, people have commitments. Don't let other people tell you that's its cruel and likening a dog to a baby. They're not the same!

      But! You have to train your dog to be OK on its own and thus not bark and be destructive. Walks and involving them in family activities is also crucial.

      But specific to your issue, continue giving him alone time with a kong etc and gradually extend the time that he is alone. Practice 'leaving the house' and come back after 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes. Literally, give a Kong, you and your gf leave the house, walk down the drive way, wait, then 'come home'. Don't make a big deal when you leave and come home.

      Look up activities to give your dog to occupy itself when alone.

      • MessyG on 07/04/2018 - 18:18

        I still think it's cruel to buy a kelpie x and lock it up all day. Of all the breeds you could choose, that would have to be the worst for that situation.

  • solidussnake on 07/04/2018 - 08:09

    Sounds like its suffering from Separation Anxiety,

    My brothers German Shepard did that at the start (10) weeks I think. Need to take to puppy school ASAP.

    Edit just read theres no schools in your area, that animal is going to be apart of your life why would you get an animal and not train it properly wow !

  • syousef on 07/04/2018 - 10:10

    How well would you do if you were locked in solitary confinement against your will for hours at a time?

    I've always kept dogs in pairs. I'm a busy person and we're a busy family. My wife has a dog phobia which is far from ideal. I don't always have time to walk or play with my dogs, so call me neglectful if you like. They are fed twice a day (not once - I've found this keeps them calmer), and I involve the kids most nights in feeding, they sleep indoors and spend their days outdoors. They are vaccinated and wormed on time every time. I also found the time to train them. They do occasionally bark but they know the command "quiet!" and on the occasions they don't shut up and I'm at home they're brought inside.

    I'm wondering what people saying you shouldn't own a dog if you're busy do for a living that gives them copious amounts of time at home with their pets. Most people work 40-50 hours minimum and have commitments outside of work too.

  • ProjectZero on 07/04/2018 - 14:09

    Take it to puppy school, it may sound like its a waste of money, but they help you train your puppies and they give you tips as to how to train them going forward.

  • Joshman5k on 08/04/2018 - 08:32

    A few suggestions:
    You need to ease him out. Leave him alone for 10 minutes and wait for him to stop barking and then visit him, increase the time each iteration. He needs to lose the connection beteeen barking and seeing you.
    Leave him a food toy like a kong to keep him entertained and distracted.
    Puppy preschool, the trainer will have a lot of answers and strategies.

  • Misterbumpy on 08/04/2018 - 09:50

    Gosh, my neighbor across the street just bought a puppy almost a month ago and it barks constantly during the day and most of the night. I hope you’re not my neighbour! :-/

  • rollypollym on 08/04/2018 - 09:51

    Sounds like separation anxiety. Google how to deal with this. Our dog had this but it is better now. Key is to distract when leaving with a toy, feed using a kong Wobbler, bone etc.

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