Aa
Barking & howling while seperated
My mum's new dog Spencer is a 5 month old Welsh Springer Spaniel. He will bark and howl for hours every day when he is separated from my mum. She has tried a lot of things to stop the behaviour but nothing is working. Any advice would be great.
A brief back story:
Mum got him just before Christmas and had to bring him on the family holiday for 2 weeks over Christmas. During this time he had 12 adults, 4 children and 4 other dogs to play with. This made it hard to toilet train and obedience train him as he wasn't in his own home and he had too many people around him.
After the holiday, my mum had her house painted which meant Spencer had to stay inside most of the time as the painter never closed the gates around the house.
Now, he hates spending time outside alone and will follow my mum around the house everywhere she goes. He howls when mum & dad are out and if he is locked outside when they are home. He actually howls worse when he is put out while they are home.
The things mum has tried to stop him howling are:
Spanking him with a newspaper.
Spraying him with diluted vinegar (he loves water and loves playing with it so straight water didn't work).
Increasing his access to toys.
Locking him out for short periods with a timer. She praises and lets him in when the timer goes off.
General separation from her during the day by shutting doors behind her, etc
Muzzle
Shock collar (worked for a split second but now he has adjusted to the shock and just howls through it.
A brief back story:
Mum got him just before Christmas and had to bring him on the family holiday for 2 weeks over Christmas. During this time he had 12 adults, 4 children and 4 other dogs to play with. This made it hard to toilet train and obedience train him as he wasn't in his own home and he had too many people around him.
After the holiday, my mum had her house painted which meant Spencer had to stay inside most of the time as the painter never closed the gates around the house.
Now, he hates spending time outside alone and will follow my mum around the house everywhere she goes. He howls when mum & dad are out and if he is locked outside when they are home. He actually howls worse when he is put out while they are home.
The things mum has tried to stop him howling are:
Spanking him with a newspaper.
Spraying him with diluted vinegar (he loves water and loves playing with it so straight water didn't work).
Increasing his access to toys.
Locking him out for short periods with a timer. She praises and lets him in when the timer goes off.
General separation from her during the day by shutting doors behind her, etc
Muzzle
Shock collar (worked for a split second but now he has adjusted to the shock and just howls through it.
Not sure if you've found a way to resolve this yet or not, but here's a simple tip/bit of training advice (in addition to the useful ones about NEVER rewarding anxiety/yelping and never spanking or spraying the dog):
have your mom try tethering the dog to a pole outside or something stable inside. Have her leave the room or just walk away and come back when the dog is quiet. Do this for short periods of time in addition to other training sessions to keep him stimulated. Using the principles of never rewarding for a behavior you don't want and always rewarding behaviors you do want is a good way to train your dog. It's easiest for them to learn what we want them to do, not what we don't want them to do. (I.e. punishment doesn't work and rewarding for the appropriate behaviors does). So, have your mom praise the dog with whatever is most motivating to him (petting, treats, etc) when he is quiet and make sure she NEVER rewards him for yelping/barking.
have your mom try tethering the dog to a pole outside or something stable inside. Have her leave the room or just walk away and come back when the dog is quiet. Do this for short periods of time in addition to other training sessions to keep him stimulated. Using the principles of never rewarding for a behavior you don't want and always rewarding behaviors you do want is a good way to train your dog. It's easiest for them to learn what we want them to do, not what we don't want them to do. (I.e. punishment doesn't work and rewarding for the appropriate behaviors does). So, have your mom praise the dog with whatever is most motivating to him (petting, treats, etc) when he is quiet and make sure she NEVER rewards him for yelping/barking.
Sorry, with the dog being 5 months I'd check with the breeder whether and for how long you should run him.
I have a welsh springer who is a year and a half, and he has also had separation anxiety issues on and off. The breed are known as "velcro" dogs and take the usual spaniel-owner devotion to the extreme! (it is common for them to shadow their owner around the house).
Welsh springers are beautiful and loving, but not low maintenance it must be said. They are active, sensitive and inquisitive - they want to be part of everything and hate missing the action (even if it's someone doing the garden or cleaning the floor). Most owners are devoted to them and say they are the perfect dog, but when quizzed confess they have howled at some point when left alone. We met an owner he told us their welsh springer frequently hid in the back of the car to not miss out on family trips.
The above post by MrsAristotle is good advice in my opinion! A tactic which has worked for us is wear the dog out with a good walk/run (45 min twice daily as a minimum) before you leave. I think agility, tracking and endurance are good options too, because they give the dog a mental and physical challenge, which is what he might need.
Although it has loads of other benefits in terms of general behaviour, obedience training doesn't have much impact on separation anxiety. Our dog is successfully obedience trained and fine off leash but it hasn't cured him. The tendancy to anxiety is more a neurotic than a conscious behaviour, and for that reason it is a really difficult habit to break.
Your Mum's tactic of using gates, doors etc to stop him following her around during the day is a good one. I would think it is helping to condition him out of his behaviour - some other approaches as the response above suggests are a regime of planned exits/isolation starting at a few minutes, and then when the dog is fine with that moving onto half hour, hour, half day etc.
Another point is not to reward any symptoms of anxiety/attention seeking when you are around, even subtle ones, by giving attention. Ignoring is loads of punishment for a welsh springer, spanking and yelling are a big no, no for this "soft" breed. They may grow to mistrust you.
Yes, perhaps instal a dog door if the dog is outside. Also the breed is not recommended for people who work long hours or have hectic shedules - this might be a barrier to long-term improvement in his behaviour. If not an issue, that is a great point in your Mum's favour.
All the above are working well for us at the moment - hope this helps :)
Welsh springers are beautiful and loving, but not low maintenance it must be said. They are active, sensitive and inquisitive - they want to be part of everything and hate missing the action (even if it's someone doing the garden or cleaning the floor). Most owners are devoted to them and say they are the perfect dog, but when quizzed confess they have howled at some point when left alone. We met an owner he told us their welsh springer frequently hid in the back of the car to not miss out on family trips.
The above post by MrsAristotle is good advice in my opinion! A tactic which has worked for us is wear the dog out with a good walk/run (45 min twice daily as a minimum) before you leave. I think agility, tracking and endurance are good options too, because they give the dog a mental and physical challenge, which is what he might need.
Although it has loads of other benefits in terms of general behaviour, obedience training doesn't have much impact on separation anxiety. Our dog is successfully obedience trained and fine off leash but it hasn't cured him. The tendancy to anxiety is more a neurotic than a conscious behaviour, and for that reason it is a really difficult habit to break.
Your Mum's tactic of using gates, doors etc to stop him following her around during the day is a good one. I would think it is helping to condition him out of his behaviour - some other approaches as the response above suggests are a regime of planned exits/isolation starting at a few minutes, and then when the dog is fine with that moving onto half hour, hour, half day etc.
Another point is not to reward any symptoms of anxiety/attention seeking when you are around, even subtle ones, by giving attention. Ignoring is loads of punishment for a welsh springer, spanking and yelling are a big no, no for this "soft" breed. They may grow to mistrust you.
Yes, perhaps instal a dog door if the dog is outside. Also the breed is not recommended for people who work long hours or have hectic shedules - this might be a barrier to long-term improvement in his behaviour. If not an issue, that is a great point in your Mum's favour.
All the above are working well for us at the moment - hope this helps :)
Believe it or not dogs are very sociable animals they love being with people.
Put yourself in the dogs place.
You love your mum and she banishes you outside and wont let you in shuts the door on you.
What would you do? The reason why he howls more when he is locked outside and they are in is obvious.....he wants to be with them.....like you would.....simple. Its not good for him he thinks he is being punished.
Firstly as well Springer Spaniels are working dogs they need a lot of walking and attention and things to do.......
Is Spencer going out for long walks?
First thing in the morning, and then in the evening.
Its always best to make sure the dog is well walked BEFORE your mum goes out and leaves him.
Introduce him to intelligent toys for dogs, the ones where they have to find their food hidden behind little doors and things you can buy them on Ebay or any good pet shop and a kong too......it keeps them occupied and they have to WORK for their food. IF these are introduced now he will then get used to playing with them and when your mum does go out she can give him one to play with.
How to retrain well she has a lot to do. NEVER SPANK a dog. Thats the first thing you will just make the dog fearful which is an even worse problem.
I would start with the following me around the house first.
You say he can down ... stay. Start with this. DOWN .. STAY, and she walks backwards towards the door. HOLD this....and reward if he does it right. Keep doing this until she can walk out of that door but can still see him but keep the hold longer....and eventually he will get the idea he has to stay until his reward............It does work but takes patience and eventually she will be able to just walk through the house without him following.
Next step going out.
Get coat and car keys. USE DOWN STAY LEAVE toy. Walk out count to 5 and then go back in and take coat off and reward the dog BUT DONT FUSS. Keep doing this but extend the time you leave the house.
HOWEVER, make sure before you start this training the dog is well exercised....
One of the important things too is when your mum comes home she musnt FUSS the dog....you know .... fuss fuss oh poor spencer did you miss mummy etc and get the dog all excited its the worse thing to do. I mean I dont expect she greets your dad like that when she comes home lol....dogs behave the opposite to human emotional behaviour. SO if she is fussing him etc when she comes in it feeds his anxiety.
Come in no eye contact calm and when the dog is then calm THEN SHE CAN FUSS ok.
Now if your mum wants to put the dog outside then she does the same for going out.
This is just a puppy and the rot started at xmas.....because when your mum got him he was put into a different situation.........and then took home and expected to react the same...
It is going to be hard work but will be rewarding, but WALKING IS PARAMOUNT, absolutely lots of walks for this high energy dog, and make sure she isnt feeding it on a high energy food ok it makes the situation worse.
These dogs were bred for hard work and endurance so like I said they need a huge amount of exercise................and work.
IF there is a dog club close by perhaps she could enlist them both and do some work with him in a proper training regime.
ALSO get your dad to take part in the dogs training, and let him feed and take the dog out. This is good for him as he will get exercise and the dog will also be less likely to follow just your mum.
My jack russel is taken out by my hubby at the weekends and she knows its Saturday as soon as she sees daddy put his boots on lol.
Dogs are so rewarding.
I would never leave my dog outside when I was in the house as I know she would just sit at the patio window waiting to come in. I do have a dog flap and she can go out and in when she feels like it.
Anyway I hope your mum gets this sorted....but its not going to be a quick fix but will be rewarding for them both ....
Put yourself in the dogs place.
You love your mum and she banishes you outside and wont let you in shuts the door on you.
What would you do? The reason why he howls more when he is locked outside and they are in is obvious.....he wants to be with them.....like you would.....simple. Its not good for him he thinks he is being punished.
Firstly as well Springer Spaniels are working dogs they need a lot of walking and attention and things to do.......
Is Spencer going out for long walks?
First thing in the morning, and then in the evening.
Its always best to make sure the dog is well walked BEFORE your mum goes out and leaves him.
Introduce him to intelligent toys for dogs, the ones where they have to find their food hidden behind little doors and things you can buy them on Ebay or any good pet shop and a kong too......it keeps them occupied and they have to WORK for their food. IF these are introduced now he will then get used to playing with them and when your mum does go out she can give him one to play with.
How to retrain well she has a lot to do. NEVER SPANK a dog. Thats the first thing you will just make the dog fearful which is an even worse problem.
I would start with the following me around the house first.
You say he can down ... stay. Start with this. DOWN .. STAY, and she walks backwards towards the door. HOLD this....and reward if he does it right. Keep doing this until she can walk out of that door but can still see him but keep the hold longer....and eventually he will get the idea he has to stay until his reward............It does work but takes patience and eventually she will be able to just walk through the house without him following.
Next step going out.
Get coat and car keys. USE DOWN STAY LEAVE toy. Walk out count to 5 and then go back in and take coat off and reward the dog BUT DONT FUSS. Keep doing this but extend the time you leave the house.
HOWEVER, make sure before you start this training the dog is well exercised....
One of the important things too is when your mum comes home she musnt FUSS the dog....you know .... fuss fuss oh poor spencer did you miss mummy etc and get the dog all excited its the worse thing to do. I mean I dont expect she greets your dad like that when she comes home lol....dogs behave the opposite to human emotional behaviour. SO if she is fussing him etc when she comes in it feeds his anxiety.
Come in no eye contact calm and when the dog is then calm THEN SHE CAN FUSS ok.
Now if your mum wants to put the dog outside then she does the same for going out.
This is just a puppy and the rot started at xmas.....because when your mum got him he was put into a different situation.........and then took home and expected to react the same...
It is going to be hard work but will be rewarding, but WALKING IS PARAMOUNT, absolutely lots of walks for this high energy dog, and make sure she isnt feeding it on a high energy food ok it makes the situation worse.
These dogs were bred for hard work and endurance so like I said they need a huge amount of exercise................and work.
IF there is a dog club close by perhaps she could enlist them both and do some work with him in a proper training regime.
ALSO get your dad to take part in the dogs training, and let him feed and take the dog out. This is good for him as he will get exercise and the dog will also be less likely to follow just your mum.
My jack russel is taken out by my hubby at the weekends and she knows its Saturday as soon as she sees daddy put his boots on lol.
Dogs are so rewarding.
I would never leave my dog outside when I was in the house as I know she would just sit at the patio window waiting to come in. I do have a dog flap and she can go out and in when she feels like it.
Anyway I hope your mum gets this sorted....but its not going to be a quick fix but will be rewarding for them both ....
We had this problem with a pom and it even got to the point where he dug a hold in the wall of my kitchen. The vet told me to get a kong toy and put peanut butter up in it so the dog would have to work at getting to it. this would distract him and it did. He still didn't like being left, but he will accept it as long and he has his kong
Thanks for the suggestions. He is actually a good little boy and will follow the commands for sit, stay, shake, down. Mum has managed to train him and he will wait to be told to eat his dinner.
It is mostly the problem with him never wanting to leave mum's side and the howling and barking when separated.
I like the idea of getting him to sit and stay in other rooms. Thanks. We'll see how it goes.
It is mostly the problem with him never wanting to leave mum's side and the howling and barking when separated.
I like the idea of getting him to sit and stay in other rooms. Thanks. We'll see how it goes.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Oh poor dog, he is confused I think.
Howling (in dogs and wolves) is "Pack-rallying" behaviour. If separated, they howl. It's a form of communication, much like a telephone call to loved ones they feel separated from.
Don't spank him. Forget that. As from now. It will get you nowhere and will upset him even more.
NEVER reward him (ie give him toys, treats, or affection) at the moment he is behaving badly.
Don't use vinegar! That could irritate his eyes terribly! It's acetic acid, and quite nasty stuff.
Don't lock him out. To a dog, this is the ultimate in separation from his "Pack" and left to it, he will howl even louder. He will not understand this as a chastisement. I honestly don't think he will understand the timer. All he will know is when it buzzes, he gets to see the person he loves and wants the company of. In the meantime he will be anxious, and howl.
Your mum needs to really bond with him. It doesn't quite sound like she's managed that yet. I guess she's busy. But she will have to make time to really devote to him, and also some training. She needs to spend real quality time with him, plenty of walks and interactive games. Then she could start by getting him to sit and stay, until she says something like: "OK good boy, come to me" (then give him a small treat, either food or affection) He will respond to this, most likely, positively.
When he does this well, she could start to get him to stay in another room, not far from her but just out of sight, but with doors open. He does the right thing -call him through and reward him.....take it a little further slowly and patiently, repeating the whole thing over and over until he gets what's going on. That there is nothing to be anxious about, that it's a sort of pleasant game, that he isn't abandoned.
Then she could start by gently closing the door. If he starts kicking up a fuss, NO attention at all, certainly no spanking, and certainly no rewards. But open the door. If he comes out, ignore him. Try again.....slowly, each day, getting him to respond to the simple "sit-stay" routine.
NEVER lose patience with him, and never get annoyed. He may do well if this is done right. If he loses it sometimes, just don't show him any fuss or attention. But be very clear in a calm but firm way, about exactly what he has to do. Then ALWAYS, AND INSTANTLY reward him when he does it right.
There is more....I do hope someone else will comment here who may be able to help you further.
Howling (in dogs and wolves) is "Pack-rallying" behaviour. If separated, they howl. It's a form of communication, much like a telephone call to loved ones they feel separated from.
Don't spank him. Forget that. As from now. It will get you nowhere and will upset him even more.
NEVER reward him (ie give him toys, treats, or affection) at the moment he is behaving badly.
Don't use vinegar! That could irritate his eyes terribly! It's acetic acid, and quite nasty stuff.
Don't lock him out. To a dog, this is the ultimate in separation from his "Pack" and left to it, he will howl even louder. He will not understand this as a chastisement. I honestly don't think he will understand the timer. All he will know is when it buzzes, he gets to see the person he loves and wants the company of. In the meantime he will be anxious, and howl.
Your mum needs to really bond with him. It doesn't quite sound like she's managed that yet. I guess she's busy. But she will have to make time to really devote to him, and also some training. She needs to spend real quality time with him, plenty of walks and interactive games. Then she could start by getting him to sit and stay, until she says something like: "OK good boy, come to me" (then give him a small treat, either food or affection) He will respond to this, most likely, positively.
When he does this well, she could start to get him to stay in another room, not far from her but just out of sight, but with doors open. He does the right thing -call him through and reward him.....take it a little further slowly and patiently, repeating the whole thing over and over until he gets what's going on. That there is nothing to be anxious about, that it's a sort of pleasant game, that he isn't abandoned.
Then she could start by gently closing the door. If he starts kicking up a fuss, NO attention at all, certainly no spanking, and certainly no rewards. But open the door. If he comes out, ignore him. Try again.....slowly, each day, getting him to respond to the simple "sit-stay" routine.
NEVER lose patience with him, and never get annoyed. He may do well if this is done right. If he loses it sometimes, just don't show him any fuss or attention. But be very clear in a calm but firm way, about exactly what he has to do. Then ALWAYS, AND INSTANTLY reward him when he does it right.
There is more....I do hope someone else will comment here who may be able to help you further.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Dogs Community
Members of our Pet Communities share their Halloween pet photos.
Like to travel but hate to leave your pooch at home? Dr. Carol Osborne talks tips on how (and where!) to take a trip with your pampered pet
Ooh and aah your way through these too-cute photos of MedHelp members' best friends
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
