August 01, 2019

My dog barks obsessively in his crate when I take my other dog out. Any suggestions on what I can do?

Full Question:
Hi Cindy, I looked through the barking Q/A and didn't find anything on young pups - 12 weeks.

Initially, regardless of how often I would take him out, my dog would poo while in the crate as he caught on that it would get him out. After isolating him for 24 hours and only taking him out for potty breaks, he figured out to poo outside with lots of praise and fun accompanying. I brought him back out into the living room to be part of the pack and he has been fine about this since.

Recently, he has been barking when I go out with my other dog. I ignored him to let him bark it off, but he will not stop the entire time I am outside and I'm concerned about creating a self-reinforcing habit. Yesterday, he both barked and pooped in his crate when I left.

He is isolated in another room again and has stopped barking for now at least. Should I leave him located there for an extended period? I assume the bark collar is not appropriate this young? Is there something else I can do?
Cindy
Cindy Cindy's Answer:
I would use the separate room to keep him in the proper frame of mind. I wouldn't use a bark collar at this age.

When I have a puppy that protest barks, I set their crate up in a room in a quiet part of the house when they can't hear every little thing that happens. If I need or want to take my other dogs out, I don't want the puppy getting worked up so I think you have the right plan for this little guy. I will use a radio/TV or white noise machine in the room with the pup so it blurs out the noise in the home. Later, when he's a bit older you can try different areas and give him appropriate corrections for barking. Right now I would just use management and crate location.
User Response:
Thanks so much - I will certainly keep doing what I am and incorporate your other suggestions!

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Expert Dog Trainer Cindy Rhodes
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