I adopted Rosie a week ago and she is progressing beautifully. she is a real sweetie and we go everywhere together, except to work. I am gone 8 hours 5 days a week and she spends a liesurely afternoon in her crate. She sleeps there and goes there when she pottys on the floor and when I am not there to supervise her. I love her, but whenever I am out of her sight she barks like a crazy dog. The only time I actually left her alone was last tuesday and I got notes on my door saying that she didnt stop barking for one minute for FIVE HOURS. She was quiet when I got home and we played, but I want to cry. I dont know what to do. We are working with a muzzle and whenever she barks she gets the muzzle. If she continues to screech she gets her box. Then she will be quiet after a while and a stern talking to, but what will she do when I leave her tommorrow? I have been off work the last two days and I have been leaving her for short periods, 20 mins to an hour to get her used to being alone. My neighbors watched her last week- mainly to stop the barking- but they are having a baby and cant dogsit a semi-housetrained puppy. What do I do? Am I being selfish keeping her? I feel bad leaving her for eight hours, but what else can I do?
what do I do about the barking? My neighbors hate me...
- Thread starter beccrboo86
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If my methods are wrong, do you have any suggestions? I can be patient, not expecting a magic solution. But the most important thing right now is to focus on the barking. She likes her crate, it is her quiet place. But it seems to only be so when I am around. I know she has separation anxiety and I am trying to make it easier for her because she is just a baby. I gave her a slipper of mine because it smells like me- I dont keep my other shoes on the ground and she really never chews on anything but her rawhide- and I play the radio. But she isnt comforted at all. Still barky 
Do you trust her not being crated ?? I'd bark too if I was crated 8 hrs a day .Sorry , but this seems to be a case where you are not ready for a dog time wise ......I don't know the pup's age ....... but I never would sell a pup that was alone this many hours a day . A rescued older dog could handle it , but a pup needs interaction . Do your crate at night ? This means at least 16 hrs a day . I'm afraid the remaining 8 hrs don't make up for it .
Do you?
Are you able to come home at lunch or have someone come in during the 8 hours in the crate to take her potty--maybe for a short walk or play time? If this can be arranged I think it's much more ideal. Have you tried putting kongs in the crate stuffed with yummy treats--maybe a covering over the crate to make it more denlike?
What happens when she is in the crate but you are in the other room? Does she bark then? If so what do you do? I would practice coming in and out of the house and if she is being quiet give her treats in her crate--if she is not ignore her completely. Hopefully this will help her learn that quiet equals affection and treats and loud equals being ignored.
Are you able to come home at lunch or have someone come in during the 8 hours in the crate to take her potty--maybe for a short walk or play time? If this can be arranged I think it's much more ideal. Have you tried putting kongs in the crate stuffed with yummy treats--maybe a covering over the crate to make it more denlike?
What happens when she is in the crate but you are in the other room? Does she bark then? If so what do you do? I would practice coming in and out of the house and if she is being quiet give her treats in her crate--if she is not ignore her completely. Hopefully this will help her learn that quiet equals affection and treats and loud equals being ignored.
She is fine when I am home, as long as she knows I am in the house she is perfect, but the minute she doesnt "sense" me she is at it. I have decided to return her to my aunt to rehome her, I am not being fair to her. I love her alot, but I cant be there for her and she is such a sweet, intelligent animal- I want her to be a puppy for as long as she can be so she is going to a family that can play with her and keep her going. She has definately bonded and is adjusting well, minus the barking. She even asks to go out now Thanks for the feedback. Maybe I will adopt an adult dog a little down the line. If I do, Im sure you will be hearing from me
Thanks for the feedback. Maybe I will adopt an adult dog a little down the line. If I do, Im sure you will be hearing from me 
Do you have any "doggy day camps" in your area? When we have to be gone all day, we take Zoe to a place called "Bark Park" which is like day care for dogs. There may be something like that in your area. I'm glad you are trying to solve this problem because your pup is obviously distressed, and I do feel for your neighbors!
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If my methods are wrong, do you have any suggestions? I can be patient, not expecting a magic solution. But the most important thing right now is to focus on the barking. She likes her crate, it is her quiet place. But it seems to only be so when I am around. I know she has separation anxiety and I am trying to make it easier for her because she is just a baby. I gave her a slipper of mine because it smells like me- I dont keep my other shoes on the ground and she really never chews on anything but her rawhide- and I play the radio. But she isnt comforted at all. Still barky
Have you considered controlling the barking electronically? I am not referring to a shock collar or anything like that...I have heard good things about the citronella collar.. Basically everytime she barks if will spray citronella...apparently most dogs hate the smell. Or they also have the collar that everytime they bark it makes an extremely high pitch noise that is very annoying to them.
BTW..I am not a vet or anything but I do have one in the family and he along with two other vets have told me on several occasions that Raw hide is one of the worst things you can give a dog especially a pup. Think about it...if you smallowed a leather belt how would that go down...Point is they cannot digest leather. Raw hide can be worse than the original formula greenie.
Again I am just offering the above as advice, based on what I have been told by 3 professionals. There are plenty of healthy and safe chew toys to give a dog..Steer clear or raw hide and greenies. I gave my pup a greenie a week ago, 3 days after he made a poop that looks like a jar of green play-do.