Stop Dogs Barking, Howling, Whining or Crying

A dog barking, howling, whining, crying – whatever you want to call it, the sound is distressing for any owner who hears it, and for any dog who feels the distress.

For some poor people, they cannot even leave the room without their dogs becoming hysterical and barking the place down. This is a sure sign of separation anxiety in dogs.

Added to that the potential problem it creates with the neighbours when you’re out and can’t stop your dogs barking and you have a recipe for big problems.

Dog Howling To Favourite TV Tunes

Sometimes dog howling can manifest itself in strange ways, such as the dog who will join in seemingly with the theme tune to the family’s favourite TV show. It may look cute, but the reason for this intriguing quirk is not nearly as adorable. To find the solution, once more we must go back to the nature of the dog.

As a pack animal, dogs know there must be a leader, one who is responsible for the safety of the rest of its clan. If one of its charges goes missing, especially into what it considers to be “enemy territory”, it will howl to let them know where to come back to. I have heard this for myself while wolf watching in Yellowstone Park, as well as on my travels as a Dog Listener.

Free Video Training on Dog Anxiety

A dog that has associated the noise of a TV theme with the family coming together can sometimes join in howling. Clever stuff, but then if we stop and realise that the dog could believe itself to be the responsible member of the pack, what does it feel when everyone leaves the house and it cannot get them back?

Separation Anxiety In Dogs Is Like a Concerned Parent Worrying About The Kids

So your dog howling or barking is just like any concerned parents reaction, and they will try to get the missing pack members back by letting everyone know its location.

So how can we avoid this noisy problem?

The best way is to remove the responsibility from the dog by showing it that the owners are the leaders and the ones to be trusted.

That does not mean using gadgets like the shock collar every time your dogs barking (why punish a dog for doing what it thinks is its job?) or removing its vocal chords (that is available, but does it change the dog’s mind about its responsibility?)

How To Stop Dogs Barking, Whining, Howling Or Crying

In order to bring peace to the household – and the neighbourhood too – you need to deal with your dogs separation anxiety or leadership problems. To find out more about how separation anxiety in dogs could be affecting your dog, click on the link or sign up for our free video training by entering your name and email in the box on the top right.