"Could you please give me any tips on how to keep Buck from barking. I have a neighbor who is leaving notes on my door and came banging on my door threatening to call police. Every time I leave Buck barks for a couple of hours. Whenever I put my coat on he thinks it is time for him to go with me. Is this something that I have caused by always taking him with me when I run errands? It has only been a week and I just think he needs to adjust. Am I wrong? Any help or advice you could give would be appreciated. I don't have a lot of money to spend for doggy daycare and don't want to get another dog just to keep him company. I don't want another dog, just Buck. He is already bonded to me, whenever I go upstairs he walks around me and stands between me and anybody else who may be there. He is my boy for sure. These are some of the things I have tried: leaving my basement door open so he is free to go in and out leaving the upstairs door open so he can go up and visit the roommates I don't know what to do. Someone suggested that I kennel him, I can't afford to buy a kennel that large at this time, also they suggested surgery to remove voice box I can't do that to him. There has to be something that does not make him suffer. "

Our reply, in its entireity for all those out there having the common and solveable problem of a barking dog:

Barking is not an uncommon thing, particularly for dogs who have had recent changes to their environment. I would bet, in Buck's case, since he has bonded with you so closely already, he is missing you a lot when you leave. One possible solution would be for him to get a very long walk with you before you leave, so he will be exercised and relaxed; then, when you leave, it should be as low-key and relaxed as possible, with Buck getting a special treat - like a Kong filled with frozen peanut butter - a few minutes before you go out the door. Exercise is often the single most effective key to solving behavior challenges. You might also try leaving the TV on, sound pretty low (low enough that only Buck can hear it, not the neighbors), tuned to something like Animal Planet, to give him some visual stimulation and keep him from being bored.

Can your upstairs roommate check on him from time to time, maybe walk him occasionally or take him out back to play? If so, they should ONLY give him attention when he is being quiet. You never want to reward barking by giving him what he wants -- attention, companionship, reassurance, etc. You only want to reward him with those things when he is being calm and quiet.

If he is so bonded with you that he is already showing separation anxiety, you will want to work with him on that as often as possible when you can be home. The idea is to make your leaving be completely nonchalant and low-key for both of you, and for him to see that you always come back. It can be a tedious process, because you start by only being gone for a minute and work your way up from there, but it can work wonders! He will have to learn that the signal to go with you is NOT you putting on your coat/getting your keys/other physical signs, but instead is when, AFTER all those things occur, you stop, and call him with a specific command like "Buck, car" or "Buck, outside." Once he learns the difference between coat/NO command and coat/"Buck, car" he will not feel that he needs to bark to "remind" you that you forgot him, in case that is part of the issue. You are the pack leader, and he should learn that he only gets to go when he is specifically invited. Have him "sit" first, then you go through the door first and he follows. Don't let him go through the door first - if he does, call him back, make him "sit" and try again. If he goes through the door first, he thinks HE is the pack leader and you are the follower - not acceptable.

At the bottom of this message are some websites with more information on barking; you might also check with your local library to see if they can get you copies of the Dog Whisperer series on DVD or VHS, as those techniques can often be close to miraculous. A little research and time should find you solving this problem; perhaps you will be able to turn your neighbor into an ally, by communicating with them, letting them get to know Buck, and even enlisting their assistance with keeping track of his barking so you can tell what is, and isn't, working, and/or helping with walks/play sessions when you have to be gone.

It will be important to find out how long after you leave Buck starts barking - if it is immediate, it is more likely separation anxiety... if it takes a while for him to start, it is more likely boredom and lack of exercise prior to his alone time. I'm surprised he's having such an issue, since he was used to being neglected at his former residence, BUT he has probably decided that having a person of his very own is extremely wonderful, AND he is without his son/buddy Razz for the first time in 18 months.

It's only been a week, so hopefully your neighbor will understand that Buck and you are both working through an adjustment period (it will be easier if the neighbor likes dogs at all, and if they can meet Buck and get to know him, so they view him as a sympathetic living being going through some issues, rather than as the equivalent of a loud and obnoxious stereo). Keep in communication with your unhappy neighbor so they know the different things you are trying - make sure they know you take their concerns very seriously, and that you are determined to find a solution.

If you don't want to try a shock collar, you might want to try a citronella spray collar as mentioned in some of the websites below.

Websites that offer help and inspiration:

http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/our_pets_for_life_program/dog_behavior_tip_sheets/barking.html http://www.placervillevet.com/training_your_dog_to_stop_barking.htm
http://www.usask.ca/wcvm/herdmed/applied-ethology/behaviourproblems/barking.html
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1551&articleid=153
http://www.dogpatch.org/sheltie/barking.html
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/barking.html

As noted in the last one, anti-bark collars and even the ultra-extreme measure of debarking are generally more humane for the dog than losing its home or being euthanized, so could still be considered as possible solutions if other methods prove to be ineffective. This place has an ultrasonic indoor anti-bark electronic device that offers a money-back guarantee, scroll down to the original Professional Bark Stop near the bottom. I've never used one of these, but it sounds like it might be worth a try in a worst-case scenario. If you set it to ultrasonic, humans can't hear it, but it blasts the dog with a burst of sound when he barks (sort of the equivalent of a Dog Whisperer "tccchhhht!" burst of distraction sound for unwanted behavior).

http://pestcontrol.netfirms.com/dog_bark_stopper.htm

Please keep us posted on your progress; we learn from every pet owner that experiences a challenge, and look forward to hearing about what does, and what does not, work with this sort of barking. I am confident that you and Buck can leap this hurdle!