Unmotivated howling and whining will drive any owner to white heat. At first, the owner is touched when the puppy “cries” after him and becomes hysterical as soon as he is left alone for even a minute. They feel sorry for the baby and cooze with him. But soon this behavior begins to irritate the person, he takes it out on the pet and looks for ways to stop the dog from howling. Effective methods of correction are described in the article.
Reasons for night songs
Rarely will an adult dog organize concerts at night, only if there are flaws in his upbringing or something hurts. New owners of four-legged friends suffer the most from nighttime chants. There may be several reasons for a puppy to sleep at night:
- The baby has just been torn away from his mother and misses her. Howling at night only when a puppy is adopted is normal; this behavior will go away within a week. To speed up the adaptation process, use the rules below.
- The second reason is discomfort in the stomach. The puppy is separated from its mother’s milk, or its diet simply does not match what it was like at its previous place of residence. There is only one way out - feed the baby for the first time the same thing he ate before, gradually transfer him to a new diet. Of course, you will not be able to find mother's milk, but cow's milk is not a problem; give it to the puppy in a warmed form, preferably from a nipple.
- Often puppies begin to howl at night due to fears. Any sudden and loud noise can frighten the baby. If this happens, go up to the animal, pet it, and try to calm it down.
How to stop a dog from howling at night at home? There are several rules that every dog owner must adhere to.
Other measures
There are several ways to keep your dog quiet in your absence that I find unacceptable.
- It happens that dogs have their vocal cords cut. Besides the fact that it interferes with the 4th of the “five freedoms”, the hoarse sounds that dogs nevertheless make after this operation will make the owner feel guilty for many years...
- Electroshock anti-barking without the exercises described above will only increase the dog’s fear of loneliness. Often she will continue to howl without a collar, and while wearing a collar she will begin to spoil things, dirty the house, or develop some other bad habit. In addition, the use of electroshock anti-bark is inhumane and violates the animal’s right to 5 freedoms.
- Ultrasonic anti-bark (stationary and collar) can replace your punishment at the 8th stage of behavior correction. Without preliminary exercises, the dog will get used to the ultrasound and stop responding to it after about 2 weeks.
How to stop a dog from howling at night?
Night howling is unpleasant not only for dog owners, but also for neighbors if we are talking about an apartment building. Everyone wants to calm their dog down faster, but how to do it right?
- Don't take your dog to your bed, it will quickly get used to it and it will be difficult for you to wean it off. If it comes to a dog that is already accustomed to the owner’s bed, then take it to its place before going to bed, and in a stern voice give the command to sleep. Praise every morning for good behavior. During the night, if the dog whines, strictly say “Ugh!” - this is one of the main commands that an animal should know from its first days.
- Don't run to your dog as soon as he starts howling. The dog will think that this is how he can call you to him, and it will be difficult to convince him otherwise. Ignore the howling as much as possible. Often the dog quickly realizes that no one cares about its song and falls asleep. If it becomes impossible, then scold the dog, but do not hit, this will not lead to anything good.
- Before going to bed, walk a lot and play with your dog, because a dog that has played enough will fall asleep much faster.
- A well-fed animal sleeps better, so you shouldn’t forget about a hearty dinner.
- If the howling does not stop, then repeat “Ugh!” even stricter. The dog does not understand your words, but by your tone he will understand that the owner is dissatisfied. If the animal calms down after the command, praise it or simply remain silent.
- Dog breeders say that if an adult dog howls at night, it is the dog expressing its dissatisfaction with the lack of attention and care. How to stop a dog from howling? During the daytime, play with her more and give her maximum attention. Place your item on the bedding nearby at night, the dog will smell the owner and fall asleep faster with it.
- It happens that a puppy howls simply out of boredom, because he was played with during the day and then left alone. In this case, toys that can be chewed will help out.
- Keeping the litter close to the owner helps stop howling at night. You can teach your puppy to fall asleep silently in his place like this: at first, place a bedding near your bed. Then, every night, move it a little further, and so on until it is in its place.
The opinion of scientists and mysticism
Why might a dog howl? Many people know the sign that if a dog howls with his head thrown up, then there is a fire, and if he does the same, bending towards the ground, then it is a dead person. Therefore, in villages, a howling dog is often scolded so that it stops doing this.
- Fear from a dog's howling has been transmitted to humans since the moment when dogs were not domestic animals, and only their ancestor, the wild wolf, existed;
- Fear from the chilling howls of a wolf evoked a feeling of horror even in our ancestors, therefore, at the level of genetic memory, it was transmitted to us that people experience anxiety at the sounds of a dog’s howl;
- Often these animals sense the approach of natural disasters, such as an earthquake or hurricane.
A pet can feel the death of a person of a natural nature if he was sick, but did not die suddenly. This happens thanks to the animal’s subtle sense of smell. A dying person's metabolic processes occur more slowly, and he consumes and uses energy differently. He smells different than healthy people. This smell is what catches the dog's nose.
In these cases, the animal lowers its head to the ground to protect itself from the unpleasant, alien and frightening smell. Often a pet may whine rather than howl and avoid such people. By the way, an interesting fact, but some doctors with innate talent also know how to determine by smell whether a person will die or survive.
Why does the dog howl in the enclosure?
Dogs that live in the yard often stage concerts not only at night, but also during the daytime. Causes:
- At night it is scary, lonely, the presence of the owner is needed.
- It's just boring, that's how the dog attracts attention.
- Asks to go for a walk, feels uncomfortable in the enclosure, needs space.
The first thing you should think about is whether there is a need for aviary maintenance at all? If you don’t want to bring a dog into your home, then at least try not to lock your pet in its cage. Let the exit be open so that the animal can go out on its own at any time and walk around the yard.
How to stop a dog from howling in an enclosure? This will be more difficult than weaning a puppy off nighttime routines, but it is still possible.
We teach the dog to “sing” in the enclosure
Do not lock your dog up at night or while you are away from home. The dog must move freely, so he will not throw a concert. So that he doesn’t miss you too much, put your thing down, the dog will smell the owner’s scent and quickly calm down.
If a dog howls in the enclosure while you are working on the site, this indicates that it is asking you to play. You can’t react to a howl; the dog will understand that he can call you like that. Say strictly “Ugh!”, and as soon as the animal calms down, be sure to praise it.
If the dog starts howling as soon as you leave the house, then it is simply calling you! Ignore the dog and go back right away. As soon as the howling stops, come out! This game of playing with the owner coming in and out helps to wean the dog from howling when you appear. As soon as the dog stops howling when you leave, praise him, come over, and treat him with a treat.
If the dog is just bored and lonely, then give him more toys, old boots that he can chew, a ball. Give the dog a view of the yard, let him watch what is happening on the street, learn to bark at cats and those simply passing by.
Many four-legged animals simply begin to “go crazy” when left alone. Of course, the owner does not hear this, but the neighbors will definitely at some point ask you to calm down their animal. How to stop a dog from howling in an apartment in the absence of its owners? The process is labor-intensive, and each cause of howling must be considered separately.
Howling due to the psychological atmosphere in the house
The four-legged friend is good at capturing the mood and emotions of the owner. The reaction to them may be howling alone. If you tend to experience fear, anxiety or uncertainty, if you are going through a difficult period in your life, your dog may also worry. The owner’s fear of leaving the animal alone at home will also play a negative role. Until you get rid of it, you will not be able to re-educate the dog. First, bring your psychological state back to normal on your own or with the help of a specialist. The dog will stop howling on its own.
For your pet's peace, it is important to maintain a favorable psychological climate at home. In an atmosphere of scandals, anger and lack of mutual respect between family members, the dog will not be psychologically stable. The negative impact on his psyche leads to the expression of emotions through howling.
It is unacceptable to raise and train a dog through aggression, beating and humiliation. Mental problems in this case are also expressed in howling.
Reason: stress due to change of environment
Animals are very sensitive to any change in environment: moving to a new home, placing a dog with other animals or the appearance of a new animal in the apartment, a change in the owners’ work schedule - all this can cause howling in the absence of the owner. How to stop a dog from howling in this case? Do not scold the animal under any circumstances, this will only worsen the situation, the dog will begin to doubt its well-being, and the stress will only become stronger. Follow the advice of dog handlers.
How to stop howling when your dog is stressed
If you are moving to a new home, plan a change of environment so that you can be with your dog for several days after the move. In this case, the pet needs to be made clear that everyone will now live here, you did not leave her alone, you did not kick her out of the house. Leave the schedule the same, meals and walks should be according to the schedule, do not try to pay more attention to the dog in a new place, he will quickly get used to this and begin to howl after you return to normal. Show with all your appearance that nothing has changed except housing.
If your work schedule has changed, and now you have to be away longer, then ask friends or relatives for help, and involve your children. Let someone, at least for the first time, from time to time, be in the apartment with the dog.
How to stop a dog from howling if there is a new pet in the house? Don't give the new tenant more attention than the old one. If you pet, then pet both, feeding - together, walks too. Show the dog that you have not begun to love him less, so he will not only not howl anymore, but will also quickly make friends with a new friend.
How to stop a dog from howling in the house if you took it from another place? The dog will miss its previous owners, do not allow contact with them. Walk more, pamper yourself with treats, pet the dog, communicate with him. Show that you will not cause pain, do not offend. But the animal must not be dismissed; the pet must know all commands, including “Fu”. You are the head of the house. This is the first rule a new friend should learn.
Top 5 Breeds That Love to Howl
Eastern European Husky
A dog of this breed is a devoted friend of a person, accustomed to being with its owner constantly and very difficult to bear parting with him. In such cases, the animal begins to howl protractedly.
Husky
Representatives of the breed have retained the habit of the pack to communicate through howling to this day. They are also very independent individuals, therefore, when something or someone encroaches on their freedom, they give a voice in the form of a howl.
Basset Hound
Dogs belonging to this breed have an extraordinary appearance and a low timbre of voice, which they show by howling in anguish. Kind and friendly dogs of this breed do not like loneliness.
Basenji
Representatives of this breed differ from others in that they do not bark, but can howl quite loudly. Their howl sounds similar to the style of yodelling - alternating low and high notes. Being alone is especially conducive to howling.
Alaskan Malamute
Malamutes follow a habit inherent in their genes, so it is not possible to stop them from howling. The reason for howling can be anything - from great joy to deep sadness.
Reason: fear that the dog was abandoned
Most often, dogs that were brought into a home from a shelter, that have already been abandoned by their owners, or that were picked up on the street, begin to worry about their well-being. A dog whose owner has been at home for a long time - not working, or on vacation - can also worry about being abandoned.
How to stop a dog from howling when he is alone at home? A labor-intensive process in the form of the game “Coming and Departing Owner” will help.
Punishment too weak
If a dog raises its head, puts its ears up, jumps around you, stands on you with its paws, wags its tail and stretches its lips in a smile when you scold it, it does not understand that you are unhappy. Scold her harder, push her into the room. Lower your voice. Imagine that at this very moment she is doing something completely inappropriate - climbing on the table or lying in rotten meat. Your tone should be perceived unambiguously by her.
Note, however, that I only suggest that you scold the dog; do not hit or throw “Fischer discs” at her. In this exercise, you express dissatisfaction only with the timbre of your voice and words!
"The Coming and Going Master"
In order for the dog to understand that he is being abandoned for a short time, he will have to try, give his best. But it's worth it. Usually it takes a week to wean off howling if you practice every day.
Start getting dressed, sit at home watching TV in your clothes, and then just change into your home clothes. Let the dog understand that you will not necessarily leave, even if you get dressed, this way you will teach the dog to hug your feet and follow you while you are getting ready.
When the first stage is completed, move on to the next one: get dressed, go out the door, go down to the floor below. Wait five minutes and return home. If the animal howls, then calm it down; if not, praise it. Each time, increase the time of absence by a couple of minutes, and so on until the howling stops. The dog will quickly understand that if you leave, you will definitely come back.
How to train a puppy to stay home alone
If in a private house you can simply wait out the unpleasant period of separation, then after complaints from neighbors from the adjacent apartment you have to worry about the problem of how to leave the puppy at home alone. Education should begin 1-2 weeks before going to work. During this time, the baby will have time to get used to separation and will not cause trouble due to stress.
Farewell and meeting
The main task is to instill indifference to care and joy from the upcoming meeting. For this reason, you should not focus on goodbye. You just need to leave the house and return at the appointed time.
At first, you can stand outside the door and watch the reaction. Don't forget to take your keys and other important items with you. This will help simulate the real situation and eliminate panic from unusual fees in the near future.
If your baby howls and whines nonstop, go back, but don't reward the unwanted behavior. Do normal household chores: brew coffee or make yourself a sandwich. As soon as your pet calms down, pet him and entertain him with a game.
If the hysteria stops on its own, take a walk to the nearest pet store for a dog treat. After returning, praise your little pet and treat him to the purchased treat.
Gradually increase the time you are away, trying to bring it closer to your working day. Despite the general recommendations of 2 hours, it is not always possible to find a replacement. For this reason, the specified interval can be increased.
In this case, you need to take care of the leisure, comfort and safety of your pet. Remember that this practice is only permissible after switching to 3-4 feedings a day.
Abundance of toys
A puppy is not much different from a normal child, so a toy is a pretty good distraction tool. When purchasing it, pay special attention to safety. Some fillers can cause allergies and other unpleasant consequences. For the first time, it is better to buy as many toys as possible and place them throughout the house - the baby will move from one entertainment to another and will not notice how time flies.
Satiety and comfort
Feed shortly before leaving and immediately upon returning. Be sure to leave extra in the bowl for extended periods of absence. If your baby prefers to eat when he is not hungry, buy an automatic feeder. In this case, food will be provided strictly on schedule.
Equip a comfortable sleeping place and remove all dangerous objects from the reach of the restless four-legged animal. Don't forget to leave a tray and diapers to prevent puddles from appearing in the wrong places.
Common Mistakes
Most mistakes associated with self-study can be avoided by familiarizing yourself with the most common ones in advance. These include:
- Rush
. After buying a puppy, let him get used to his new environment and survive separation from his mother. Do not start training until your psychological state returns to normal.
- Excessive emotionality
. Don't try to say a heated goodbye to your pet before leaving. Excessive attention and subsequent care will cause even more anxiety.
- Punishments
. If things are not destroyed before your eyes, forget about screaming. The dog will not understand the relationship, so just calm down and hide valuable items out of reach.
- Strict adherence to the regime
. A regularly repeated routine (shower-coffee-breakfast-putting on clothes) is quickly stored in the head. If the baby is still getting used to separation, these actions may cause fear ahead of time. In this case, just change the sequence or put on your jacket already outside the door.
Be patient and don't give up. Gradually your efforts will bear fruit.
Fighting unspent energy
It's not the dog's fault that the owner has no desire or time to play with him - the energy still needs to be put somewhere. Before getting a pet, think about whether you need it at all? If you don’t have time for long walks and games, then don’t get a dog at all or give preference to a heavy, calm breed that will want to rest more. The ideal option is a bullmastiff - a big and kind giant, a family dog, very lazy, and does not require long walks. A pug, poodle, or Pekingese are also suitable.
To keep your dog occupied, buy him toys. In order not to walk your dog for a long time, buy a treadmill; the dog needs to walk more to maintain physical fitness and waste energy.
Hanging toys, balls, specialized bones and much more will help you stop your dog from howling in the absence of people in the house. Leave the dog alone with such toys, and, occupied with them, he is unlikely to bother the neighbors with his howling.
Fighting dog stubbornness
The most common mistake that owners of such dogs make is rewarding bad behavior. You yourself may not notice it, but you are giving the dog what he wants. For example, closing the door behind you, you return after hearing barking. It seems to you that you have returned to scold and shame the dog, but he is sure that the owner has returned to bark or howl, which means it’s working!
No matter how difficult it may be, you will have to raise a restless pet. How to stop a dog from howling alone? Completely ignore her behavior. This is not only about howling alone, but also about any hysterics in your presence. The dog must understand that the person in charge is the person, and he will not come running at the first call. If the dog persistently asks for a treat, then do not give it, treat it only at a moment of calm behavior. Does it bark for a walk? Ignore, lead only at the appropriate time, and only if the dog behaves calmly. It will take a lot of patience and willpower to cope with the dog, but this is the only way you can correct such an unbearable character.
Factors why dogs bark when left alone
Just like humans, dogs can also face problems of anxiety and boredom, but they are a little different, let's figure out how.
- Separation anxiety . Separation anxiety is common in domestic dogs. Every dog owner has to deal with this situation at some point in their life. Understand this as a situation where your dog cannot cope with being alone or temporarily separated from us. They try to act to get attention and communicate their needs.
- Boredom . Dogs form close bonds in a short period of time. They always want to be close to you, play or sleep and do something. What they don't want is to be left alone in silence.
