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toy down just before you leave for the day and pick it up when you return home. Another
good item to keep your dog busy is the Buster Cube. You fill it with your dog's ration of
kibble and he has to work on it to receive his meal.
Try setting your dog up - Do everything you would normally do if you were leaving for the day, such as putting the dog in his crate or room, get out your keys, put on your coat and walk out the door. Only don't leave; instead wait just outside the door listening to see what your dog will do. If your dog starts barking or howling, you can quickly go back into your house and correct with the "Quiet" command. Then immediately leave again, standing just outside the front door. If you have a difficult case, you would wait for five full minutes of continual silence before returning inside. Wait inside for another ten minutes, then leave again to your spot just outside the door. Gradually you would build up to leaving your dog for 30 minutes with no barking or whining, again with you waiting just outside the door. Once you have built up to 30 to 60 minutes with no vocalizations, most dogs can usually be left safely for several hours without a problem.
Anti-Bark Collars
There are numerous collars on the market that produce an electrical stimulation, an irritating ultrasonic sound, or a smell (offensive to dogs) when the dog barks. Collars alone will not cure the problem, but may be used in addition to behavior modification. Unfortunately, these collars do not always produce the desired effect. For some hard-core barkers, the punishment for barking is not sufficient to get them to stop. They would rather bark and be punished than not bark at all. For dogs that bark due to separation anxiety, fears or phobias, these collars should not be used as the collar's correction may increase their fear and anxiety, thus making things worse. Bark activated products are the most practical means of deterring excessive barking, and may be a better choice than owner-activated devices since they ensure immediate and accurate timing.
Citronella Collars - The collar contains a reservoir of citronella solution that sprays into your dog's face every time he barks. One drawback is that the collar contains a microphone, so the spray is delivered in response to the sound of the bark. However, other noises may set off the collar, causing your dog to be sprayed even if he hasn't barked. Also, some dogs can tell when the reservoir is empty and will resume barking. It has about a 50% success rate.
Audible and Ultrasonic Collars - These collars emits a high-frequency sound when the dog barks. Some are activated by the noise of the bark, while others are owner-activated. The rate of success for this type of collar is reportedly rather low.
Electric Shock Collar - This collar should only be used as a final option since they have the potential for injury and abuse. The electric shock is painful to the dog and many dogs will endure the pain and continue barking. It has about a 90% success rate. You should discuss this option with your veterinarian.
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