Dog Community

Moved into an apartment, Dog Cries, howles and barkes

Posted : 5/2/2006 7:21:10 AM

Hey i'm really new to this forum and I need some help before i get a warning.

I just moved from a house with a bunch a pets to an apartment with my dog (old roomates had 2 dogs and 2 cats). My dog is so kind, loving and pretty much quiet all the time other then the excessive attention that she's striving for. She loves to cuddle, doesn't much like playing withtoys and what not. She'll play tug-o-war here and there but after a few minutes she gives up and wants to cuddle.....she's so adorable.

She's a black lab mix, about 17 months old maybe a little more (she was given to me about 10 months ago). She's not spayed but will be in a couple of weeks.

My problem is as soon as i close my apartment to door to go to work or run some errands she immidiatly starts to cry, little howling and often barks...I found this out while i'm walking towards the apartment and i'm like "oh crap!"

I've only lived there for a couple of days (moved in sunday, April 30th), i wanna know what i can do to make her comfortable. She is aware that this is her new home, cause she usually tells me when were in a strange place that she doesn't know...she stands on me and barks like "WTF! i wanna leave!" lol it's cute. She did that the first day but once she slept there over night she was ok and hasn't done that.

She won't poo outside when i take her out and i took her out like 5 times yesterday! she pooed in the apartment....but that's normal, i was expecting that cause she use to not even pee when she's on a leash but now she does....we just gotta work on that poo thing.

So i need some help for her to feel comfortable in the apartment while she's alone. Toys are pretty much useless to her, i've bought her a crap load and she doesn't even touch then. I do leave my bedroom door open so that she can go sleep on my bed for my smell and i leave the TV on to block out any outside noise.

spiritdogs

Posted : 5/2/2006 7:56:44 AM

Plain toys might not do the trick, but you can try stuffing a Kong with some peanut butter & kibble, or some yogurt & kibble, then freeze it.
When you go out, leave the Kong for her. Most dogs whine for about 20 minutes, then it's over. But, if she's doing more than that, time for some preventive measures so she doesn't end up with a case of separation anxiety.
Try to make your comings and goings uneventful. No wild greetings or good-byes. Also, don't always only leave the apt. when you plan to be out for hours. Sometimes, just go out the door and come back in a few minutes later. She will begin to realize that you aren't always going away for long periods of time.
If you really want some good hints on prevention, get a copy of "I'll Be Home Soon" by Patricia McConnell.
If she does become a nuisance and cause a problem with barking, you can get a Gentle Spray collar. No electric shock, just a squirt of citronella. But, since the place is so new to her, I'd try the training first.

Dominic Sabourin

Posted : 5/2/2006 8:14:42 AM

the kong is a good idea. i'll have to get one. I have an electric shock collar that i used on her for a couple of days...she was always barking at ppl walking by and at squirls and it really did the trick. I just hate going that route, certainly when i'm not around when she starts freaking out! i hate that thing.

I might do a sound recording and set my camera to snap a few pics while i'm not there to see what she does so i can get an Idea of how she acts during the day.

I wanna try absolutely everything possible before i get rid of her....she is too much of a great dog to just give away because of small details like this. thanks for you help! if anymore suggestions, please note

Vail Miller

Posted : 5/2/2006 8:40:59 AM

Oh Gosh! Don't Get rid of her! She sounds like a sweetie! Is she crate trained by chance? I know some of my friends dogs actually feel more secure when left in their crate than having the great big space of your apartment open to them all on their own. The leaving for short interludes as well is a good idea. Also, I find with my dog if i just briefly talk to him before i leave, not a petting frenzy, but just saying I love you, and I'll be back later, bye, he doesn't bark as I leave. If I forget to say that, he sometimes barks as I leave. They are so dang smart! The kong is a good idea, and also maybe set up a treat hunt. Something that'll keep her distracted when you first leave. Good luck!

Suzi

Posted : 5/2/2006 8:43:16 AM

Hmmm....... I think it's not just about moving to a new place but maybe she's not just use to the new home yet. She may have worries if your going to come back or just leaving her there?? Not quite sure but I had to deal with JJ cries and howles when I leave the apartment when she was around 7-8 months. Seperation Anxiety but it had pretty much went away. [&:] I would leave behind my shirts, toys with her favorite treat but half the time it didn't work. I also do not make a big deal when leaving the apartment. Wish you luck!

Dominic Sabourin

Posted : 5/2/2006 9:03:12 AM

well, at the other house she was crated and she absolutely hated it...she cried and howled most of the time she was in there....mainly tried to train her cause of my old roomates, it's a long story. I don't have the cage anymore because i want her to feel safe in the apartment, i think she felt that she's getting punished or something...it's really weird.

I've been talking to her every morning and just

atting her on the head...i mean she is use to my routine cause it's always the same

I've always had dogs and this is my first time in an apartment. she is definitely a sweet hart, i love her so much...i couldn't imagine giving her away, like i said, it will be the very last thing that I will consider if nothing else works.

here's a couple of pictures of her....her name is Lady

Dominic Sabourin

Posted : 5/2/2006 9:06:29 AM

thanks jen, i pretty sure it is that fact that she feels left behind...certainly when she's got no other dogs to play with during the day, although the other dog was pretty rough with her. how long did it take for JJ to get releaved from the anxiety?

Suzi

Posted : 5/2/2006 2:21:03 PM

Love the color on the wall, makes Lady stands out!!
Took me 3-4 months and finally one day, she did not cried or bark. It was hard work, I was even force to sleep on the livingroom sofa for weeks. That is because I had to leave for work at 6am and she gets up around 5-6. So she get's pretty glue onto me when she gets up. Maybe if you had someone drop by to give her some attention during the day it may help?

huskymom

Posted : 5/2/2006 2:51:26 PM

You've already gotten some pretty good advice from people here. My advice to you would be to go and talk to your neighbors before they complain. If they are aware that you know of the problem and are doing whatever you can to solve it now, they will most likely be willing to cut you some slack. Don't wait till they approach you. Show them that you are a responsible dog owner and who knows maybe one of them may be willing to help you out somehow! Ever thought of getting a cat to keep her company while you are out? Maybe one in foster care that has already been proven to live will with dogs, since she has already lived with cats?

Dominic Sabourin

Posted : 5/3/2006 7:25:45 AM

actually, there's a convention this weekend at petsmart for stray dogs and cats and other small house pets...i'm gonna go adopt a cat to keep the lively hood in the apartment.

Although i came home last night and, what a Disaster, She tore up the carpet at the front entrance...i guess she thought that trying to dig by the door what eventually clear her a path to get out but she ended up ripping the carpet up and she chewed the styrofoam...what a mess. I went and picked up her old cage and i'm gonna retrain her in it. I'm just scared she's gonna do more damage.

Here's a pic i took

angelamarie

Posted : 5/3/2006 3:36:45 PM

OH MY.

spiritdogs

Posted : 5/4/2006 6:20:26 AM

A shock collar on a dog that's already terrified she has been left alone forever and will surely die (that's what separation anxiety feels like to the dog) is not a good idea at all.
Get Patricia McConnell's booklet "I'll Be Home Soon" on how to prevent and treat SA.
Getting rid of the dog will only deliver this headache to someone else, and will make the dog's problem worse. After all, her worst nightmare comes true if you do that - you left and never came back.
Probably this is how she got this way in the first place.