Barking (Barks when left alone)

Food-dispensing toys are one of the best solutions for your dog's barking, whether it be from boredom or separation anxiety.

Before going to work, give your dog such a toy and he can play with it for hours, depending on the toy. A toy like this will provide both mental and physical challenge to you dog and will keep him engaged, so he won't bark and long for you while you're gone.

Here you can get the Our Pets' IQ treat ball, and here you can get the KONG Wobbler toy.

You can even make food dispensing toys by yourself, you can see some interesting ideas here.

If your dog barks out of boredom, maybe it's time for a new member of the family - one more animal that will keep company to your dog.

It can be another dog, but also a cat or another pet - it depends on your dog and how accepting he is with other animals. This way you dog will have somebody to play with when left alone and will have a companion throughout the day.

Many dogs, especially the ones who live in an apartment or a house without a yard, bark simply because they are bored and have too much energy that needs to be released.

In order to prevent this and make both yourself and your dog happier, take him out for a walk every day for at least 1 hour. If you have more time it's best if you walk your dog twice a day from 30 to 60 minutes, one walk in the morning and one in the evening.

Also, if you have a dog park nearby or some other dog-friendly place, let your dog off leash so that he can run around a play with other dogs. This way he will lose his energy and will have plenty of exercise so that he doesn't bark out of boredom again.

Dogs are social animals, and if left alone or ignored for too long they will bark to get your attention.

In order to prevent or put a stop to this, spend some quality time with your dog every day for at least 20 minutes. The best way is to teach him some tricks so that he's both mentally and physically engaged and connected with you.

Here you can learn some easy tricks and teach your dog to do them.

If you leave your dog alone for 6+ hours it will be good for him(and yourself) if you take him out for a short walk before going to work.

This will also work for dogs that have separation anxiety because you will leave him tired and in a resting mood while you're away, at least for the first couple of hours. This way he will not bark and call for you immediately after you've shut the door.

The behaviour correction collars work just like the behaviour correction sprays - the patented pheromones they contain provide safe and secure feeling to your dog and calm him down. The beauty of the collar is that it can be used in stressful sitations, like going o the vet, or if your dog is not socialized when introducing him to other dogs.

Here you can buy and read more about the Sentry calming collar.

If your dog doesn't get enough exercise every day, consider hiring a dog walker for those days when you can't take him out for a walk. It's a cheap option and it serves both you and your pet - the more exercise he gets the less he will bark out of boredom.