Capable Canine Tips Tips Archive   Tips to Help Curb Barking & Separation Anxiety Barking is an outlet for your canine companion to relieve boredom or separation anxiety. Too few dogs are given appropriate outlets to prevent or relieve boredom and many have not been taught how to be alone. There are several things you can do to help prevent these before they become a problem. 1. Give your dog plenty of exercise: a tired dog is a quiet dog. 2. Give your dog something to do while you are away. Fill a Kong® with a thin layer of cheese, peanut butter, and stuff with treats. You can freeze a Kong® as well. 3. Teach your dog to be comfortable spending time by himself. Do not give your pet your undivided attention whenever you are home. When you do, this will only make things worse while you are away. Several times through out the day, act as though your dog is not there. This is not a punishment. It is a lesson in becoming comfortable being alone. We don’t want our dogs to be completely lost without us.   4. Ways to establish less anxiety when you do leave: Ignore your dog ten minutes before you leave and ten minutes after you return. This means no eye contact, no petting, or talking to your dog. This action sends the message to your canine that it is “no big deal” when you leave. 5. Downplay greetings: Dogs that become anxious about your departure are most destructive just after you leave. Making a fuss over leaving can increase his stress level, causing barking. Keep your departure low key. Do the same when you return. Save your lavish attention for training and play. Consider your dog’s point of view. Constant barking is a sign of boredom and anxiety, your job is to prevent these behaviors.