Dog Training & Health

[ylang-ylang]

I have a Hound-Akbash-Whippet cross, he is almost a year, and we got him three months ago from the local spca.He has been neutured, and is in good health. He was doing very well to say that he was a stray and severly mistreated before we got him. About a month ago he started barking and crying/howling at night around 9:30pm to Midnight. I work swing shifts at my current job which means that my schedule changes every two weeks, sometimes I work in the early morning and other times i don't start until 5pm. I have to put him out when I leave and my boyfriend is out of town during the week. However, this has become a serious problem with the neighbors. I love him dearly, but it seems that he has become accustomed to going to bed at 9:30 at night and will not stop barking until he is let in. It drives the neighbors crazy because they have to get up early in the morning. He doesn't bark at all during the day when I put him out, and he listens very well when he is corrected, however, this does not help if I am not home to stop him. I recently started a job that requires me to leave the house for 12 hours over night, and I would really like some input as to how to get him to get used to being out at night, and inside during the day while I am home. He has plenty of toys to play with, he always has food and water and he gets walked and taken out of the house frequently. There is a large dog house with his favourite blanket in it and a bed on the deck in the shade for him. I feel so bad that I am not home to help him to stop this behaviour, but I also need my job.... I would never get rid of him because of this issue, but I am at my wits end, and I really don't want my neighbors to call the spca about him being a nuisance or to be mad at us all the time. Please help!!!!

[Dobestud]

Speaking from experience, I know what you’re going through. When I purchased my Doberman as a pup I was working 12 hour rotating shifts. I was lucky enough however to have friends who could assist with his potty needs.
My first and easiest suggestion would be to perhaps ask a neighbour to let him in around 9pm. Maybe ask a neighbour with a child. The child may like to earn a bit of pocket money and maybe paying them $10 a week to give him a quick walk and put him inside might be the simplest solution.
However if this is not possible, my next suggestion would be to crate him for the 12 hours while you work. It may seem like a very long stretch but my Doberman does 12 hours no prob. Every night he is brought inside around 8pm and then let out again the next morning at 8am. With your dog now being a year old, his bladder should be able to handle it. You’ll just have to ease him into a 12 hour crating.
If you would like some tips on crating do not hesitate to ask. Someone on here may have a better suggestion, but I believe these are your best options. Leaving him out all night isn’t my cup of tea, especially without another dog for warmth and company.

[keddy]

I've had the same problem with my dog when she was younger. Best thing to do is to leave him in there and yes, ignore him. If you give him attention this young while he is still in the crate he will not get used to being in there all alone. Doing this while he is even older only makes in worse. That is why you would want to train him now to get used to it.





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[meezermom]

Inside crating is best for him as he will still have his bedtime intact. Definitely see if there is a nice neighbor child who would like to earn a bit to walk him in the evening. For some kids, it may be the only interaction they get with a dog! You do want to screen carefully though because of the mistreatment your dog has suffered. Also, if your dog has hair like a whippet, you may need to consider a sweater! Those dogs get really really cold and being outside is hard on them. They are simply not made for it.....