I'm looking after one of my parent's dogs while they're on holiday for a few weeks and I'm facing an ongoing problem where, when I leave the house, she yelps and barks when I leave her in the house alone. I live in an apartment block and although I haven't had any neighbours complaining to me yet, I'm sure that she must be audible at least next door and also probably the flat above (as I live on the ground floor.)

I'm quite flexible with my working hours and can pop home at least once during the day, as well as working from home fairly often, but even if I pop out for five minutes she'll start barking.

It's really distressing to listen to and I'm not sure how to stop her from doing it. I walk her at least once a day but usually twice and am trying to train her up to generally be a bit better behaved (she's a 12 month old Pomeranian/Chihuahua mix and is very feisty and mischievous and not really a 'people' person - she's not all that interested in pleasing people, unlike my parent's other dog which is a Staffie.)

Any suggestions for breaking this habit? She does it at my parent's house too, but that isn't so much of a problem as their house is detached and my dad is home most of the time.

Hi, I'm afraid this sounds like a classic case of separation anxiety. If you google that term you will find no end of articles on the subject. And in this case it's possibly a double whammy because she is missing her parents and then being left alone for a while at your place too.

There is some great info here on the issue, causes and treatment plans.
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtu...ration-anxiety

She essentially needs desensitizing to being left alone. Unfortunately there are no quick fixes, there is a long road ahead of baby-steps and structured training to help her learn to relax and that there is nothing to worry about when being left.

In many cases this a job for a qualified trainer or canine behaviorist, as sometimes you need a "3rd eye" to see the going out routine and advise what could be done differently.

Don't go out or take her with you I am afraid there are no quick training methods so you will not be able to stop it if she is just with you for a short while. Best thing to do would be pre-empt any complaints and apologise before you get them and explain it's short term and won't be forever.

Thank you for the advice guys, will look into the separation anxiety stuff that jaycee331 suggested.

If it was long term you would need to desensitise her gradually to being left alone. As you've only got her for a short while, your going to have to try quick fix solutions, the easiest two being to leave the radio on when you go out, wnich will make her think there's still someone there, and get a Kong or similar toy. Instead of giving her breakfast in a bowl, put it in the Kong and give it to her when you leave so she will be kept occupied trying to get it out. Cream cheese and peanut butter are also good to stuff a Kong with as they spend ages trying to lick it out. Remember if you are giving her treat filled Kongs to reduce her main meal/s to compensate though. Small dogs tend to be yappy and Pomeranians can be extremely vocal unless it's very firmly nipped in the bud from the word go.

I think one of the pieces of advice is to get ready as if you are going out but don't go out, so that the dog doesn't always associate you getting ready with going out and another tactic is to distract the dog by using a Kong toy (you put treats in it and this keeps the dog distracted).

I've never heard of a Kong! She's going back on Sunday and has got a bit better in the last weeks or so as I've been trying to randomise when I go out, and doing it for shorter periods of time so she's learnt I'll come back, but maybe I'll look into the Kong idea for next time. The only thing is she doesn't seem very interested in the dog food that my dad gave me to give her, but filling it with cream cheese sounds like a good idea as she goes absolutely mad for cheese.