It is not easy for a new dog owner to handle the loud barking of a new puppy. In fact, if they knew that they would be subjected to round-the-clock barking and yelping sounds, they would perhaps never have gone in for a puppy. However, it is not such an insurmountable problem. All it needs is an understanding that your puppy longs for attention and will get it any which way.



All puppies are scared of being alone. Some of them can't even let you out of their sight for a split second. Even if you go to the other room, they will bring the house down with their barking. They just can't bear to be alone because the place is unfamiliar to them and they are used to having their mother or little puppies around them.

What do you do in such a situation? You can't rush to caress the puppy every time he starts barking because it is not practical, plus, you will only give him wrong signals. Indeed, you will be creating a spoiled dog. On the other hand, you can't ignore him either because then no one in the house will get a moment's respite.

The best way out is to choose the middle path. Here are some tips to help you deal with your puppy's barking for attention problem:

1. The first step is not to lose your cool and start yelling at him. This will only increase the noise and make the puppy more restless. Just make sure that there is no real problem and then simply ignore your puppy's barking.

2. In the beginning, you may find tools like the 'teaching lead' useful. It enables your puppy to be around you at all times in the house. The idea is to make it easy for the puppy to get used to the new surroundings and his independence.

3. Also, do not stay away from home for long durations and too frequently. When you leave the house, do not pet your puppy and talk sweet to him before leaving the house. Remember, the puppy is going to miss you more than you will miss him. It only creates more stress because every time you caress him, he will think you are going to leave him alone again. The same advice goes when you arrive home. There is no need for an exciting welcome.

4. Finally, use a simple training aid to get your puppy to quiet down immediately when he is barking. For instance, a quick burst of streaming spray from a water bottle is a perfect idea. You can devise your own training aid like a small tin can filled with a few pennies in it and throw it in his area when you want him to stop barking.