Dog howling

Has anyone ever had problems with their staffy howling when they're left on their own?

Only this weekend, the next door neighbour has text me saying while we were out that the dogs have been howling? now they've never done it before.....(otherwise he would've told me) and i find it odd why they would all of a sudden start now? I know people will say separation anxiety etc. they're never left for more than 4 hours at one time and they are walked etc more than enough. they've both had the old plumbs taken off so it can't be to do with seasons and feeling a bit frisky.

Baring in mind i recently had a run in with the neighbour because of the noise he was making in the early housrs mid week......a whole new story, so i don't know if he's trying to be a pain in the *. I have set up sound listening equipment today on my tablet to listen for any noise while im out.

Not much help sorry have never experienced this. Has something spooked him? you may have to go back to basics and just pop out for ten mins and back in just to build up his confidence. Do you leave a stuffed kong or anything when you go out?   

thats what i was thinking. if someting has and hes barked, the neighbour will just have to deal with it. tough. if hes the one instigating by making noise again, he will have to deal with it.

if hes making it up and says he has and i later find out he hasn't he'll also get told.

he has a kong, but looses interest in it pretty quickly!

at the moment i can't be sure he is doing it??

Mmmmm I guess you will have to wait and see then   

I agree with Inez, I'd set up the equipment first to ensure that you have actually got a problem.. and then begin to dissect any changes that have occurred and ways to resolve the behaviours.

Can you plug in set up a video camera (safely out of reach)? Ive done that wilth Alfie when we first got him (& odd ones now & then) to see how he is when we are out. You wont be able to cover everywhere, unless they in confined area but it may show you if they are howling and may pick up if there is something setting them off. Of course if there is no howling and neighbour complains again you can prove its not yours!

The only time Rocky will howl is when he hears a police siren that is very close, he then wants to join in with it and will make a howl. You may find that this is the case with your dog or maybe something else is setting him off.

if you have access to 4OD then watch a program that was broadcast on 13 of this month called Dogs:Their secret lives. although tessa is left from 8 till 4 in the week we have never had any problems (she has the run of the house) but i found this program fastinating (probably says more about me than the show).