r/bassethounds

So our boy Hank, he has just turned one, and still he BARKSSS when he is left alone (and we know that basset bark is not neighbour friendly…!)

Context - he doesnt need to be with US specifically. He just doesn’t like being alone. He LOVES humans and dogs and is very loving with everybody. When he is alone he barks but he isn’t destructive or panic-y.

However we can not work out the best course of action, as we have tried the softly softly method for so so long and no improvement. Our dog sitter (who knows Hank very well and has lots of dogs herself of all different breeds) has said she thinks we need to rip the plaster off and leave him until he stops barking (knowing Hank that could be a good few hours) because at the minute we don’t leave him for very long and he’s always still barking by the time we come back so it’s like we are reinforcing the behaviour. So do we just bite the bullet…? I guess what is the worst that could happen on this one occasion…?

I think she thinks I am too soft on him, and she may be right…!