Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” series, where every Monday we bring expert advice straight from Dr. Paola Cuevas (MVZ) to help our readers better understand their dog’s health and well-being.
Whether you’re a new pet parent or a seasoned dog lover, Dr. Paola is here to provide answers to your most pressing questions. From nutrition tips and preventive care to troubleshooting common behavioral issues, Dr. Paola is ready to offer insights that will keep your furry friend happy and healthy. Stay tuned for expert guidance on a range of topics that matter most to you and your dog, so you can make informed decisions and provide the best possible care for your canine companion.
Dear Jayme,
Cotton has already made an impressive adjustment in a short time, and her barking is worth approaching as communication rather than disobedience. Because she is deaf and relatively new to your home, I would not assume that this is separation anxiety just yet.
Barking in a kennel can be the result of several issues, including separation distress, confinement anxiety, frustration, or simply not having learned that being alone in the kennel is safe. A camera placed inside the kennel may help you see what happens before and during the barking. If she is pacing, panting, repeatedly trying to escape, drooling, or unable to settle, anxiety becomes much more likely.
I would begin by rebuilding her relationship with the kennel as a place of comfort rather than a place where she has to endure being alone. During the day, leave the kennel open and reward her for choosing to enter, then provide a special food toy or chew while she relaxes there. Once she is comfortable, practice closing the door for just a few seconds while you remain nearby, gradually increasing the duration only while she stays relaxed. Think of this like teaching someone to swim by starting in shallow water rather than dropping them into the deep end.
With a deaf dog, visual signals become especially valuable, so always use the same predictable hand signal before closing the kennel and pair it consistently with something rewarding. This will let her know what is coming.
You might also want to consider using some calming pheromones, scents, or supplements in and around the kennel. A combination of calming products is often more effective than just one. Additionally, you could wear an old t-shirt or sweater around for a few days so it gets good and smelly, then leave it in the kennel for her.
For nighttime, I would first determine whether she is actually waking and barking because she needs something or becoming distressed by confinement or separation. If she is sleeping peacefully and then starts barking, a camera can reveal whether she wakes because of environmental activity, becomes restless, or immediately becomes distressed when she realizes she is alone. Avoid letting her repeatedly rehearse prolonged panic, because repeated episodes of intense distress can make treatment more difficult. Punishment or using an aversive collar is particularly inappropriate here, as it can increase fear while doing nothing to address the underlying emotion.
If the video shows genuine distress despite gradual training, I would involve her veterinarian and consider referral to a veterinary behavior professional. Moderate or severe separation distress often requires a structured desensitization program, and medication can sometimes be appropriate when anxiety is sufficiently intense to prevent learning.
The encouraging part is that at 10 months, Cotton is still very capable of learning new emotional associations. The goal is not simply to teach her to be quiet, but to teach her that resting alone is safe and that separation is temporary.
Good luck!
– Dr. Paola