My dog barks in his crate when guests are over. How can I stop it?

When she barks, she is looking for attention of some kind from you. Even negative attention, such as clapping your hands or scolding her, is better than nothing in her mind. Ignoring her is the correct response, but you can't give in after a while as you have been doing. The same is true if she is in her crate and barking. I know it is tempting to tell her to be quiet so you can get some sleep, but that is counterproductive. Because she knows that after some time you will interact with her, she will bark even more to get what she's always gotten in the past. You must be more stubborn than she is, and ignore her until she stops--then praise her immediately for being quiet! You also have the option of leaving the room or going outdoors when she is barking during the day. For further assistance, you can click on the prompt for a consult, where we can discuss this at length.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Buster. Some dogs will experience anxiety when crated and do not ever seem to adjust. You can give him special toys or high value treats that he only receives when crated (food puzzles, Kong toy stuffed with treats). You can also try a dog pheromone collar or diffuser. However, he may just resent the crate. In this case, I would recommend leaving him out, but in a safe area. Make sure there is nothing that he could destroy or eat and no electrical cords he can chew. Start leaving him out when you can supervise him as opposed to leaving the house for hours. Some will do better in a small room (bathroom or laundry room), while others will do well with a baby gate so they can see out. You will need to see what works for him. Good luck!

It sounds like your dog is a little bit stressed with all these people are the party. I'm wondering if there isn't a reason why he can't come out and join the party. If you have a small kennel, you can put him in there which will give him a safe space of his own. You could also give him a toy filled with treats that he has to figure out how to get out, which can keep him occupied for a while.

What you're describing sounds like a reaction to the general excitement level and maybe the volume in the room. Some dogs will actually become aggressive that type of situation (for example, they will bite ONLY when there's a touchdown -- not so fun for the visitors). As far as stopping it, keeping her a quiet separate area during big gatherings is one way, as long as she doesn't bark to be reunited with the group. You can also try feeding her a continuous steam of small treats to help change her emotional reaction to these events. One thing to avoid is any yelling or punishment, since that may push her over the edge from barking to aggression

Get him acclimated to people so it isn't a big deal when you have company. Make him "work" for everything (food, attention, walks, etc.). This can be as simple as having him sit or wait before being fed, taken out or played with. When company arrives, make him wait to greet. Do not allow him to initiate contact. Use a leash to control him if necessary. A head harness such as the Gentle Leader or Halti can provide a means to control and quickly correct negative behavior. Ignore him when he barks at company. If he jumps up, turn away from him. Be consistent and be firm. Do not yell as this will likely get him more riled up.

This could definitely be related to the fact that your kids are away. But you must not give in and bring him to bed, as that is a reward for his efforts and will only encourage him to bark longer (He is saying to himself, "Gee, it worked before! Why isn't it working now? Guess I'll have to try harder!) As annoying as ir might be, you need to ignore the barking (I'd suggest starting on a weekend, or whenever you ahve a few days off and do not need your sleep as much). He will escalate, attempting to get you to cave in. DO NOT!!! Eventually he will get the message that this trick will no longer work, and give up. For more help with this, just click on the prompt to inititate a consult.

This is not unusual behavior. Most puppies will outgrow this behavior but it will take time. Try to make the crate a positive place. Feed him in the crate only. Hide treats in the crate that he can discover. About 30 minutes before bed, play with him to make him more tired. Most pets will eventually come to like their crate and think of it as their own room but this generally will take a few weeks. Hang in there and best of luck.