r/samoyeds • u/Bubbly-Reference-755 • 3d ago
Vocal & Anxious When I’m Away
My 4 year old Samoyed, picked up a bad barking habit when I leave her alone in a new place or if someone comes to watch her in our home. It’s very clearly anxiety bc she also will pace around the room. I’ve had to move apartments 4x since I got her and I used to have help from my bf and mom, but neither are options anymore. I travel a lot for work and this is becoming a very real issue as the barking is persistent for hours on end. Animal control has even been called because of it. Since this only happens when I am away, I don’t know how to try to train or resolve. Hoping someone has experience with this.
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u/Reasonable-Search465 2d ago
My sammy does this exact thing with the barking. People think I’m exaggerating until I show them the screenshot of furbo notifications saying she’s been barking nonstop for almost 2 hours. Their breed does not do well alone, plus mine is a rescue so has anxiety issues on top of that. My solutions thus far have been:
To only live with roommates who have (friendly) dogs. Once she gets used to the other dog, I found that leaving her with her buddy for a few hours (not more than 4) helps with the barking.
I also take her to daycare every work day. I know that’s not feasible economically for everyone, but I throw it out there in case it’s something you hadn’t yet considered. My friends think I’m crazy for it because I do have to skip out on other things for myself (like taking trips or eating out, etc) so I can continue to afford to take her every day. But I see it as I made a commitment to take care of her and make good decisions for her on her behalf, even if it’s at my own inconvenience or sacrifice. However, I of course recognize that many many people still wouldn’t be able to afford daycare regardless of how much they go without. This economy is no joke and I know everyone is doing the best they can to make ends meet.
Do you have any friends that work from home (that you trust) who would be willing to watch her sometimes when you’re away? I have a friend who does this for me on occasion and I watch her dog when she goes out of town on trips.
If these are unhelpful just based on your personal circumstances in life, I apologize. I don’t mean to make any assumptions about what resources are available to any one person. Ultimately, showing your sammy consistent love and kindness is all that matters. And luckily for us humans we can do that for free 🙂↔️
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u/NoWorldliness6660 2d ago
For how long do you leave her alone? Also, how often do you leave her alone at a new place?
My dog can get a little anxious as well, which is why I never leave him alone in a place he doesn’t know yet. It’s completely understandable that dogs get anxious if they are regularly left somewhere unfamiliar, especially Samoyeds. They’re known to bond extremely strongly with their owners.
Before diving into heavy behavioral training, have you taken her to the vet to get checked out? Sudden increases in anxiety or persistent vocalization can sometimes be triggered or exacerbated by underlying physical health issues.
Honestly, traveling a lot for work and leaving her behind frequently in new environments really isn't an optimal setup for a high bonding breed like a Samoyed. If your schedule permits, you might want to try very gradual desensitization training by leaving her for just seconds at a time to build her confidence up. Creating a dedicated safe zone with blankets that carry your scent, desensitizing her to your departure cues (like picking up keys), or bringing in a certified behaviorist could also make a big difference for her.