How To Stop An Otterhound Dog Or Puppy Howling
When it comes to bringing a new puppy or dog into the life of a family, many people will plan ahead and concentrate on things such as potty training, sleeping arrangements, leash training, crate training and tricks. While these are all very important things to consider, they are not the only things to think about. Whether your Otterhound dog or puppy has already started howling or not, it is a good idea to make sure that you fully understand how to make the howling stop. This way, if it is a behavior that has not begun yet, you will know just what to do when it does start. The sooner you correct the ill behavior of the Otterhound dog or puppy, the easy it will be for everyone.
One of the first things you will need to do is that howling is a form of communication for your dog. The only way to make sure that the problem is effectively addressed would be to understand why it is happening in the first place. Your dog could be trying to attract your attention for many reasons. Maybe he just wants you to remember that he is there. Maybe there is something outside that scares or alerts him and he is giving off a warning signal to you. He could be sick and his howls could be a sign of pain. If the howling only happens when you are not home, it could very well be a sign of separation anxiety.
Now, it is important to make sure that you are addressing any possible medical problems with your dog, in case that is the reason he is howling. Make an appointment with your local vet and explain the howling. Have your dog get a full checkup. If your vet is able to give your Otterhound a clean bill of health, then you know that the howling is because of a different issue. When Otterhounds howls only when the owner, or master, leaves the house, it is important to make sure that you are trying to ease the problem. Your dog feels alone and abandoned. Leave a television or radio on, with the volume just high enough for your Otterhound to hear it. When you leave the house, try not to make a big deal out of it. Simply sneak out while your dog is happy or preoccupied with something else.
If your Otterhound is howling every time a car passes by, you have to train him to understand that he should not be doing that. Make sure that your dog fully understands the “no” or “stop” command. Every time your dog howls at cars, give the command and then when he stops, turn away and ignore him. You can also try to be proactive and sit by the window with your dog. Whenever you see a car coming, distract him with a treat and praise him for not howling. Eventually your Otterhound will realize that in order to get a treat and your attention, he must ignore the cars.
This may take a little time but it is important to make sure that you are always consistent with your training. If you are not consistent, you could find that it takes months, if ever, to complete the training with your Otterhound dog or puppy.