During the appointment, give your vet a history of the howling, including when it started, when it usually occurs (during the night, when you leave the house), and if it’s gotten more frequent. If your dog does not have medical problems, then a behavioral issue is the likely cause of the howling.
Twice-daily walks Runs, if your dog is physically able to run
Fetch, if your dog can easily run and jump Hide and seek Teaching new commands
Go through your normal departure routine (grabbing your keys, putting on your coat) without actually leaving the house. Practice this a few times a day. Leave the house for short periods of time, maybe as short as 10 seconds, then come back in when your dog stops howling. Reward your dog with a treat after the howling stops. Gradually increase the amount of time that you leave the house. Be patient. It may take weeks or months before your dog stops howling when you leave the house.
Realize that medication alone will not relieve your dog’s anxiety or reduce the howling. Continue with the behavioral strategies after you start your dog on the anti-anxiety medication. [5] X Research source
After experiencing pain relief, your dog may not howl so much. Administer the pain medication as prescribed so your dog gets the maximum benefit from the treatment.
Anipryl probably won’t make your dog’s howling stop completely. However, it can help reduce the howling.
Having a consistent routine will help your dog feel relaxed and confident with what will happen each day.
Give your dog a food puzzle toy, which will be a mental challenge for your dog and keep it busy for a long time. Chew toys will also keep your dog busy and entertained.
