Barky Dog Problems

ButterCookie · #1 08-17-2011, 06:16 AM

Seriously guys. HALP!

Max won't stfu. Every tiny noise and he's off. No matter what I say or do, he refuses to stop barking. I've tried those air horns designed to distract dogs momentarily, removing him from the room, shouting (in frustration) everything I can think of. It's annoying me and no doubt it's annoying our neighbors.

He's sleeping in my room at the moment because we have guests staying in the front room and I've been woken up multiple times during the past few nights. I'm at the end of my tether.

desertangel · #2 08-17-2011, 10:59 AM

OMG... I feel your pain, been there done that. My dog was like that - and still can be under the right conditions, such as any change in routine. Could it be your guests have disrupted your dog's routine and sent it into "barky" mode? Going on that it might be a protective/territorial thing, you might try praising your dog for barking. "Good dog, thank you!" and pat them on the head. You might have to do it several times at first to get your dog to settle down, but eventually it should get to where you only do it once or twice and they'll settle right down. It's like you're acknowledging them for doing what comes naturally and that's to guard their home. Once you do that you release them from their duty and they return to their normal post, which is snoozing on the rug in front of the window or something. This positive training method worked for my dog when all the negative training methods didn't. Maybe it will work for your dog too! Good luck!

ButterCookie · #3 08-17-2011, 11:18 AM

I thought it might be that he was out of routine but he does it when he's sleeping in the front room and anyone walks past the window that he sits in. Unfortunately, that window is his rug by the fire and it was that way when I adopted him.

I'll definitely try praising him and I hope it gets somewhere. The logic makes perfect sense to me, I just hope he's as smart as your dog on the uptake

Thankyou!

camchristo · #4 08-17-2011, 12:26 PM

Have you tried a bark collar? I don't have a dog but I know some friends who have used them when everything else has failed. Much like the collar for an electric fence, dogs learn really quickly to avoid the unwanted behavior.

ButterCookie · #5 08-17-2011, 12:58 PM

Even if I wanted to, I couldn't afford one. They're like £60 or so and more for the ones that work based on a small jet of citronella in front of the nose rather than socking him.

My mum wouldn't help me out with one, either. She says he's my dog and I've to sort him out because I wanted him.

desertangel · #6 08-17-2011, 01:32 PM

If he sits in the window and barks at everyone all the time, the praising could take awhile before he settles down. What breed is your dog and how long have you had him?

I just re-read your earlier post and see that you adopted your dog. If that means you have not had him since he was a puppy, his barking may also indicate fearfulness. If this is the case, just teaching him that people are fun (hey, there's so-and-so walking by our window "hi neighbor!") and noises are okay ("thank you for barking, good dog") -he will eventually become more comfortable in his environment and not feel like everything is a threat. Sounds silly, I know - but the dog whisperer people recommend this approach for adopted dogs and it sure worked with my dog. Give it time, be patient and give lots of love. Try not to feel too frustrated because they can sense that and it may take longer. Sometimes I would tell my dog "it's not okay to bark at people, they won't want to pat you on the head." It's not so much what you say but the tone that's in your voice when you say it that they respond to. Lots of repitition, you have to do it over and over and over before it sinks in and changes their behavior. You can do it! It will be very rewarding when you see your effort paying off.

ButterCookie · #7 08-17-2011, 02:20 PM

He's a Shih Tzu and I've had him a year. He'll turn 3 in December.

I've sat the whole family down and had the positive reinforcement talk and he has responded well so far (he's been set off about 5 times since I replied to your last post) he sits and listens rather than shouting back at me. We'll have to see what side of the bed he wakes up on tomorrow and the day after etc before I dare say it's working though.

Thankyou for your help! It really is so so appreciated!

Macfanforever · #8 08-17-2011, 03:38 PM

I dont have a dog.but .I looked up Bark collars.I found this forum.Beware of some collars.I dont want to see Max get hurt.

http://www.poodleforum.com/5-poodle-...k-collars.html

ButterCookie · #9 08-17-2011, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macfanforever

I dont have a dog.but .I looked up Bark collars.I found this forum.Beware of some collars.I dont want to see Max get hurt.

http://www.poodleforum.com/5-poodle-...k-collars.html

This is why I'm very wary of them. I don't really like the thought of electrocuting my dog in any shape or form, which is why I looked into the citronella spray ones. Also, with him having such thick hair, he might not feel a bark collar anyway, I have no idea.

desertangel · #10 08-17-2011, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ButterCookie

He's a Shih Tzu and I've had him a year. He'll turn 3 in December.

I've sat the whole family down and had the positive reinforcement talk and he has responded well so far (he's been set off about 5 times since I replied to your last post) he sits and listens rather than shouting back at me. We'll have to see what side of the bed he wakes up on tomorrow and the day after etc before I dare say it's working though.

Thankyou for your help! It really is so so appreciated!

He sits and listens rather than shouting back... that's so hilarious! I'm hoping it's not just a reaction to the difference in response he's getting from you. I hope he continues to sit and listen. :-D

A Shih Tzu shouldn't be too much trouble. If you've had him a year and he's been doing this all along, it may take a little longer to correct the behavior. My dog was the same age as yours when I adopted her. We had a lot to learn and were still learning well past the one year anniversary. The family talk was a great thing to do. Your dog needs to have only one master and a back up for when you are out of the house. Of course if both are out, then he needs to practice good manners and listen to what he's told. Otherwise it will get too confusing for him. Don't know if you've ever adopted before, but some of them can be a real challenge. I almost gave up on my several times. After 3 years, I'm so glad I didn't. You may also want to look into food intolerances as that can make them very attention deficit and hyper. Mine calmed down quite a bit once I got her on the right food. *yea, no bark collars - just time, patience and did I mention exercise? Lots of long daily walks and runs at the dog park will help greatly!

Macfanforever · #11 08-17-2011, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ButterCookie

This is why I'm very wary of them. I don't really like the thought of electrocuting my dog in any shape or form, which is why I looked into the citronella spray ones. Also, with him having such thick hair, he might not feel a bark collar anyway, I have no idea.

Yes try the non electric ones.

**mylittledemon** · #12 08-18-2011, 12:59 AM

My neighbour had a VERY barky dog at one point. She didnt believe us because the dog was quiet when she was home... but he barked at EVERY LITTLE THING. You could start a load of clothes in the wash and the dog would bark, NON STOP for at least an hour. It was maddening. I dont mind barking for a few minutes... but he would just go and go like the Energizer bunny. Finally we recorded it one day in the house for a few hours and showed her. She was so embarrassed but hey... she went out and got a bark collar, and problem solved.

chriskisn · #13 08-18-2011, 06:58 AM

I don't know whether you do this but make sure he gets out and gets walked every day. Dogs get bored like humans and if they are stuck indoors all the time they get REAL bored!

Our previous dog Topsy tore a ligament in her leg and we were advised by the vet to rest her for weeks and not walk her at all. As she went out nightly, she became really depressed from not going out and we figured that this was not helping her recovery at all, things did not seem to be getting better. We went against vet advise and drove her to the park every night for a short and slow limp around. Her depressed mood lifted and she recovered despite the vet telling us that she would need a $1000 operation.

Our current dog Bailey (Maltese X) goes out twice a day and on the couple of days a week or two ago that we had bad storms he didn't get to go out, and he became quite grumpy and restless. Getting outside means he gets to meet up with other dogs on his walk (and given we live behind a retirement village, most of the local dogs are his size), and that socialisation had really improved his overall behaviour and happiness.

ButterCookie · #14 08-18-2011, 07:35 AM

Oh yep, he's walked every day, multiple times. He can't cope with one really long vigourous walk because of his stumpy legs and strange, over pedigreed little Shih Tzu body, but he goes for about half an hour 3 times a day.

If praising him doesn't work and he gets gradually worse, I will have to seriously look into a bark collar, I think.

desertangel · #15 08-18-2011, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mylittledemon

My neighbour had a VERY barky dog at one point. She didnt believe us because the dog was quiet when she was home... but he barked at EVERY LITTLE THING. You could start a load of clothes in the wash and the dog would bark, NON STOP for at least an hour. It was maddening. I dont mind barking for a few minutes... but he would just go and go like the Energizer bunny. Finally we recorded it one day in the house for a few hours and showed her. She was so embarrassed but hey... she went out and got a bark collar, and problem solved.

Good for you that you recorded the Energizer dog barking. I would want my neighbors to do that if my dog were barking while I was away. Bark collar is about the only thing you can do if they do it only when you're not around. I left windows open in the house, drove my car down the street and parked, then snuck up to the house and hung out for quite awhile, several different times, to be sure my dog wasn't barking while I was out. The neighbors confirmed she barks when I leave and come home, when the UPS man delivers, etc. but only for a few minutes - then she's quiet. YAY!