Barking Help, Please ..

[Poodle wrangler]

Charlie barked for a solid 30 minutes when left in the backyard on his own, until I got home. The chicken carcass I'd given him was untouched. He's used to having another dog for company, but I had to take the other dog to an appt that day.

He's a standard poodle, nearly 8 months old, desexed male. I work part-time and the dogs are used to having each other, plus humans, much of the time. They're not allowed to bark for more than a few minutes, if I'm home they're "shhhh"ed. They sleep outside, but have access inside-outside when I'm home.

The mini poodle (6 years, dominant temperament) is a protective barker and likes the sound of his own voice. We live adjacent to a golf course and he's started to bark at golfers on the fairway (screened with trees). Fair enough, but only when they come to the fence, looking for a ball. Both dogs are walked daily, older dog likes to do a trick or 2 and I do 5 minute training for the younger dog, chew toys/ bones etc if I'm out. The standard is more laid back and this barking is new. We go to local obedience classes.

How do I stop Charlie from becoming a barker?

Do I need to cure the older dog's barking first? (seems to be getting worse, or I'm more aware of it).

The volume from a standard poodle bark crosses 500m from our place, starting a neighbourhood barking chain-reaction . Smaller dog bark is irritating, but not as loud or disruptive to neighbours (I think). Charlie has only just found his voice. Before, he only barked rarely.

I tried an ultrasonic collar on Oscar before-it worked OK to start- then lost its effect. It would go off when he was just running or jumping, not barking frown.gif .

Any ideas? I'm not against using an ecollar, but wouldn't want it to go off with so many false alarms as the ultrasonic collar did. I think it might make either dog fearful if they were zapped regularly during normal play.

I've started doing the TOT with Charlie. He barks on tie out and I have to wait for a break in barking to go back out with the food. He is looking at me.

Yesterday, I also put Charlie out in the yard with a bone and left him alone for about an hour (other dog inside). He started to bark, I waited for him to take a break then called out to him, sit, then back inside. I'm planning to try to lengthen the time he's left outside on his own.

Thanks for any advice Sorry for the essay ...

Edited August 1, 2007 by Poodle wrangler