Barking Issues - Help Anyone?

[honor_m]

I seem to be having issues with barking which has just gotten out of hand.

My dog is currently 5 years old (Poodle X Lhasa Apso), and has many barking problems, almost being reported to the council by the neighbours. He sees another dog on the street while we're walking, and off he goes incessantly barking until they pass. We've tried the walking the other direction thing, but it just doesn't work because the other dog is therefore walking behind us, and our dog just gets so worked up that it's even near us.

As well, he tends to bark at other dogs and people as they are walking past our home, often at the fence line. We've tried the citronella collar, but it didn't stop him barking when we took the collar off.

This has really frustrated us, and we just don't know what to do anymore. If there are any suggestions or comments to help, it would be greatly appreciated.

[persephone]

Hi-

The ideal for you and your dog would be a trainer there with you, to SEE what your dog is doing, explain to you WHY, and then HELP you remedy the unwanted behaviours.

If you tell us where you are (city, or area) Someone will probably recommend someone reliable to you.

[Erny]

Although it is impossible to tell without seeing your dog, on the small amount of information that you've written it sounds as though your dog could be barking due to either : fear; excitement; territory guard ..... or a combination of all or one or two of the aforementioned.

Working out the "cause" of the barking is the first step. If you only address the symptom but the cause remains, it is often unsuccessful.

I agree with Persephone. You need to engage the services of a trainer/behaviourist who is capable of working through this with you to get to the root/s of the problem, and then help you begin to unravel it, which would involve a program your trainer/behaviourist would set out for you to follow .

[hlk70g]

I also have a dog who is getting out of control with her barking - we have just moved house about a month ago and she loves it here!

She is often just out sitting in the middle of the lawn "talking" to herself, the birds, whatever! LOL

BUT it is getting annoying and we don't want to get the neighbours offside.

She also barks to come in...then barks to go out.....I have tried to ignore her so she hasn't got me "trained" to respond each time she barks - but ignoring her doesn't work - she just keeps going.

I'm thinking of trying an anti-bark collar but I'm not sure how effective they would be on a really fluffy dog? She is a Samoyed.

Any ideas to help would be appreciated.

[honor_m]

Thanks everyone,

We live in Brisbane, on the southside. Would there be any benefit to take him to dog obedience school again?

And about the collar, it just made our dog scared of us and didn't 'cure' any problems - just made them worse.

[Erny]

We live in Brisbane, on the southside. Would there be any benefit to take him to dog obedience school again?

IMO you'd be better off with a one-on-one training session with a reputable/capable trainer/behaviourist first. This will help determine what the cause of the problem is that results in your dog barking so much. If it is based in fear, for example, going to dog obedience school might be too overwhelming for your dog just at the moment. I've worked with many people whose dogs have vocalised in one shape or form at other dogs due to fear. A few one-on-one sessions (with practice by the owner in between times) and a private session with them at the obedience school to show them how to gradually integrate their dogs to the classes without overwhelming them and causing their earlier work to regress (as well as email progress contact) has pretty much seen them (owners and dogs) well on their way to rehabilitation.

Regardless, you'll find it easier to learn to handle your dog in the presence of (eg) only one other dog before you then progress to multiples of dogs. Your improved handling skills will have a marked influence on your dog's behaviour as well.

The instructors at your dog school may not be as experienced or specialised in being able to assist you with this problem in any case, and generally are unable to spend the time necessary to help you as much as a private consultation would.

And about the collar, it just made our dog scared of us and didn't 'cure' any problems - just made them worse.

Are you talking about the anti-bark citronella collar you used? Are you saying you used this whilst you were out walking/working on lead? These collars are not designed for that use - at least, it is not something I would recommend. It would be more about what YOU do that would count. The anti-bark collars are generally for home when no one is there to be able to manage the barking. Even then, I'm not a fan of the citronella style collars anyway. As to which type would suit ..... I'd like to be able to see your dog first to recommend, assuming one is required at all.

ETA: Jane Harper (trainer/behaviourist) lives in Brisbane and by this forum has a good reputation. If you're looking for that one-on-one help I've suggested you might do well to look her up .

Edited October 31, 2008 by Erny