Labrador Barking For Food

[Just love my dogs!]

Hi All

I've got a problem with our 14 month old labrador. He is food obsessed and he barks at 5am every morning for food. We had neighbours come and complain yesterday (so we can't ignore it anymore) and we're not sure what to do. Has anyone tried the citronella collar? Does it really work? Could anyone suggest a particular brand?

Thanks. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Leah

[poodlefan]

I'm guessing your dog sleeps outside?

How do you know its food he's barking for?

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

You can actually train dogs NOT to bark for food. I worked for a huge rescue group and we had a dog that was returned for this. His foster carers trained him not to bark and he was rehomed to a unit!!!

Some people on DOL talk about the Triangle of Temptation - not sure if that would work. I recommend you go on the Training forum or look it up on the net.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

And also, don't have him outside so he can wake the neighours!

[Just love my dogs!]

I'm guessing your dog sleeps outside?

How do you know its food he's barking for?

He does sleep outside with our Golden Retriever. They have a large dog kennel. We've had to bring him inside now that he's barking.

It must be food he's barking for. As soon as he's fed. He's quiet and we don't hear another sound out of him!

[poodlefan]

I'm guessing your dog sleeps outside?

How do you know its food he's barking for?

He does sleep outside with our Golden Retriever. They have a large dog kennel. We've had to bring him inside now that he's barking.

It must be food he's barking for. As soon as he's fed. He's quiet and we don't hear another sound out of him!

So if he sleeps inside does he still bark at 5.00am?

[Just love my dogs!]

I'm guessing your dog sleeps outside?

How do you know its food he's barking for?

He does sleep outside with our Golden Retriever. They have a large dog kennel. We've had to bring him inside now that he's barking.

It must be food he's barking for. As soon as he's fed. He's quiet and we don't hear another sound out of him!

So if he sleeps inside does he still bark at 5.00am?

Yes he still barks at 5am. We would like them to sleep outside, as they are trashing our house!

[Cosmolo]

How many meals a day does the dog get? Do you feed at the same time each day? Do you feed to stop the dog from barking?

Edited April 27, 2010 by Cosmolo

[poodlefan]

Sleeping them in crates would stop the trashing.

As I see it, the fact you've fed him to stop him barking has reinforced the behaviour. To stop it, you need another plan.

When are they usually fed?

[Just love my dogs!]

How many meals a day does the dog get? Do you feed at the same time each day? Do you feed to stop the dog from barking?

He gets two small meals each day. Some labrador breeders said not to feed them at the same time each day. It varies. My husband feeds him anywhere between 5:30 and 7am. At this stage we are feeding him to stop the barking. I know this reinforces the bad behaviour, however we don't know what to do. We tried ignoring him but he just keeps on barking!

[Just love my dogs!]

Sleeping them in crates would stop the trashing.

As I see it, the fact you've fed him to stop him barking has reinforced the behaviour. To stop it, you need another plan.

When are they usually fed?

It varies. My husband feeds them between 5:30 and 7am and again between 6 and 8pm.

[poodlefan]

How many meals a day does the dog get? Do you feed at the same time each day? Do you feed to stop the dog from barking?

He gets two small meals each day. Some labrador breeders said not to feed them at the same time each day. It varies. My husband feeds him anywhere between 5:30 and 7am. At this stage we are feeding him to stop the barking. I know this reinforces the bad behaviour, however we don't know what to do. We tried ignoring him but he just keeps on barking!

I'd be trying a large evening meal as an experiment.

Dogs thrive on routine and consistency. I don't see how mucking about with meal times will help you.

Have you considered crate training?

[Cosmolo]

If you ignore, the dog will get worse before it gets better- but it does work. Can't say how long it will take though- especially now that the dog has been rewarded for his efforts. Vary feeding times as much as you possibly can as well- each time the dog barks and gets fed, it makes the problem worse.

How long did you ignore for the first time?

ETA I disagree with Poodlefan- varying meal times can help. Most dogs do better when there is no strict routine creating expectations- when dogs are in a routine and their expectations aren't met, we often get problem behaviour.

Edited April 27, 2010 by Cosmolo

[Mas1981]

What you have to do is wait for a break in the barking and then reward him by feeding him or playing his favorite game. Its going to be hard but you need to train him that he only gets good things when he is quiet.

[Just love my dogs!]

How many meals a day does the dog get? Do you feed at the same time each day? Do you feed to stop the dog from barking?

He gets two small meals each day. Some labrador breeders said not to feed them at the same time each day. It varies. My husband feeds him anywhere between 5:30 and 7am. At this stage we are feeding him to stop the barking. I know this reinforces the bad behaviour, however we don't know what to do. We tried ignoring him but he just keeps on barking!

I'd be trying a large evening meal as an experiment.

Dogs thrive on routine and consistency. I don't see how mucking about with meal times will help you.

Have you considered crate training?

Ok. The only reason we varied their feeding times was because some lab breeders suggested this. They said the dogs need to learn that if for some reason you can't feed them (E.g., you're out) then they need to wait until YOU are ready.

[Just love my dogs!]

If you ignore, the dog will get worse before it gets better- but it does work. Can't say how long it will take though- especially now that the dog has been rewarded for his efforts. Vary feeding times as much as you possibly can as well- each time the dog barks and gets fed, it makes the problem worse.

How long did you ignore for the first time?

ETA I disagree with Poodlefan- varying meal times can help. Most dogs do better when there is no strict routine creating expectations- when dogs are in a routine and their expectations aren't met, we often get problem behaviour.

We stay in bed trying to ignore the barking but it's hard at 5am to let it continue for a period of time! We're really worried now that the neighbours will complain again. You can hear the barking even when he's inside!

[poodlefan]

Ok. The only reason we varied their feeding times was because some lab breeders suggested this. They said the dogs need to learn that if for some reason you can't feed them (E.g., you're out) then they need to wait until YOU are ready.

Personally, I think there's a difference between the odd early or late meal and a completely unpredictable schedule.

Ask yourself the obvious question - is what you're doing now working for you?

[Just love my dogs!]

What you have to do is wait for a break in the barking and then reward him by feeding him or playing his favorite game. Its going to be hard but you need to train him that he only gets good things when he is quiet.

Have you had this problem with your labs? I guess we can give this a try. It does sound difficult though!

[Cosmolo]

I understand that, i really do but although its likely to be frustrating, you would likely see improvements within a week- apart from using a bark collar (which i would not recommend in this situation unless absolutely necesary) i don't think there is a quicker way.

Can you speak with our neighbours and explain what you are doing and that you are working on the problem? Alot of neighbours are happy to give you a week or two of leeway if they know you are trying to resolve the issue.

ETA I think what you're doing now is entirely TOO predictable, hence the issue- dog knows if he barks for long enough in the mornings you will give him food. My dogs have a very random, unpredictable feeding schedule and while they're always happy to be fed there are no demands at certain times.

Edited April 27, 2010 by Cosmolo

[Just love my dogs!]

Ok. The only reason we varied their feeding times was because some lab breeders suggested this. They said the dogs need to learn that if for some reason you can't feed them (E.g., you're out) then they need to wait until YOU are ready.

Personally, I think there's a difference between the odd early or late meal and a completely unpredictable schedule.

Ask yourself the obvious question - is what you're doing now working for you?

Hmmm. This is true!