Need Help With A Staffy?

[Salukifan]

and by the way...who mentioned using an aversive collar?

What other effective barking stoppers are there??? If you want to reduce the occurence of behaviour, then aversives are what's required. Its not like this is a situation where training an alternative behaviour is an option.

Edited March 1, 2012 by Telida Whippets

[deghj]

We were successful in more than one case and I haven't used a collar like you're suggesting.

Anyway , I hope the person with the puppy has found some useful suggestions to help the situation

[Salukifan]

What i learnt from my staffies is that what works for one may not work for another.

BTW, the person asking about the barking doesn't actually have a Stafford. I think the pup is as much Labrador as anything else.

[PennyLane]

Good morning

Staffies tend to start noticing potential threats from outside your property around this time (in my experience anyway). To some degree she will settle down when she learns which ones are significant and which ones aren't. I can only speak from personal experience here so there may be a better way but what we did was get up and acknowledge the barking when it was something you would be concerned about (shouting in the street, loud odd noises, etc) check it out and then get her back on her bed/in her kennel. We ignored everything else and it took a bit of patience. I would also have a look at where she's laying. Moving her to the back of your property away from street noises, facing her kennel to a quiet area

I also use a DAP spray which is a pheramone that calms dogs down. Unfortunately the most effective method is via an airwick type preparation for inside but they have recently released a spray that can be sprayed on her kennel or bedding.

hope this helps

Thanks for the help - I will try moving her around to the back as sleeping her inside is definitely not what I want.

Thanks again

[PennyLane]

What i learnt from my staffies is that what works for one may not work for another.

BTW, the person asking about the barking doesn't actually have a Stafford. I think the pup is as much Labrador as anything else.

Thanks for pointing this out - as stated in other posts she is a staffy X - it was in your opinion to tell me she "could" have Labrodor in her.

Have a nice day

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

TW

I use a few things -

1. I teach my dog to bark on cue, which gives it value to the dog, ie not to be wasted on unimportant things like the wily wagtail. I teach quiet in between but mostly just asking her to "speak" - shuts her up because she only gets rewarded for the quietest noise.

2. Collar grab and hold. Had to start doing this because a certain evil hound decided the 2am freight trains, 1km away, should be barked at. At first I would let her out to see what she was barking at but when I figured it out, I would hold her collar until she was quiet and then release. You could argue that's an aversive. But it's not the same level as an e-collar or citronella collar.

I have been known to use a squirty bottle by way of distraction too, but given I don't aim to squirt the dog - and she likes the water anyway - I don't know if you could argue it was aversive or just stopping the reinforcement/fun of the barking by way of distraction.

anti-bark collars work on some dogs and not others. It depends if they can figure out what they're supposed to do to make it stop. One famous dog, would just bark continously until the citronella collar was emtpy... And if they know what they're supposed to do to make it stop - do you really need the collar anyway?

Definitely putting the dog inside is removing the problem for the neighbours.

Yelling at the dog for barking - most dogs take that as approval - cos you joined in with the barking.

efs

Edited March 1, 2012 by Mrs Rusty Bucket

[Salukifan]

What i learnt from my staffies is that what works for one may not work for another.

BTW, the person asking about the barking doesn't actually have a Stafford. I think the pup is as much Labrador as anything else.

Thanks for pointing this out - as stated in other posts she is a staffy X - it was in your opinion to tell me she "could" have Labrodor in her.

Have a nice day

Yep, my opinion as stated above. :) Hope you have her chipped accordingly because if you don't stop her barking, expect the rangers on your doorstep shortly.

deghi was giving advice based on a view that your pup was an SBT.. Personally I dont' think anything flows for this behaviour based on the fact that she isn't but wanted to correct any misapprehensions based on your post in a "need help with a Staffy" thread. I thought you said she was an Amstaff cross anyway?

Have a nice day.

Edited March 1, 2012 by Telida Whippets

[Kavik]

I agree with Telida - sleeping them inside is the easiest way to prevent barking at night time :) Everyone (including pup) is likely to get a better night's sleep that way.

[persephone]

Yep..whatever dog breed, it is ,IMO, easier to prevent the start of a problem, than try and correct it later, once it's become a habit. ;)

[Staffyluv]

I agree with Telida - sleeping them inside is the easiest way to prevent barking at night time :) Everyone (including pup) is likely to get a better night's sleep that way.

I have had Staffords for years (my last boy was with us for over 14 years) and I agree, better to sleep them inside and avoid the issue.

Teaching them to bark on command is another brat option.

Personally I would be taking my advice from a good behaviouralist or trainer. Or the many experienced people here on DOL...

Does the pup in question go to puppy school or training?

Staffords need training and socialisation from an early age.

[aussielover]

However, when you let her on the bed at any time you're saying that she is equal in status to you within your family and can sleep there. It's the same as letting her on the couch.

I suggest you persist with removing her at all times with a firm 'no'. It will take a while to get it through to her.

If you keep letting her on the bed she'll do it forever.

I don't agree. For some dogs that are rank orientated (in my experience these dogs are few and far between), sleeping on the bed or couch may be an issue, but for the vast majority it is no major issue.

It is personal preference as to whether you want to allow dogs on your bed or couch, but it is nOT going to make the dog think they are boss or "dominant" over you if you do allow them.

As for letting them sleep on your bed, they will learn not to do it if you tell them not to, or you shut you bedroom door, or buy a crate.

My dog sleeps on my bed at night, she is a good watch dog so I like having her near me at night. If we are staying at someone elses house or away from home she sleeps in her crate, or outside. She has no issues with nay of these sleeping arrangements.

Your dog may bark when outside for 2 main reasons

1. they want to be inside with you

2. they are barking at people/wildlife/cats/ other dogs

Either way this can be fixed by bringing the dog inside to sleep- a crate or the laundray might be a good spot for the dog.

[WreckitWhippet]

Allowing your SBT on your lounge or bed and even letting it sleep with you, does not automatically undermine your authority. Allowing it to sleep on the bed, does not make them any easier or harder to train. Having them close to you can actually be very beneficial and strengthen your bond.

The better the bond you have with your Stafford, the easier life is with them.

If you don;t want your SBT to bark at night then either let it sleep inside in a crate or where ever or provide a warm dry, fenced off kennel area, where there is nothing to look at and you can be certain that there's nothing going to wake the dog during the night.

If you have roaming cats, possums or live in a high traffic or noisy neighbourhood, then inside is the best place.

[huski]

However, when you let her on the bed at any time you're saying that she is equal in status to you within your family and can sleep there. It's the same as letting her on the couch.

I've always found this notion quite silly, dogs as pack animals will all sleep together for comfort and security, not apart.

My dogs can come on my bed and furniture when I say so and they get off when I say so. My beagle sleeps with me every night. No leadership problems here, though sometimes I wake up and she is asleep with her head on my pillow, I wonder what that means?? :laugh:

[Polgara's Shadow]

My Staffords have always been invited onto our bed while we read at night and while waking up in the morning. If Vulcan wasn't so wiggly he'd be welcome to stay all night. My Staffords are also welcome on the couch and my lap :laugh: . No dominance problems for us. Just be consistent and firm when you want them to get off or move.

In my opinion its a good thing to let your Stafford have plenty of up close and personal time with you...they are very human oriented and I think this time hanging out close together is beneficial for my Stafford's sense of well being and belonging.

It gets freezing in this part of Victoria and Staffords with their fine hair and skin feel the cold. Vulcan sleeps in a canvas kennel inside the laundry with plenty of blankets too over winter. I wouldn't recommend sleeping your Stafford outside.

Edited March 4, 2012 by Polgara's Shadow

[Jumabaar]

However, when you let her on the bed at any time you're saying that she is equal in status to you within your family and can sleep there. It's the same as letting her on the couch.

I've always found this notion quite silly, dogs as pack animals will all sleep together for comfort and security, not apart.

My dogs can come on my bed and furniture when I say so and they get off when I say so. My beagle sleeps with me every night. No leadership problems here, though sometimes I wake up and she is asleep with her head on my pillow, I wonder what that means?? :laugh:

I am guessing it means you have a comfy pillow!!

My dogs know they are welcome on my bed, but not allowed on my grandparents bed when they have a sleepover there. They also know they have to give their toys right into my grandfathers hand but anyone new gets tested by having the ball put 1m away from them- if they insist on having it handed to them the first time then thats the rules of the game, if they go and pick it up then they are the rules.

So long as you set rules and fix the criteria there will be no dominance or status issues with anything. Its as silly as saying if a dog doesn't move out of your way they are being dominant- mine all stay still because if they move while my grandparents are moving it usually means they get trodden on!!

Train your dog to do what you want and don't read into things too much.

[WreckitWhippet]

Isolate your Stafford and you are just asking for behavioural issues. The dogs that spend plenty of time in the house and with their owners, are not usually the problem barkers, destructo-mutts, fence fighters and escape artists.

[Nekhbet]

However, when you let her on the bed at any time you're saying that she is equal in status to you within your family and can sleep there. It's the same as letting her on the couch.

No it doesnt. I have owned some of the most pig headed, dominant breeds around and they all hop up on the couch with me, or sleep on the bed if I let them. I still rule the roost. That is an archaic concept because people don't train their dogs properly. Jumbaar is right, set the rules and dogs stick within them, you have no issues but can still get snuggles.

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

My brother's staffy is a stinker, skin and farts - horrible.

I have shared a room with her and her former doggy friend, but if I left the room I couldn't go back in till I'd aired it. Yikes.

Been thinking about giving my brother a sack of black hawk to see if that makes a pong improvement over the supercoat or whatever stuff he's feeding her now.

So not very keen to let her in my bedroom. My dog is fine tho.

[Clyde]

My SBT sleeps with me. She is the most biddable dog I've ever owned.

[NOCTRL]

My staffy would be super bummed if he wasn't allowed his night time and early morning snuggles on the bed with us! He gets up when we ask him to, and gets down when he's told to, i don't think it's a problem at all.