Dog Barking When Alone

[minimax]

I think that the breeder and the breed club have given this owner lots of information on the needs of an active gundog breed.

Yet the dog is still showing signs of being bored. Having the information is one thing, but implementing it is another. I'd assume breeder and breed club would have mentioned how much mental stimulation the dog needs, yet it's not getting it.

[minimax]

What sort of training do you do with her, mental/brain training? Upping the exercise isn't always the answer, but sometimes upping the mental exercise is, especially if she's still only young.

This. If she is a Viszla then you should have been made aware by the breeder that she will need a LOT of stimulation. If she was a WORKING gun dog, she would be doing long and possibly unseen retrieves by now. She would have been taught to come, sit, stay, lie down, stay while you are out of sight, stay while you are doing things within her field of vision, possibly some direction cues and so on. Also all these commands via whistle.

Physical exercise is not what she needs right now, the more you run her the more fit she will get and the more she will demand. Your dog seems to be bored sh*tless by the sound of things and you need to start teaching her and demanding more brain exercises from her now before she gets older (and bigger and thinks of things to do other than bark to relieve boredom) :)

What activities were you planning on doing with her to replace the full time job of being a gun dog? I do hope your breeder spoke to you about these things

Yes she is a Vizsla. I am fully aware of their energy levels and stimulation requirements before I got her and I did ALOT of research and it was a decision I did not enter into lightly. I waited a year for this dog and do not feel I should be scrutinised for how I am caring for her. I would do anything for my dog hence why I am asking some advice on this forum rather than turning a blind eye. When I say up to 2 hours exercise this is rare and excessive I know but only happens if I take her on a play date with another V. I do not run with her or force her to go on a brisk walk. It is usually down the beach, off leash, throwing a ball. I sit down sometimes and she has a dig in the sand, plays with other dogs, and I also practice recalls and stays etc. Average time I would be out is 45 minutes sometimes an hour. I am also well aware that pups should not be overexercised but I want to stress that I monitor her closely when out and go home when she starts to tire. I know many other V owners who do exactly the same as me, all with similar aged dogs.

I start obedience formally this week. I hope to trial in this eventually and when she is old enough do agility and flyball. I may look at tracking later on to. I am a nursing student and want to incorporate therapy work when she is matured more - companies such as 'Story dogs' and visiting aged care/disability patients is my goal. So as you can see I don't just have a high energy breed I plan to do nothing with. I am wanting to give her the best life possible. My breeder is fantastic and I got this pup at 8 weeks so she has no previous hunting experience. Her lines do come from some of the most successful V's in this country though so you could say it is in her blood.

All that is great, but your dog is barking when you are out so you need to work on that first, so that should be your main goal.

[BlackJaq]

Ok that is good but I think your repeated use of the term "high energy" indicates that you possibly expect her to need a lot more exercise than she really does and mental stimulation may be a little forgotten about. She requires a lot of your energy to be invested into keeping her entertained, especially on a mental level ;)

I think you will find her a lot more settled if you tone down her exercise a little and spend more time making her think. Teach her tricks and proper retrieving protocol. Make things interesting by letting her scent her way to her dinner (for example a lamb heart dragged around the yard for a little way and hidden out of sight so she has to work for her dinner, this will introduce her to the basics of tracking AND she is pending some time keeping herself entertained). I can't imagine that obedience will be enough stimulation for her, it is repetitive and can quickly become boring.

So if you were told all these thing why are you getting so prickly? Your dog is obviously trying to tell you something if she spends all day barking and your exercise regime seems a little excessive... Would you rather if your dog was suffering separation anxiety instead of boredom?

Boredom is easily fixed and she is young and not doing any major damage yet

[BlackJaq]

I think that the breeder and the breed club have given this owner lots of information on the needs of an active gundog breed.

Yet the dog is still showing signs of being bored. Having the information is one thing, but implementing it is another. I'd assume breeder and breed club would have mentioned how much mental stimulation the dog needs, yet it's not getting it.

Minimax, I am loving how you manage to sum up my exact thoughts in so few words.

This is exactly what I am trying to convey to you OP, "knowing" and "doing" are two different things.

I have seen´the damage a bored Weimaraner can do to a house, I cannot imagine that a Viszla would be that different. I am talking holes chewed through doors and walls and crap sprayed up the walls here..

Edited February 2, 2013 by BlackJaq