Barking Dog

[WildatHeart]

Hi, my kelpie x border collie is a barker. My neighbors informed me that he was barking all day when I wasn't home. I set up a recording and they were right. All day long. Spoke to other neighbors and they said the same, they said he barked at anything and everything and nothing. I currently use a dogtra ys500 on him. Neighbors have said the issue has improved (4 months since using the collar feedback) When out with me in the ute, sometimes he doesn't care that the collar will go off. He'd rather just grit he's teeth and get the stim just so he can bark. The collar shuts off for 15 seconds after the stim, even if the dog still barks. He knows this and will just go nuts to bark as much as he can and stops just before the 15 seconds is up. Sometimes he will just keep going again though just because he really wants to bark. Most times the barking is at a person, other times I'm not really sure what its out, and other times he will bark (if I'm driving to my horses) a couple kms from where a dog in a yard barks back that we drive past. Once past he stops.

Looking for collar recommendations please that possibly don't shut off? He is very timid of people so maybe the collar is exacerbating the issue?

He is exercised most days for about 2hrs (when I say exercised, I mean racing around the whole time and foaming at the mouth extent), has another dog to play with, bones and toys to chew and some training at night.

[skip]

Wanted to just bump this up so maybe somebody can help with advice?

What type of training have you given the dog while it was growing up. I tried to teach my kelpie that there was a quite time and a work time. Lucky mine developed a good off switch. BY type I was thinking more along the lines of learning self control. They do need to be able to learn to control themselves.

But to get a tired kelpie meant so much time spent exercising and training. When she was younger she took A LOT of exercise. At 2 years its better now but working dogs do need a job, training and exercise. Is she really getting enough?

Would hate a collar myself, would not go there so early on (probably never) but that is my personal opinion. I would have tried a trainer/behaviourists first so did you try anything like that? What happened with what you did try?

If my pup had been barking etc a quiet time in the crate stopped this. Wouldn't be letting the dog practice the excited barking at any time either like in the ute. Any behaviour such as barking at mowers, brooms and wheelie bins was trained out as well.

What other behaviours does your dog have? I'm guessing maybe not just barking?

Hope someone with more knowledge than me can advise you. Some working dogs can be a real handful but anything is possible if you work at it.

[Simply Grand]

This dog needs an assssment from a reputable behaviourist and an ongoing training and management plan.

Non stop barking, extreme reactivity, frantic activity, foaming at the mouth... The dog sounds seriously stressed

[kelpiecuddles]

I agree on the behaviourist front. In the meantime in the interests of keeping the peace with neighbours could you try having the dog in the garage while you are away from home. A neighbour where we used to live had a dog that did this, i notified them of the issue and the put the dog in the garage during the day where he just slept the whole time. Turns out there was nothing to bark at in there so he didn't bother and just snoozed the day away in his comfy bed. :laugh: I wouldn't use locking him inside as a long term solution but might help temporarily to keep the peace and as part of the process of retraining the behaviour.

Edited April 10, 2014 by kelpiecuddles

[Dame Aussie]

We have a barker, he's an anatolian X maremma and he can be a challenge in the suburbs. We basically keep him inside whenever we're out and he sleeps inside at night. He doesn't sound anywhere near as full on as this though, he will bark at other dogs barking in the neighborhood or cars pulling up near the house, walk the perimter of the property letting out the occasional woof (so annoying :laugh: ) basically alert barking, but as soon as we shush him and he feels he's done his job he stops. I agree maybe seeing a behaviorist or a good trainer would help, he can't be happy being this reactive. Good luck with it I know how stressful barky dogs can be.

Edited April 10, 2014 by Dame Aussie

[HappyCamper]

What do you do with the dog while you are home? a kelpie/ border cross will need a lot of stimulation a job of sorts some will go mad in a yard with nothing to do or they will find a job themselves. Could try getting involved in flyball, agility or something like that. Could try hiding treats, bones etc all over the yard to keep him busy. Could try running them before work and after. I agree with finding a trainer to work with. Bark collars are a band aid not a long term solution. I think youll find once the dog is mentally happy the barking will lessen if not stop all together.

[persephone]

:) @ the running til foaming at the mouth ..our guys get like that as well ..they only flop down when absolutely exhausted- just in case they miss something!!

I know you live a bit away from good resources ..makes it hard.

An anti bark collar on this dog is obviously a : inefficient b: possibly contributing to the frustrated barking.

Do you have a video of dog barking - what does he do ? is he watching anything, running, playing, guarding ....?

One thing I would suggest is that his excercise be CONTROLLED ..by you . walks/training/a little free running with lots of recalls /downs etc - quiet& calm periods indoors/outdoors (on lead so there are no mistakes)....reinforced with treats .

if he is barking while travelling ..use a lead and martingale on him - have him in the front with you ..and correct him the instant he starts to tense up.

[m-j]

Hi

Have you tried giving him some way of keeping him busy while you aren't at home i.e. scatter his dry food through the yard you keep him in so he has to search for his food, put his food in various things so that he has to problem solve to get his food. One of my favorites is to get a plastic bottle that has a handle, put holes in the bottom of the bottle just slightly larger than the dry food you give him. To the handle attach some bugee cord and piece of rope (1m)covered by a pvc pipe or hose, then attach a toy to the other end of the rope. Put some dry food in the bottle attach the bungee cord to a secure structure (pergola)and then encourage your dog to tug on the toy. The food falls out and they can eat their dinner like this, it is a slow way for them to eat and they are active as well.

When I'm first teaching a dog to play these games I usually put some pieces of liver in with the dry food to give the dog some real incentive to continue tugging on the toy or searching and only when he is hungry.

[Salukifan]

Have you any idea what the dog is barking AT?

He does sound highly reactive. How is he confined when you are at home? Is he free range within a yard, with other dogs?

How much barking does he do when you are there?

When you allow a dog to rev itself up to the point of frothing at the mouth, the adrenalin in its system lasts for days. In other words, your dog lives in a state of constant hyper stimulation. I would be working on ways to calm this dog down. What brain work is he given?

I would rather surgically debark a dog that find more aversive ways to attempt to deter his barking. He's already proven that the e-collar will not deter it - more stim is unlikely to stop him IMO.

Edited April 23, 2014 by Haredown Whippets

[Christina]

Have you any idea what the dog is barking AT?

I would rather surgically debark a dog that find more aversive ways to attempt to deter his barking. He's already proven that the e-collar will not deter it - more stim is unlikely to stop him IMO.

Never thought I would ever agree to debarking but debarking is kinder & sounds more efficient than a stronger shock collar.

If you can't find what the trigger is maybe its just about anything & everything & he is just one of those dogs. At least with the debarking he won't annoy everyone & will stop the complaints.

[skip]

Some good advice given WildatHeart.

Now I would not have thought of debarking but in this case it might be worth considering. Specially as you say the dog is getting hours of exercise.

I used to stress my dogs annoyed the neighbours but apparently the kelpie to fine.

How is it going? Any advice sound useful?