Dog Wont Stop Barking Advice Please

[Andoria1]

I have an 8 month old australian cattle dog who will not stop barking. In our backyard the dog can get to a staircase which allows him to view the road side over the fence. The problem is that anything that walks past this road he will bark at. I have tried opening the door and tell him NO to sit and lie down. Then he settles a bit but then he starts again when someone or a dog or cat walks past.

I used to ignore him when he barked, but it did not make any difference at all.

I dont want to buy him a shock collar as i feel that this is cruel to do to animals.

Is there any other methods to use to train him to stop barking, or to make him understand that barking at everything that moves is not ok. I know he dosent bark to get my attention because there are times when i do come outside, he completely ignores the fact that i am there telling him off. I thought of maybe putting a cardboard to cover his view but i am not sure if this will work because he can hear things walking and moving too lol.

Any help would be good.

[cavNrott]

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Edited June 6, 2009 by cavNrott

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

Boredom is one of the reasons a dog starts to bark and one of the reasons it keeps on barking. It gets a reward every time it barks and so why would it want to stop?

What I'd suggest is firstly, removing the dog's view of the passing world, and secondly, working on training with this dog (general obedience to keep its mind working), and thirdly giving it adequate physical exercise, and fourthly, keeping it busy with interactive toys and other things to do in the yard. You might also consider bringing the dog inside the house with you for some of the time.

If you do all of these things for a few months, but the behaviour doesn't improve at all, then perhaps renting a citronella collar will help...but if the habit is already well-established the collar may not work much or at all.

[Andoria1]

I also notice that the dogs type of bark is an agressive bark when its people walking past And he howls as well even when the person is out of sight. He gives a grrrrrrrr also like they are a threat.

When its a dog its a normal bark without howling and the grrrrrrr in his barking.

When i manage to get him to stop barking and tell him to lie down he gives this whine and looks distressed or upset.

[Toohey]

How much exercise and stimulation does he get? Is he well socialised?

Maybe try putting his lead on and taking him out to show him where the noises are coming from? I used to do that with my dog, and he got to know the neighbours and the neighbour's dogs. After that, if he barked at noises I would just tell him that's so and so etc and he would settle.

Unconventional I know, but it works for me I just think if he can see where the noises are coming from, it would be less threatening for him ...maybe.

[KOE]

Have you checked to see if he is deaf

[Andoria1]

hes not deaf, he knows his name. He sits when i say roll over he rolls over. I say lie down he lies down. When I say where is your ball ? and he goes to get his ball.

If i say bring it back he occasiocally brings back what ever was in his mouth.

I say shake he shakes. But he responds well to hand signals for sitting down and lie down.

How do i test if he is deaf ? i mean he did hear a water tap dripping when we couldnt hear it in the middle of the night.