Excessive Barking

[Merlincorgi]

Okay... here's the situation. As you all know we are getting ready to move on Base shortly. There is a huge backyard and I would really love to be able to put the pups back there to play and let them stretch their legs, etc. However, Gator (and to a lesser degree, Checkers) bark a lot... especially at other dogs. Our backyard fence is surrounded by three other backyards... at least two of those have dogs for sure (a schnauzer and a siberian husky). We went up there last week as a trial run and I couldn't get my two to stop acting like an idiot to the schnauzer. They were charging at the fence and barking and completely ignoring me. (Yes, the schnauzer was also barking at this point.) We ended up just putting them back on leash and leaving so we didn't tick off our neighbors before we even got moved in! Anyone know of a good training method that will help with obsessive barking issues? My concern is I might be able to get them better as long as I am standing right there, but then what about when I go back inside. I have actually considered a bark collar with a graduating correction level... but I'm still a bit hesitant as I don't have any experience with that type of thing. Any ideas? I think you all know I'm not talking about dumping the dogs in the backyard all day with no attention either... but I would like to be able to put them out there for say 30 minutes at a time so they can play without causing so much ruckus in the house. I'm even considering adding a doggy door addition to the sliding glass door so they can go in and out as they choose. Anyhow... if you have any suggestions please let me know.. thanks!

[MrsGrace]

Did you get my link I emailed you the other day? I had never seen anything like it and it probably wont work, but thought it would be worth reading about?

Good luck... you have a lot on your plate.

[MrsGrace]

Okay... here's the situation. As you all know we are getting ready to move on Base shortly. There is a huge backyard and I would really love to be able to put the pups back there to play and let them stretch their legs, etc. However, Gator (and to a lesser degree, Checkers) bark a lot... especially at other dogs. Our backyard fence is surrounded by three other backyards... at least two of those have dogs for sure (a schnauzer and a siberian husky). We went up there last week as a trial run and I couldn't get my two to stop acting like an idiot to the schnauzer. They were charging at the fence and barking and completely ignoring me. (Yes, the schnauzer was also barking at this point.) We ended up just putting them back on leash and leaving so we didn't tick off our neighbors before we even got moved in! Anyone know of a good training method that will help with obsessive barking issues? My concern is I might be able to get them better as long as I am standing right there, but then what about when I go back inside. I have actually considered a bark collar with a graduating correction level... but I'm still a bit hesitant as I don't have any experience with that type of thing. Any ideas? I think you all know I'm not talking about dumping the dogs in the backyard all day with no attention either... but I would like to be able to put them out there for say 30 minutes at a time so they can play without causing so much ruckus in the house. I'm even considering adding a doggy door addition to the sliding glass door so they can go in and out as they choose. Anyhow... if you have any suggestions please let me know.. thanks!

Do you think introducing the dogs to one another (schnauser & your boys) would alleviate some of that? I'm sure it's a lot of newness, "Hey! There's a new dog here!" type thing. Maybe time will alleviate some of the barking when they all get adjusted to the new dogs in the area.

[Jespah]

Introducing the whole gang in a neutral area is a good idea. Then when they show up as neighbours your boys won't be so freaked. It's juts that they are not used to the situation. Also, keeping a garden hose with a spray nozzle attached to give them a good strong squirt when they go at it is good - don't say anything - just squirt them!

[bunnybutts]

I have a problem with Chloe barking when she's outside without me. With me she's fine most of the time.

We have the electric fence and they can go in and out without me from the patio screen door. If I am real busy and can't watch them I shut the deck gate and they can't get to the yard. If I can watch and work I open the deck gate...

If Chloe sees someone, something when I am not outside she barks.... if she is outside and it's dark and hears a noise - she barks. Em rarely does. Had hopes Chloe would see how calm Emma is and that would stop her barking but so far it hasn't.

I'll be following this thread closely too :SMILE:

[CorgiMum]

Montrose was quite a barker in her younger days and when Dylan came to us I vowed to do training for less barking, and it has worked for us.

Montrose barks to sound the alarm, as in, we are being invaded by...a burglar, a stray dog, or a robin. Instead of telling her to be quiet, I started telling her "Good Job Monty!". She was happy with the fact that I understood her reason for barking (as she is a dog) and quit when she knew that I had understood her messsage.

With Dylan I taught him when to bark. So we have a on & off switch when it comes to barking.

I use hand signals, as they can't hear me when they are barkiing. With a closed fist I open my fingers fast flashing them open and closed a couple of times. That means bark. To stop it's a closed fist with the tumb up, like an OK signal. This works 95% of the time, and with two dogs, I'll settle for that. One does set the other off for sure.

And of course the easiest way to teach a dog anything is to give the action they are doing a command, while they are doing it. So, then he was barking, I would flash my finger signal at him and say Bark. We play it as a game now, and he will run around the room like crazy getting lots of pent up barks out! Then I give the had signal to stop. It's the "Beat the Clock" game to see how fast a dog can settle when given a command.

It took a lot of patience and perseverance on my part, but when either of them let out a bark in the yard, I go to look and see them looking for me, to know if it is ok to bark or not, well, the effort was well worth it!:SMILE:

[corgimom]

Barbara,

Great ideas; Why don't you go on Oprah; I am going to hire you out myself:BIGGRIN"

[Fluffypants]

Wow Barbara! You are a really good trainer! Those are two well-trained corgis!:NOTWORTHY:

[CorgiMum]

Barbara,
Great ideas; Why don't you go on Oprah; I am going to hire you out myself:BIGGRIN"
:o You make me blush, it's just that I've read a lot of training material over the last 13 years.

And I just hope then the day comes........way...... way down the road and I get another pupper I can remember all this stuff.;)

[Fluffypants]

You can just come here and search the archives! :D

[darci]

Great ideas Barbara.

[Dillydoodle]

I have taught Dillon to bark on command, but sadly no off switch LOL!
I also taught Dillon to "whisper" which is the initial little airy " Wuff" that they do when they are getting ready to bark! so sometimes if he is barking like crazy i try to tell him to whisper to quiet him down, but since Gus got here well, they start each other up like crazy and Gus doens't get SHHHH yet... I will keep on working with him.
I do love your training methods Barbara... they make sense.

Emilie

[CorgiMum]

I love the the idea of teaching whisper Emilie, like children having and inside voice (level) and an outside voice.:SMILE:

[taflar]

Okay... here's the situation. As you all know we are getting ready to move on Base shortly. There is a huge backyard and I would really love to be able to put the pups back there to play and let them stretch their legs, etc. However, Gator (and to a lesser degree, Checkers) bark a lot... especially at other dogs. Our backyard fence is surrounded by three other backyards... at least two of those have dogs for sure (a schnauzer and a siberian husky). We went up there last week as a trial run and I couldn't get my two to stop acting like an idiot to the schnauzer. They were charging at the fence and barking and completely ignoring me. (Yes, the schnauzer was also barking at this point.)

If the other dogs are barking and running along the fence too, there is going to be little you can do to get your dogs to stop.

Can you put slats in the fence or tarps on it to block the view of the other dogs. (I know that the base may have restricitons or regulations on what you can use for fencing.)

The best thing to do is going to be to have some solid type of fence that will block thier veiw of other dogs.

Peggy

[disraeli ears]

Wow, Barbara - I'm impressed. Can you come do that for Rhys??? :SPINNY: I'll have to try the "good job, Rhys" thing because that is when he barks - somebody is outside the apartment and he can see/hear them.

[sutulu]

Wow! Tucker just heard the Doberman across the road bark so he ran to the window and started barking his head off. So I said "Good boy Tuc, tell mom Luke is outside" (Luke is the Doberman).

He stopped mid bark! Of course he turned around and looked at me like "huh?". Then he started again...

Great tip Barbara!!!!

And as far as introducing the dogs... Tucker and Lulu play with the Dobies occasionally so they know them. Still doesn't keep them from barking everytime they hear one of them bark.

[CorgiMum]

Wow! Tucker just heard the Doberman across the road bark so he ran to the window and started barking his head off. So I said "Good boy Tuc, tell mom Luke is outside" (Luke is the Doberman).

He stopped mid bark! Of course he turned around and looked at me like "huh?". Then he started again...



Yay Tucker, Good Boy for listening to your Momma!!+REDAWARD+


And then, step two, when we are lucky enough to get their attention for that nano second, offer a treat, a toy, whatever works to distract the dog before he starts barking again.

Sounds like it will work for you and Tuck with a bit of practice, please keep us posted!

[Abbykat]

In my opinion it will be the Schnauzer who will be the problem - and the only way to deal with it would be for Checkers and Gator to become firm friends with him/her as soon as possible.

[CorgiMum]

Cheryl, how are Checkers & Gator liking their new yard? And how are things going with the contact of their new doggie friends?

[MVons]

If the other dogs are barking and running along the fence too, there is going to be little you can do to get your dogs to stop.
Can you put slats in the fence or tarps on it to block the view of the other dogs. (I know that the base may have restricitons or regulations on what you can use for fencing.)
The best thing to do is going to be to have some solid type of fence that will block their view of other dogs.PeggyPotted plants might be another way to block the view and something you can take with you when you leave. Or a garden with a trellis.

You know I'm not one any more for leaving a dog outside when I'm not there. Yes it is a pain, but I can ensure no one is teasing my dog, no predator is around, and no skunk is around, and no unnecessary digging is occurring. The puppy will be in his crate or x-penned on the deck when I'm digging and setting the trap for the gophers (season battle has begun, so far smart gophers 3, me 0)

Check with the schnauzer's owner to find out what word they use for their dog to be quiet so you can use the same to their dog. And share what word you use too. You can work together. Find out if the dog is friendly, the one's here are not. Find out if the Husky has any problems with the schnauzer.

Merrie

[CorgiMum]

Check with the schnauzer's owner to find out what word they use for their dog to be quiet so you can use the same to their dog. And share what word you use too. You can work together. Find out if the dog is friendly, the one's here are not. Find out if the Husky has any problems with the schnauzer.
Merrie

Great ideas! Especially finding out which word for quiet the schnauzer's owner uses.

[Merlincorgi]

Here's the setup. We have a long narrow backyard. The yard on the right is where the schnauzer lives. The owners are friendly but we haven't gotten into much detail yet. On the left side of our backyard is two other back yards. The one closest to our house is the one with the husky pup (maybe 4 months old? only an inch or so bigger than Checkers), the third yard bordering our yard has two hunting type dogs (brittany spaniel and a pointer). At this point the barking has actually not been as bad as I thought. The husky pup gets very exciteable and seems to cause the most issues just because he wants to play so badly. None of the dogs seem mean, or act out, other than running the fence, barking. However... they all do this to an extent.

My boys are only outside maybe 30 minutes to an hour and I keep as close an eye on them as I can during that time. It is different living on a military base because I feel a lot more secure in actually knowing my neighbors. I really am not worried about any of them taunting the dogs or anything of that nature. I admit, I am enjoying being able to put them out... especially in the morning when they are full of it and hubby is still trying to sleep and I've got my hands full with the little one.

Checkers has pretty much already calmed down and is fine with the other dogs.... though the husky pup still gets him going sometimes. Gator enjoys the chase and will run the fence playing for a while, but is not obsessive about it as I was afraid he would be. The first few days I tried going out with them with a squirt gun, but they quickly learned that means "don't bark when mommy is out here with a squirt gun"... instead of learning not to bark at all (pretty much what I expected to happen).

The good news is, they are settling in and the barking has not been nearly as bad as I was concerned it would be.. and no complaints from neighbors either (probably since their dogs are all participating also!).

[CorgiMum]

The good news is, they are settling in and the barking has not been nearly as bad as I was concerned it would be.. and no complaints from neighbors either (probably since their dogs are all participating also!).

Sounds like everything is going along well and you are all able to enjoy the extra space and the new yard.:SMILE:

[MVons]

Sounds ideal.

For us we don't mind the barking dogs as long as they keep within noise limit hours - 8am to 8pm. In all honesty, it is the daycare with the screaming child at 11am play break that drives me crazy. Where the dog that barks all day, I have pity for being tied up in its yard. I've gone to check on the dog when his bark changed one day - the cable guy had to be in the yard. Glad all your neighbors have a dog because they tend to be more tolerant of barking.

Merrie

[corgimom]

Here's the setup. We have a long narrow backyard. The yard on the right is where the schnauzer lives. The owners are friendly but we haven't gotten into much detail yet. On the left side of our backyard is two other back yards. The one closest to our house is the one with the husky pup (maybe 4 months old? only an inch or so bigger than Checkers), the third yard bordering our yard has two hunting type dogs (brittany spaniel and a pointer). At this point the barking has actually not been as bad as I thought. The husky pup gets very exciteable and seems to cause the most issues just because he wants to play so badly. None of the dogs seem mean, or act out, other than running the fence, barking. However... they all do this to an extent.

My boys are only outside maybe 30 minutes to an hour and I keep as close an eye on them as I can during that time. It is different living on a military base because I feel a lot more secure in actually knowing my neighbors. I really am not worried about any of them taunting the dogs or anything of that nature. I admit, I am enjoying being able to put them out... especially in the morning when they are full of it and hubby is still trying to sleep and I've got my hands full with the little one.

Checkers has pretty much already calmed down and is fine with the other dogs.... though the husky pup still gets him going sometimes. Gator enjoys the chase and will run the fence playing for a while, but is not obsessive about it as I was afraid he would be. The first few days I tried going out with them with a squirt gun, but they quickly learned that means "don't bark when mommy is out here with a squirt gun"... instead of learning not to bark at all (pretty much what I expected to happen).

The good news is, they are settling in and the barking has not been nearly as bad as I was concerned it would be.. and no complaints from neighbors either (probably since their dogs are all participating also!).

I was on ITCHMO this moring and saw an advertisement for this; made me think of you - I am trying to visualize several of these in the fence with all the dogs sticking their head in one:LAUGH:

http://www.solutions.com/jump.jsp?itemID=10665&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C4%2C490%2C10016&iProductID=10665#detailsAnchor

[Merlincorgi]

ROFL! That is TOO funny. Luckily for the puppers we just have a standard chain link so they can easily see (and smell) their new pals without extra contraptions LOL.

[Fluffypants]

It's good that you all have dogs. Dog owners are much more tolerant of barking than non-dog owners!

And the lesson of "don't bark when mommy's out here with the squirt gun" makes me :LAUGH: . They are too smart for their own good sometimes!

[MVons]

I was on ITCHMO this moring and saw an advertisement for this; made me think of you - I am trying to visualize several of these in the fence with all the dogs sticking their head in one:LAUGH:

http://www.solutions.com/jump.jsp?itemID=10665&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C4%2C490%2C10016&iProductID=10665#detailsAnchor

OMG I loved to put it in our house! Can't you just see in 20 years a buyer asking why there is this bubble two feet from the floor? And the squirrels sure would do a doubletake. Our prior house had a window to the floor to the front and Pepper loved it.

Merrie

[mtoy]

We're going to put new windows in our house and I keep saying we need a bubble for the dogs. Has anyone seen one that would work in a house? We're in Michigan so it would have to be pretty weather proof. Our fence is chain link, so we sure don't need one there.

[CorgiMum]

I have seen interior style bubble windows on HGTV in a modern home, or you could install a garden window down low t the floor.

http://www.gorell.com/pages/garden_windows.htm

Or just have a low window installed, that's what I did for my dogs when we had this house built.

[MVons]

Iyou could install a garden window down low to the floor.
http://www.gorell.com/pages/garden_windows.htmOh my, I've always wanted the bay window in my kitchen and instead we could put a garden window down low (no worry of support) and the dog could eat with a window view.

But the little bubble would fit between the studs so it would be a lot easier to put in if I could find round window sill for it. OR just make a little window as we happen to have a glass place in town, frame the spot, install the window, window trim, window film (making it safety glass). Now to convince hubby. Changing the front door might be easier. Maybe I can cut out the lower section and put in glass. Would save me trying to stain the thing every other year!

Merrie

[dcole]

I was on ITCHMO this moring and saw an advertisement for this; made me think of you - I am trying to visualize several of these in the fence with all the dogs sticking their head in one:LAUGH:

http://www.solutions.com/jump.jsp?itemID=10665&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C4%2C490%2C10016&iProductID=10665#detailsAnchor

Hilarious!! :BIGLAUGH: