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Barking
Jul 15, 2004 14:23:54 GMT 1
Post by joshnbecks on Jul 15, 2004 14:23:54 GMT 1
Ive had a complaint from the people next door and if I dont sort it soon they are going to make it official to the housing assoc. Bob has started going mad whenever he hears anyone outside. He then starts barking and does not stop. This only happens when im out. After chatting to them it transpires that the local kids have been tormenting him through the letter box, next door even came out to talk to the kids when they were firing water pistols through the letter box at the dogs! How can i stop him barking and how can i deal with this when it only happens when im not here?? Any ideas? becks
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Barking
Jul 15, 2004 16:52:30 GMT 1
Post by ReikiAnge on Jul 15, 2004 16:52:30 GMT 1
Not training advice, I will leave that to the experts ;D but if it's the torment etc. thru' the letterbox that is causing the problem, could you get a secure mailbox to go on the outside of the house and board the letterbox on your door up? Do you know which kids are doing this? Could you speak to their parents - or how about leaving a note on the front door saying you've got a security camera recording and will take action against anyone trespassing on your property? If your neighbours are going to report you to the housing association, could you get in first and report these kids for being on YOUR property without permission and tormenting your dog? Seems unfair for your poor dog to be blamed by your neighbours when he's being tormented in his home by kids with nothing better to do. If these kids weren't trespassing, he'd presumably not be barking. I just can't understand the attitude of these children - makes me so sad that some kids feel this way towards animals
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Post by LurcherGirl on Jul 16, 2004 9:23:14 GMT 1
Hi becks, This situation you are in is the nightmare for every dog owner. Give me a little more info on your dog. 1. How old is Bob? 2. What breed is Bob? 3. How long have you had him? 4. What do you feed him (including treats)? 5. What is his exercise regime, how long, how often? 6. Are there any other problems that are maybe not that important to you, but still are not ideal behaviour? But you have an emergency situation on hand which needs drastic measures to calm things down with your neighbour! First of all, lock the letter box and put an outside letter box up instead. If this is not possible, you need to keep Bob out of the hallway, away from the letter box. This will stop the kids from tormenting him. Secondly, I would get an anti-bark collar that sprays when he barks. Now I don't like these collars, but as a last resort and as a temporary measure to avoid further trouble with your neighbours, I would try one! Make sure that your dog does not get frightened though when it is used! This obviously only deals with the symptoms, and not the cause. So once we have these temporary measures in place, we can start working on an actual training program to tackle the actual cause. For that, I need you to answer the above questions. Vera
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Barking
Jul 16, 2004 19:10:54 GMT 1
Post by joshnbecks on Jul 16, 2004 19:10:54 GMT 1
Give me a little more info on your dog.
1. How old is Bob? he will be 2 in september 2. What breed is Bob? a big yorkshire terrier 3. How long have you had him? rescued him when he was about 3 weeks old, was kept in a cupboard under the stairs and fed porridge and coffee!! the other dogs were attacking him in the household, the woman i took him from said she had had him a few days. 4. What do you feed him (including treats)? nature diet and treats are pigs ears. he isnt bothered about food and can be hard getting him to eat, i add to it fish, eggs, grated cheese and sometimes Dr Johns or CSJ as he will eat them occasionally 5. What is his exercise regime, how long, how often? they all get walked twice a day, for about 2 hours in total, over the fields and forest......mostly off lead 6. Are there any other problems that are maybe not that important to you, but still are not ideal behaviour? he doesnt like people on bikes and horses and will bark at these
will look into the citronella collars, thanks Vera
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Barking
Jul 22, 2004 22:45:51 GMT 1
Post by joshnbecks on Jul 22, 2004 22:45:51 GMT 1
right i looked into the collars and i dont like the idea of them, havent ordered one would like to try one first as they are pretty costly I have been shutting the dogs in the lounge with the radio on whist i have left them and that resulted in damage to the door and door frame so now what i do is crate them in the lounge, put the radio on loud and shut the hallway door...........the complaint now is the radio seems i cant win!
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Barking
Jul 27, 2004 11:08:09 GMT 1
Post by LurcherGirl on Jul 27, 2004 11:08:09 GMT 1
Hi Becks, I am not sure whether I have read the post right... you DON'T like the idea, but would still like to try the collar? I am not sure whether this is a typo... (sorry if I am going around the bend here... ). It does seem the only option right now for you. Let me see whether I can find one that you could hire for a small amount of money. Would that be suitable? Training program: 1. In the meantime, I would teach him to bark on cue - and at the same time to be quiet on cue. That will give you some power over his barking whilst you are there. 2. Teach him a good recall in the house (use the steps in the pinned post) and call him to come back to you every time he barks at something. Make sure you have got extra tasty treats that make it worthwile for him. You might have to start off with him just looking at you in that situation, you might have to use a lead for that (have a trailing lead on him all the time during the training period - not when he is unsupervised though to prevent accidents). He needs to start learning that alerting you to stuff is fine, but he needs to come and tell you in a different way. He can bark shortly, say thanks and call him back to give him a treat. If he does not come back, remove him physically a few yards away, then give him a treat. I know he only does it when you are out, but by getting him into this habit of a short alert bark, then walk away from the window, he might do the same when you are out. I would implement the following instantly: 3. Is there anywhere else in the house he could be where he does not see/hear people going past? I.e. upstairs, in a bedroom etc.? If not, it will help to close the windows (to keep noise out) and draw the curtains (so he doesn't always see what is going on). 4. You might even want to think about crate training him. That way he can't go anywhere near the window, therefore won't see what is going on (preferably the crate would be in a back room somewhere). He would have a safe place, where he would probably be much calmer and relaxed than if he has the run of the whole house. If you decided to crate him, make sure you get him used to it properly. But I am sure you already know that. I am not a great fan of crates, but there are some situations where they can be of use, and yours might just be one of these. Let me know how you get on. Vera
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Barking
Aug 13, 2004 16:04:56 GMT 1
Post by kfieldin on Aug 13, 2004 16:04:56 GMT 1
Hi Vera and Becks
I have a similar barking problem with my oldest, Charlie. He loves to shoot into the garden and stand in the middle of the grass and bark his head off. If I go out and ask him not to, he'll stop and then start again when I have turned my back.
I know that it's only natural for him to defend his territory but I can't help feeling that this is barking for the sake of barking. And now out 10 week old Monster is starting to copy him.
I have also had the Aboistop collars recommended as a non-invasive way of distracting him when he barks. If someone has used them personally or knows of someone who has, I'd be grateful to hear any feedback.
Regards Jane
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Barking
Aug 22, 2004 22:57:10 GMT 1
Post by LurcherGirl on Aug 22, 2004 22:57:10 GMT 1
Hi Jane,
Have you ever tried to ignore his barking? If you do, what does he do? How long does he continue the barking?
Territorial barking is fine - if there is something to bark about... from what you are saying it could well be attention seaking barking in your case.
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Barking
Aug 22, 2004 22:57:53 GMT 1
Post by LurcherGirl on Aug 22, 2004 22:57:53 GMT 1
Hi Becks,
Any news? Have you been able to solve the problem or at least have any improvement?
Vera
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Post by kfieldin on Aug 23, 2004 6:47:12 GMT 1
Hi Jane, Have you ever tried to ignore his barking? If you do, what does he do? How long does he continue the barking? Territorial barking is fine - if there is something to bark about... from what you are saying it could well be attention seaking barking in your case. He gets louder, starts looking down the garden towards the house, then gets louder again and starts to through himself at the fences, in pursuit of imaginary squirrels If I call he'll ignore me, if I offer biscuits, he'll ignore me. The only point that he'll stop barking is when I have to start marching up the garden. Then he stops and runs in the house. It drives my OH mad but Charlie seems to listen to him a bit more The people two doors away (who recently moved away) have a yellow lab that they left in the garden with a little shelter all day whilst they were at work. The poor thing used to drive itself crazy with monotonous barking all day. I know that complaints were made - me to the RSPCA and four others in the close to Noise Pollution at the Council. So I am very aware what people's priorities are around here - peace and quiet Regards Jane
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Barking
Aug 23, 2004 21:51:42 GMT 1
Post by bevinbrid on Aug 23, 2004 21:51:42 GMT 1
If it makes Becks feel any better about using the Aboistop collar, I'm about to go down the same route with GSD Buffy for similar (i.e. neighbours ) reasons. Next door's slightly loopy kid (plus the forty something mother as well who really should know better) have been in the habit of barking at Buffy to wind her up for the last year. Now it's a deeply ingrained habit, she goes out of the back door, rushes as close as she can get to their fence and barks long and loud. I can stop her and fetch her back in twenty times and she'll still rush right out and bark the very next time. Plus she barks at their cat who sits and stares at her, and any meowing cats for around three miles will set her off I did have 'words' with the neighbours about it and it was agreed that they would stop winding her up and the barking was diminishing gradually but one day several weeks down the line the mother couldn't help herself and the sound of a 'dog' barking could once again be heard from within their kitchen and Buffy was back at it again bigger and better than ever, her hopeful occasional bark at the fence had paid off big time and she'd succeeded in getting the 'dog' next door to play barking again. Never mind back to square one, we are in a whole different league now! I tried teaching her to speak and be quiet on command but she never seemed to link the two situations. Tried shake bottles which shut her up for a few seconds in which I can reward her for being quiet but this fails as I can't often get to the yard fast enough to get my timing right. So the collar is arriving end of this week, borrowed from a friend. And as soon as we can save up enough a solid six foot fence is going up between us and the loopy family. Although ironically enough, very late saturday night Jack the BC cross alerted me at the back door, I looked out and could see two youths messing about in next door's garden and they've had their shed broken into twice in the 9 yrs we've lived next to them. Without hesitation I sent all three dogs out into my garden with a loud "See 'em off!!!!" which sent the two guys packing very swiftly. Haven't seen next door yet to tell them but I sure as heck will, coz Dave (the dad) had the damn cheek to moan at me last week about Buffy's barking Will let you know how the collar works out!
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Barking
Aug 23, 2004 23:46:00 GMT 1
Post by LurcherGirl on Aug 23, 2004 23:46:00 GMT 1
Thanks for that, Bev, much appreicated. Aboi stop collars should not be used as an every day training method and for convenience. But if it becomes an urgent matter like this and the welfare of your dog is at stake due to the neighbours complaining, then it can definitely be used as a last resort means to sort the problem (or at least the symptoms) out. Vera
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Post by bevinbrid on Aug 24, 2004 9:37:33 GMT 1
Vera, do you know if the APDT approve the use of these collars at all in certain circumstances? I know they are not keen on using shake bottles nor loud and sudden noises designed to shock and startle.
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Barking
Aug 24, 2004 13:18:13 GMT 1
Post by LurcherGirl on Aug 24, 2004 13:18:13 GMT 1
According to the APDT, the following devices are not allowed:
"... check/choke chains, prong or spike collars, electric shock devices in any form, and high frequency, sound devices which are designed to startle. "
So the spray collars should be fine - but of course as mentioned, are a last resort thing as they only deal with the symptoms, and not the cause of the behaviour.
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Barking
Aug 24, 2004 14:06:09 GMT 1
Post by bevinbrid on Aug 24, 2004 14:06:09 GMT 1
Thanks. Of course if I wanted to treat the actual 'cause' of the behaviour I'd fit a collar on the next door neighbour and her child
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Barking
Aug 24, 2004 16:13:38 GMT 1
Post by PrincessC on Aug 24, 2004 16:13:38 GMT 1
I'm very interested in this thread as we have just begun to use an Aboistop collar with Otis (except we haven't put the batteries in yet as we are still getting him accustomised to it) after six months of working with a behaviourist. As he was very poorly socialised before coming to us, he reacts extremely badly to offlead dogs approaching him when he is onlead, and he doesn't understand any appeasing signals. He tends to howl and leap about, his body language says 'I will destroy you' and this is leading to him becoming a victim while on the lead...if the other dog doesn't look at him, he's fine, however, if it takes up his 'challenge', we're stuffed, so we are hoping the collar will prevent him reaching fever pitch. Like Bev, our problem has its cause in other people's behaviour (not putting their dogs on lead when they see him approaching on lead and saying 'Don't worry, mine's friendly' but allowing Otis to be harrassed by their dogs) but since it appears that some people think their dogs should be allowed offlead at all times, we have had to resort to the collar, much as I wish we didn't have to
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Barking
Aug 24, 2004 23:35:58 GMT 1
Post by bevinbrid on Aug 24, 2004 23:35:58 GMT 1
D'you know it never occurred to me to try it on Luca. I only intend to use it on Buffy as I cannot think of any other possible way. Don't think it would be overly successful on Luca though because he already fears the other dog so much I don't want to add to his already negative feelings towards it. Instead I now have him at the point where he associates an oncoming dog with a play with me and a ball on a rope or a tug toy. That way he's so keen on getting his game he hasn't time to mess about barking at the other dog. Our only problem remains those loose dogs who run up and then boy does he let them have it big time with the noise I'm certain his fear of being attacked again would override anything the collar could throw at him and he'd simply ignore it. I am however seriously looking to buy one of those Dazer handheld things that you point at an oncoming dog and it stops it in it's tracks. Now that would be directly dealing with the cause
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Barking
Aug 30, 2004 19:00:37 GMT 1
Post by joshnbecks on Aug 30, 2004 19:00:37 GMT 1
Hi Becks, Any news? Have you been able to solve the problem or at least have any improvement? Vera Sorry Vera for not getting back to you sooner, when i go out now the dogs are crated in the lounge with the windows shut and radio on. Havent had anymore complaints thank goodness. They dogs are fine with the crates and quite often go in them during the day when the doors are open. Not ideal by any stretch of the mark but they are happy, am working on the bark to command. Thanks for all your advice becks
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Post by LurcherGirl on Aug 31, 2004 1:10:13 GMT 1
I am glad that things are working better now! Well done.
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