Barking Dog

[Prototype]

You guys have been helpful when it comes to my first dog, so I thought I would ask for more help.

I live under my landlord in a up/down duplex. I'm worried that, although he's not barking excessivly, my landlord won't like it. He knows I have the dog, and I told him that he barks when he get excited, or when he hears someone that he can't see.

He's almost 1 year old, and I want to limit his barking if possible at a young age.

Any tips or tricks to training would be appreciated. Thanks.

[FlamesAddiction]

You can get the vocal chords removed.

[Prototype]

Originally posted by FlamesAddiction@May 4 2005, 08:07 PM
You can get the vocal chords removed.

Yikes! I don't think it's that big an issue. I'm not planning on being here long. I'm in Red Deer, and I wanna be back in Calgary sometime in the new year. I don't think that's an option, but I appreciate the feedback.

[kn]

No offense, but I don't understand anyone who wants to prevent dogs from barking. You know in advance they bark; it's part of who they are, they're personality. If it bothers you, don't get one! A neighbour got a dog and when I found out they had its vocal chords removed, this dog lover almost flew off the handle...

[Prototype]

Originally posted by kn@May 4 2005, 08:54 PM
No offense, but I don't understand anyone who wants to prevent dogs from barking. You know in advance they bark; it's part of who they are, they're personality. If it bothers you, don't get one! A neighbour got a dog and when I found out they had its vocal chords removed, this dog lover almost flew off the handle...

I want to make it clear that I understand why the dog barks. I just don't want it to be an issue with the landlord, if it came to that. So the vocal chord thing is not an option. Next idea, anyone?

[Nilson_26]

I also have this problem. I understand why she is barking, but if there is some way to teach her when to stop that would be awesome. For example, today we had some City of Calgary guys here to fix our backed up sewer, and she barked non-stop for an hour and a half.

I feel bad for the neighbors because they don't get to be around for all the cute great dog stuff she does, they only hear the incessant yapping.

[nfotiu]

Originally posted by Prottotype+May 5 2005, 03:59 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Prottotype @ May 5 2005, 03:59 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-kn@May 4 2005, 08:54 PM
No offense, but I don't understand anyone who wants to prevent dogs from barking. You know in advance they bark; it's part of who they are, they're personality. If it bothers you, don't get one! A neighbour got a dog and when I found out they had its vocal chords removed, this dog lover almost flew off the handle...

I want to make it clear that I understand why the dog barks. I just don't want it to be an issue with the landlord, if it came to that. So the vocal chord thing is not an option. Next idea, anyone? [/b][/quote]
Try no bark collars, or the remote control collars. They give them a mild shock everytime they bark. Or the remote control collars are pretty cool too, because you can usually get away with just using the sound option and not the shock option. There are also no bark collars that give off an unpleasant smell when they bark if you are uncomfortable with the shocking. The shock is pretty mild though, and seems like more unpleasant than traumatic or anything. I've tried them on myself and they make you jump a bit, but don't really hurt or anything. I prefer the remote control one, where you hit the button to give them a shock or sound. That way you can control which kind of barks are okay. You don't really want to stop them from barking all together, like when they need something. Nothing wrong with trying to stop them from barking non stop for no reason though, you have to be fair to your neighbours.


http://www.petsafestore.com/delbarconcol.html
http://www.petsafestore.com/traincol.html
http://store.yahoo.com/pet-guys/-759023035150.html

[Clarkey]

I've got this problem too. The dog get's so darn excited when anyone comes home. It's a mix of shrill squeeling and barking.

I've found that if you keep a treat in your pocket for when you come home you can get your dog to sit down and be quiet in anticipation of the treat. If you wait long enough before giving it (a minute or two) she'll settle down a little bit and not bark or squeel as much.

You can get those collars that vibrate or shoot out orange zest when they bark for when you are away. I assume that they would work well but dogs are smart and they would probably learn to associate that the negative reinforcement comes from the collar, therefor you would always have to have it on. This stuff is too expensive for me though.

[4X4]

I've never had a dog that does this, but I'd probably slap a muzzle on the little guy when he starts the excessive barking. A few "I'm the boss" barks when a stranger comes up the front walk is great, but the non-stop yapping is excessive.
I'm no pro, but I've got two techniques that have served me well throughout my dog owning career. Number one is to teach my dog that my slipper means "you've been bad". I don't beat my dog, but she knows that if I pick up my slipper, she's fataed up.
The other one is cookies. She gets a cookie whenever she obeys a direct command. If I shush her & she obeys, she gets a cookie. If she keeps barking, the slipper comes out.

All you need are cookies & slippers.

edited for grammar

[Super-Rye]

Can't help yah man, my dog's 15 and we've been trying to make her stop since she was a tiny pup, but to this day she continually barks at nothing, and when my dad comes home, apparently it's some kind of shock that my dad comes home at the same time mon-fri.

[Kidder]

Can of pennies.

Everytime the dog does something it shouldn't, such as barking, give the can a good shake and it startles them into stopping the bad habit at least momentarily. Done consistently it is supposed to help deter the bad behaviour completely. Advice from some dog-training book I read.

Of course I never tried it with my dog. Their bark is like their voice, it's instinct, and I wouldn't deprive him of that, even if it can get annoying some times. But certain circumstances do require certain measures.

[ernie]

Originally posted by FlamesAddiction@May 4 2005, 08:07 PM
You can get the vocal chords removed.

From what I understand most vets will no longer de-bark a dog. It's looked at as being exceptionally cruel as vocalization.communication is a large and most likely necessary part of a dogs life.

[Cheese]

as a CAT lover...and a non Dog owner I gotta tell ya neighbors who have yappy dogs drive me nuts. We have one neighbor whos dog constantly yaps at the wind, falling leaves, and anything else that it feels like. Drives everyone nuts. Then there are others who let their hound out for a whizz at 6 or 7am on a Saturday or Sunday morning and dont give a shinguarde about the neighbors when their hound is yapping for an hour to let them back in the house.
I personally think these owners should have their dogs taken away...they have zero control and no idea what hell they put their neighbors thru.
Just because little Mutsy is cute and rolls over on command doesnt mean everyone loves him....especially at SIX fataing am!

[ernie]

It isn't hard to curb a dogs barking. All it is basic training. Pick up any book and it'll tell you how. Our dog barked quite a bit when we first picked him up from the pound (beagle husky cross) but with just some basic training over the past few months (after he got confortable in the house and calmed down after 3 months) the only time he barks is 1) when he's stuck on something outside on his lead (he barks once and waits for 10 minutes or so before doing so again) ; 2) when someone rings the doorbell he'll bark a bit; 3) when he gets a little excited in play or is hyper (which is of course our fault for not exercising him properly for a day or two); and 4) when something looks odd...every dog I have gets vocal over "floating heads" as people walk by a fence and bicycle riders. Very rarely does he bark constantly for even a few minutes. None of my dogs have after a wee bit of training. We tend to use clicker training/reward system but many trainers will tell you a firm but not loud "No" can be very worthwhile in addition to the reward system. Dogs learn very quickly that "No" means stop whatever you are doing immediately and don't do it again. Do not yell the word it just makes them defensive but firmly spoken in a normal tone the dog knows to stop and when he does so you'll be very happy with him. You can't use it all the time or for everything but it works well with some behaviours that are hard to break such as barking or in our dogs case his jumping up on people.

I agree that those people who allow the dogs to bark and bark and bark are inconsiderate because it really isn't that hard to curb the behaviour. A few barks here and there no one cares about. It's the constant bark bark bark people hate including most dog owners.

Oh he does bark for a 5th reason as well...when he wants attention from the cat. But then again the cat doesn't shut up when she wants attention from the dog!

My advice...get a clicker and a clicker training book. If you start off with the basic exercises such as getting the dog to target your eyes and face instead of the treat and moving on from there you'll have a very well behaved dog in a matter of weeks. Just remember to carry the clicker and treat pouch with you at all times with the dog and reward him for good behaviour (not pulling on the leash, sitting at crosswalks, sitting and ignoring people/pets etc etc etc)....even if the dog is simply just lying in the corner quietly by himself (not on your command but just being a good dog). Remember the dog simply wants to please you and only you. Everything else is secondary in the dogs eyes if you are happy with them.

[Buff]

Originally posted by nfotiu+May 4 2005, 09:23 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (nfotiu @ May 4 2005, 09:23 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

I want to make it clear that I understand why the dog barks. I just don't want it to be an issue with the landlord, if it came to that. So the vocal chord thing is not an option. Next idea, anyone?

Try no bark collars, or the remote control collars. They give them a mild shock everytime they bark. Or the remote control collars are pretty cool too, because you can usually get away with just using the sound option and not the shock option. There are also no bark collars that give off an unpleasant smell when they bark if you are uncomfortable with the shocking. The shock is pretty mild though, and seems like more unpleasant than traumatic or anything. I've tried them on myself and they make you jump a bit, but don't really hurt or anything. I prefer the remote control one, where you hit the button to give them a shock or sound. That way you can control which kind of barks are okay. You don't really want to stop them from barking all together, like when they need something. Nothing wrong with trying to stop them from barking non stop for no reason though, you have to be fair to your neighbours.


http://www.petsafestore.com/delbarconcol.html
http://www.petsafestore.com/traincol.html
http://store.yahoo.com/pet-guys/-759023035150.html [/b][/quote]
My father-in-law's dog is too dumb for these to be effective. He lives on an acreage and the neighbours got mad because the dog was going onto their land. So my father-in-law bought that fence and color that will give the dog a shock if it tries to cross the wire. The dog actually seemed to like ths shock and would spend and eternity running in circles across the wire!