Controlling Barking?
Discussion
Long preamble. tl;dr: How do we stop our dog from barking?
We got our rescue about three and a half years ago, at the age of about three. Nothing was known about his past. ln fact, in many ways he'd been very well trained, which made our lives a hell of a lot easier than they might otherwise have been.
Over the first couple of years (as is normal) he gradually grew in confidence, and we'd see regular changes in his behaviour. Then, about a year ago, he learned to bark. He doesn't shout at cars, or passers by. He does shout at squirrels and snakes, which is fine, but he also shouts when he's excited by two things specifically, which we want to stop.
He suffers from chronic pancreatitis. We seem to have that under control, but when he first started to suffer, and before we knew what it was, we started letting him sleep in our bedroom (the symptoms come on in the early hours of the morning). Two and a half years later, he still does. In truth, we don't mind, so that's not an issue in itself.
However, when either of us wakes up at anything after about 6am, he kicks off. He wants to go outside for a sniff and a wee, and he wants his breakfast. But he starts barking. He barely pauses for breath while you fumble for a dressing gown and the door keys, shuffle downstairs (my wife has to have a pee on the way), throught the kitchen, into the mudroom, unlock the back door and let him out.
At which point, he stops barking. He runs around the garden snuffling and snorking, has a huge piss and then comes back inside for breakfast.
There there are two routines. If I'm walking him, I watch the news in the lounge for about 20-30 minutes and check emails/PH and so on, during which time he comes and sits on the sofa with me, and usually falls asleep. I then go and get dressed.
If my wife's walking him, he comes back to bed with me after his breakfast, as she has her own breakfast and gets dressed. (I have my breakfast after I've walked him).
The barking then starts again as either of us comes downstairs after dressing, He's better with me than her, at this point, but again, it's incessant as you put on shoes, his harness, collect some treats and poo bags, and clip on his lead. He then sits for me to open the door, but he doesn't sit for her. "Shout shout shout shout shout shout shout!", he barely even pauses for breath.
We've tried everything (obviously we haven't because I'm here asking you), and nothing works. The advice we've had so far tends towards "Turn your back, stop doing what you're doing and he'll learn that he's not getting what he wants. Wait until he stops and then reward that."
But he doesn't stop. He gets more and more frenzied. If, eventually, he pauses for breath, and you turn round to reward him for shutting up, he instantly starts again.
So in the end, he gets what he wants. This morning, my wife took 20 minutesto get downstairs after waking up, constantly stopping and turning her back, or even getting back into bed, and he didn't stop barking once. Then, when she was putting on her boots and his harness, she took about 15 minutes, regularly turning her back on him and he just barked continually, jumping around like a t
t.
We've managed to train him to do a number of things (my wife's even using Fluent Pet buttons, with some limited success), but we've got nowhere with the barking.
Any advice very much welcomed.
We got our rescue about three and a half years ago, at the age of about three. Nothing was known about his past. ln fact, in many ways he'd been very well trained, which made our lives a hell of a lot easier than they might otherwise have been.
Over the first couple of years (as is normal) he gradually grew in confidence, and we'd see regular changes in his behaviour. Then, about a year ago, he learned to bark. He doesn't shout at cars, or passers by. He does shout at squirrels and snakes, which is fine, but he also shouts when he's excited by two things specifically, which we want to stop.
He suffers from chronic pancreatitis. We seem to have that under control, but when he first started to suffer, and before we knew what it was, we started letting him sleep in our bedroom (the symptoms come on in the early hours of the morning). Two and a half years later, he still does. In truth, we don't mind, so that's not an issue in itself.
However, when either of us wakes up at anything after about 6am, he kicks off. He wants to go outside for a sniff and a wee, and he wants his breakfast. But he starts barking. He barely pauses for breath while you fumble for a dressing gown and the door keys, shuffle downstairs (my wife has to have a pee on the way), throught the kitchen, into the mudroom, unlock the back door and let him out.
At which point, he stops barking. He runs around the garden snuffling and snorking, has a huge piss and then comes back inside for breakfast.
There there are two routines. If I'm walking him, I watch the news in the lounge for about 20-30 minutes and check emails/PH and so on, during which time he comes and sits on the sofa with me, and usually falls asleep. I then go and get dressed.
If my wife's walking him, he comes back to bed with me after his breakfast, as she has her own breakfast and gets dressed. (I have my breakfast after I've walked him).
The barking then starts again as either of us comes downstairs after dressing, He's better with me than her, at this point, but again, it's incessant as you put on shoes, his harness, collect some treats and poo bags, and clip on his lead. He then sits for me to open the door, but he doesn't sit for her. "Shout shout shout shout shout shout shout!", he barely even pauses for breath.
We've tried everything (obviously we haven't because I'm here asking you), and nothing works. The advice we've had so far tends towards "Turn your back, stop doing what you're doing and he'll learn that he's not getting what he wants. Wait until he stops and then reward that."
But he doesn't stop. He gets more and more frenzied. If, eventually, he pauses for breath, and you turn round to reward him for shutting up, he instantly starts again.
So in the end, he gets what he wants. This morning, my wife took 20 minutesto get downstairs after waking up, constantly stopping and turning her back, or even getting back into bed, and he didn't stop barking once. Then, when she was putting on her boots and his harness, she took about 15 minutes, regularly turning her back on him and he just barked continually, jumping around like a t
t.We've managed to train him to do a number of things (my wife's even using Fluent Pet buttons, with some limited success), but we've got nowhere with the barking.
Any advice very much welcomed.
We have similar problems, some of which we've resolved, some we haven't.
It's a routine, habit. Try breaking the cycle, I've heard 10 days can be enough to make or break habits.
One of ours gets over excited when going out, when you faff it gets worse. If I can just clip her lead on and take her out without fuss, she's out before she knows it, much calmer and doesnt reach fever pitch in the car or on her walk.
Easier said than done when 2 dogs + wife in the mix, but I take little wins.
The car thing became a big issue, so I took to taking her out, just me and at random times. Sometimes just a drive, sometimes a walk, sometimes running an errand, different routes and various journey lengths. Not totally relaxed in the car but no longer barking in my ear the whole time.
I know it's a pain but how about slinging yours out at odd times say 2am one night an 4am the next. So it doesn't allow the excitement to build up.
If you can find a good local trainer, they'll be able to give you hints and techniques beyond the 'reward good and ignore bad behaviour" mantra.
One simple technique we were shown while walking a reactive dog, was to scatter treats on the ground, rather than make her sit for them. Reward, distraction and working for treat all in one. It worked, and broke the cycle. Sometimes it's little adjustments that make the difference.
It's a routine, habit. Try breaking the cycle, I've heard 10 days can be enough to make or break habits.
One of ours gets over excited when going out, when you faff it gets worse. If I can just clip her lead on and take her out without fuss, she's out before she knows it, much calmer and doesnt reach fever pitch in the car or on her walk.
Easier said than done when 2 dogs + wife in the mix, but I take little wins.
The car thing became a big issue, so I took to taking her out, just me and at random times. Sometimes just a drive, sometimes a walk, sometimes running an errand, different routes and various journey lengths. Not totally relaxed in the car but no longer barking in my ear the whole time.
I know it's a pain but how about slinging yours out at odd times say 2am one night an 4am the next. So it doesn't allow the excitement to build up.
If you can find a good local trainer, they'll be able to give you hints and techniques beyond the 'reward good and ignore bad behaviour" mantra.
One simple technique we were shown while walking a reactive dog, was to scatter treats on the ground, rather than make her sit for them. Reward, distraction and working for treat all in one. It worked, and broke the cycle. Sometimes it's little adjustments that make the difference.
We do the treat scattering thing. TBH, he's prey-oriented rather than reactive, so walking involves a lot of sniffing and chasing.
I've got him on a lead in the garden at the moment because he's found a snake which he won't leave alone
I think he's better at walk time with me than my wife becausd I am quicker at getting ready than her.
We wanted to get him with other dogs and with a trainer quite early on, but then Covid etc. I keep telling my wofe to sort something (he's her dog, strictly), but she hssn't done yet.
I've got him on a lead in the garden at the moment because he's found a snake which he won't leave alone
I think he's better at walk time with me than my wife becausd I am quicker at getting ready than her.
We wanted to get him with other dogs and with a trainer quite early on, but then Covid etc. I keep telling my wofe to sort something (he's her dog, strictly), but she hssn't done yet.
Firstly a good trainer will work wonders, it sounds like you've had not so good ones up to now, where abouts do you live?
Is the dog crate trained? or will he stay on a bed if told, typically known as 'place' command. This is the first thing I would work on - the dog needs a clear picture of what it should be doing and that 'thing' starts with being still and calm. Raised beds and crates are good for this because they make the picture more clear and defined for the dog.
Secondly, I'd be working on lots and lots of calming activities (it sounds as though the dog is generally over aroused), scatter feed on a lawn, get the do using its nose, long lasting chews, 'place' practice at all times of day rather than just in context of the problem.
Games that challenge the dog's impulse control are good, can he leave food/toys if told? practice these things over and over until he's good at them.
Absolutely do not give the dog what it wants whilst he's barking! I wouldn't bother turning my back specifically, just go about your business as if the dog just doesn't exist.
Is the dog crate trained? or will he stay on a bed if told, typically known as 'place' command. This is the first thing I would work on - the dog needs a clear picture of what it should be doing and that 'thing' starts with being still and calm. Raised beds and crates are good for this because they make the picture more clear and defined for the dog.
Secondly, I'd be working on lots and lots of calming activities (it sounds as though the dog is generally over aroused), scatter feed on a lawn, get the do using its nose, long lasting chews, 'place' practice at all times of day rather than just in context of the problem.
Games that challenge the dog's impulse control are good, can he leave food/toys if told? practice these things over and over until he's good at them.
Absolutely do not give the dog what it wants whilst he's barking! I wouldn't bother turning my back specifically, just go about your business as if the dog just doesn't exist.
billbring said:
Firstly a good trainer will work wonders, it sounds like you've had not so good ones up to now, where abouts do you live?
Is the dog crate trained? or will he stay on a bed if told, typically known as 'place' command. This is the first thing I would work on - the dog needs a clear picture of what it should be doing and that 'thing' starts with being still and calm. Raised beds and crates are good for this because they make the picture more clear and defined for the dog.
Secondly, I'd be working on lots and lots of calming activities (it sounds as though the dog is generally over aroused), scatter feed on a lawn, get the do using its nose, long lasting chews, 'place' practice at all times of day rather than just in context of the problem.
Games that challenge the dog's impulse control are good, can he leave food/toys if told? practice these things over and over until he's good at them.
Absolutely do not give the dog what it wants whilst he's barking! I wouldn't bother turning my back specifically, just go about your business as if the dog just doesn't exist.
He hasn't had a trainer yet. Warwickshire.Is the dog crate trained? or will he stay on a bed if told, typically known as 'place' command. This is the first thing I would work on - the dog needs a clear picture of what it should be doing and that 'thing' starts with being still and calm. Raised beds and crates are good for this because they make the picture more clear and defined for the dog.
Secondly, I'd be working on lots and lots of calming activities (it sounds as though the dog is generally over aroused), scatter feed on a lawn, get the do using its nose, long lasting chews, 'place' practice at all times of day rather than just in context of the problem.
Games that challenge the dog's impulse control are good, can he leave food/toys if told? practice these things over and over until he's good at them.
Absolutely do not give the dog what it wants whilst he's barking! I wouldn't bother turning my back specifically, just go about your business as if the dog just doesn't exist.
He doesn't have a crate, but he has a bed which he uses.
We do lots of calming training. His impulse control is good.
All these things he's very good at unless it's breakfast time or walk time.
I posted this because ignoring him while he's kicking off simply does not work, and I'm not going to prevent him from going out for a pee first thing in the morning.
Try some of these trainers, all are relatively close and will travel to you. I don't have any direct experience of them or affiliation but have heard good things.
https://www.facebook.com/packworksdogtraining/
https://www.instagram.com/samdogtrainer/
https://www.facebook.com/AKK9DogTraining
It sounds as though the barking has been reinforced by the dog eventually getting what it wants so you will need to reshape the whole picture for him to understand that quiet and calm will get him what he wants instead. I would imagine crate training will be a large part of this but a professional will be money well spent and get you some peace much more quickly than lots of (probably conflicting) advice from internet amateurs like me.
https://www.facebook.com/packworksdogtraining/
https://www.instagram.com/samdogtrainer/
https://www.facebook.com/AKK9DogTraining
It sounds as though the barking has been reinforced by the dog eventually getting what it wants so you will need to reshape the whole picture for him to understand that quiet and calm will get him what he wants instead. I would imagine crate training will be a large part of this but a professional will be money well spent and get you some peace much more quickly than lots of (probably conflicting) advice from internet amateurs like me.
Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff