persistent barking - Page 1

I would greatly appreciate any help or advice that i can get.I have an eleven month old gsd male who is a very persistent barker.This has become major issue as my neighbours have began to complain which i cant blame them.It is very frustrating at this point.I have observed him closely and it appears he is barking at nothing.I dont think it is totaly from boredom or frustration as he is walked twice a day which includes a lot of ball play and training so i believe this to be enough. He runs around the back garden with the hair standing on his back barking continuously and growling. I have tried several things but to no avail.I was then advised to get a barking color which thankfully worked and hoped this would end the nuisance barking but it only works while i have it on him.The instant i unclip the color he begins again with barking and growling then started to leave the color on switched off but he discovered this and started barking with it on.The problem is now that with the color on he just lies in his bed all day for hours sometimes not even coming out to use the toilet unless i come out to him or take off the color.But you guessed as soon as ido that he goes crazy barking.I leave a few kong toys out in the garden for him to play with but he just lies in his bed chewing chunks off hid wooden shed.I have never encountered such a determined dog to bark.I hate seeing him retreat into his shed with the color on but if i dont do something i will have to sell him before i fall out with neighbours.I would really appreciate any advice I'm sorry its such along post but i want to give a detailed account of his behavior which might help

Barking is one thing but you said he has his hackles up! I would search in the direction he is looking. Ask your neighbors, be nosey. Maybe he hears or sees something no one else does. Could be something crazy, a neighbor with a body in the basement? LOL Or then again, your dog might just be crazy like that. I have never seen a dog raise his hackles for a non threat, unless it was a nerve bag. Find his "threat" or you will never solve the problem. I think you have done all you can with the collar. Obviously their is something more here.

Alan,

How is he while he is indoors?  Perhaps if he had doggy door access to somewhere into the house where he could be inside and comfy, he wouldn't bark? Maybe that would help. If he's too energetic or destructive to stay inside, is there any way to take him with you when you go places? I know some people who take their dog with them to work!

Good luck, and please keep us posted.

-Melanie

Ciuld very well be as 4pack said.  Do you yell at the dog for barking?   If so he is thinking "Great,! My leader is joining in!" and bark even more.

i have to agree with 4pack on this.  something is causing this behavior.  sometimes it takes a while to figure out, but what you are describing

is a reactionary thing.  does this happen only in your yard?  how is he at the park or elsewhere?  i suspect that the neighbors themselves

may be the cause of this barking.  just be observant ---- you'll figure it out eventually.  in the meantime,  the bark collar may be necessary

when he is outdoors.  good luck.

pjp

**do your neighbors have outdoor cats?  are there squirrels in your yard?

I agree that there is more there than meets the eye. Maybe when he's barking take him on a lead in direction he's indicating, there may be something there and if so he can "find" it.  If it's something perceived, let him investigate and he will see that it is nothing.  Maybe take a whole day just to let him "take you" every time he's barking, if there's nothing there he will soon get the message and if there is something you'll have an answer.  You could also try putting up a solid fence that he can't see through, extreme but better than getting rid of the dog.

I think that he is taking issue with another dog?  That's what it sounds like to me. 

If you cannot solve the issue, perhaps you should have him debarked.  It is not that expensive, and he will be happier in the long run.  He can bark to his heart's content yet remain in his home and your neighbors will not throw rocks at you :-)

Veronica

Realistically, find the dog a good home elsewhere.  Then get yourself another dog.

I agree that this dog is doing what he is doing for a good reason, and not because he is crazy.  He knows or senses something that you are not aware of (perhaps another dog, as was suggested, or a ghost ), but, you owe your neighbors peace and quiet (as they owe you the same), and you should see that they get it.

It sounds like your dog lives outside, and sleeps in a shed?  If that is correct, maybe you could move him inside for a week, just to see if things change.  If you can not bring him inside for whatever reason, then maybe you are not attached to him so much, that finding him a good home and you getting another dog, will not be a problem.  I hope that does not come across badly, I do not intend it to be.  I have dogs that live outside also.

I do not know enough about debarking to address it other than to say that it rubs me in the wrong way, especially if you have the dog for home security.

I had a dog once that would go to the front door and bark at "nothing", but she only did it after she became very old, and several reasons could explain that, but this does not apply to your dog as he is young.

Of course, you could just put him on a leash and let him go whereever he wants, to find out what is peaking his interest so darn much.  I would have done that right from the start, as I am intrigued also.  Does your neighbor suddenly grow a lot of hair when the moon is full?

As a side note, I watched a TV show about some poachers that were using dogs to track down hogs on a Federal Preserve and they had their dogs debarked so that the wildlife officers would not hear the dogs barking when tracking down the game.  The poachers had instead, hung small bells from the collars of the dogs so that they could hear the slight ringing and follow the dogs through the brush.  Just thought that was interesting.

Thanks for the responses so far.Its just so strange how instant he starts barking its literally the minute i unclick the color.There is a dog living farley close by but it is a house dog who is only in the garden for short periods of time but my dog barks even if  that dog isnt out.It would not be possible for him to live in doors and anyway i think this would make things worse if he had to spend anytime outside away from us.It has become a constant battle with him as i try to give him time with the collar of but it just doesn't work.Thanks again

Thanks for the responses so far.Its just so strange how instant he starts barking its literally the minute i unclick the color.There is a dog living farley close by but it is a house dog who is only in the garden for short periods of time but my dog barks even if  that dog isnt out.It would not be possible for him to live in doors and anyway i think this would make things worse if he had to spend anytime outside away from us.It has become a constant battle with him as i try to give him time with the collar of but it just doesn't work.Thanks again