Barking problems - Page 1

My wife is raising hell about our 8 month old GSD. We have a one year old and during her nap time in the middle of the day Katja chases dragon flys and barks and barks at them. At night the neighbors on the other side of the privacy fence let there dogs out and it's a bark fest. When the neighbors are swimming and making lots of noise in their back yards she goes off also. She has been socialized with people and is fine with people, on the other hand she is not very socialized with other dogs. We have only one dog park in the area that I take her to on occasions to help socialize her but there is normally very few if any people with pets there.

My wife has been wanting to put a bark collar on her but I haven't let her, and I think I am about to lose this battle. We were hoping that she would grow out of it but it doesn't seem to be happening. If I put a bark collar on her what are the chances that I can still do protection training. I am worried that I will not be able to get her to bark when needed.

What can I do short of poisoning the neighbors dogs? (j/j)

Chris

Chris,

To me it sounds like when your 1 year old takes a nap so does the dog, crate her durring this time when the baby is asleep.  Mom will get much needed rest from both baby and dog!

Then buy a bark collar!  It will be the best money you ever spent!  She does not have to wear it all the time but when needed.  I have a dog that is like this and barks non-stop.  She is just super drivey and can not help her self.  I put a bark collar on her and I was happy, my neighbors were happy and  the dog learned to control herself!  And I didn't have to worry about someone calling animal control on me!

Good luck!

Vickie

www.PowerHausKennels.com

Bark collar or debark. Personally i try the bark collar first. I also would try long exercise routine to tire her.

bark collars are ok, but teaching a puppy the "hush"  or "speak" command  works wonders.

I like excercize, crates and the collar.   (in that order)   I would get the bark collar............after awhile you can just show the collar to the "new and improved" dog and their reaction will amaze you.    I called it the "special hat" to my mouthy screamy rescued show dog.........she opted for a quiet time in her crate.   Also if I did need to use it past the initial stage...........the batteries were dead for years, and she still doesn't know it!   

Get some structured excersize (ball play and retrieve, or tug o' war)  

Treat them well in the crate   (mine love theirs now and always at this point)

Get the bark collar  (cheapest one)   You need no remotes, or water proof and on and on

Good luck, and keep us posted!

 Try teaching a "quiet" command.

Crate the dog at naptime, he probally needs a nap too.

Before going to the electronic collar, buy the citronella bark collar, the electronic collar should be as a last resort, after teaching your dog a quiet command and crating her for naps, making sure she has exercise, not just physical, but mentally stimulating exercise.  She should have at least 2 30 minute walks a day.

Quiet command Jean Donaldson's book Culture Clash has an excellent session on teaching this

Exercise (Walks, short training sessions, ball play, ect.)

Kennel

Citronella bark collar

To get control of your dog's barking, you need to first teach a "speak" on command. Once the dog knows to "speak" for a reward, then teach "no speak" or "quiet". You have to be right there when the barking is going on and reward immediately when the dog shuts up. You may have to grab his muzzle and clamp it shut to make him be quiet the first few times. Soon he will know the commands and obey.  GSDs learn quickly, so this shouldn't take long. But if you have a dog that loves to bark more than he loves to obey, a bark collar works wonders.  Crating can help too, especially at nap time and at night.