help for barking dog from newb!

[glitterfart]

Sorry to just jump in here, but I´ve got a big problem with my barking dark.

Ralphie is a rescue dog (he was about 9 months when we got him) and is now 2.5 years old. He´s a collie / wind hound mix. When we first go him he NEVER barked. As in the neighbors said "geez, your dog is so quiet you hardly know he´s there" But after the birth of our daughter (she´s 19 months) he became rather territorial of our yard. We live on a corner, and the yard is fenced with a wrought iron fence that is spaced far enough apart for him to stick his head through and look out. The fence is protected by historical preservation laws, so nothing we can do there. he has 76 meters of street frontage that he can race along, see out, etc. There are tons of cyclists in our area, and Ralphie has taken a disliking to bikes and mopeds, platinum blondes, and shitzus...he barks whenever he sees any of the above. We´ve tried spraying him with water, but that works only if he´s close enough to reach. And he´s incredibly fast, so he´s quickly out of reach. I really don´t know what to do anymore, and the neighbor across the street has threatened to do something about it if we don´t. Also told me I was too stupid to handle the dog. When we talked to the dog trainer about it, she shrugged her shoulders and said that as long as he was able to see out the fence, we´d have the problem. I´d appreciate any suggestions you ladies might have, and hope you´ll excuse my butting in.

[osulori]

Oy...I feel your pain to an extent (my pit mix is a barker too, shockingly his beagle mix sister is not). How is Ralphie's recall? When Eddie starts barking, fun time in the yard is over and he has to come inside but thankfully he responds well to my H or I standing on the deck, pointing in the house and telling him to "GO.INSIDE." You mentioned that spraying him with water works but him getting out of reach is an issue...what about investing in a heavy duty squirt gun with good range (like the Super Soaker types that I don't know about you but I definitely had a ton of growing up)...that way you have more range with the water.

Also, I've never used one myself and you'll probably get mixed opinions here but I've heard mention of citronella bark collars being successful also.

[incognitotoday]

HANDS DOWN Citronella Bark Collar! They are a saving grace for my two dogs. Both who will bark at any noise outside my apartment door (hallway noise - doors opening/closing - talking neighbors).

Now I just put the collars on them, but don't actually turn on the device itself and they are silent!!!

Love them. Got them from Amazon.

Brilliant concept and not as harsh (IMO) as shock collars (which I don't believe in - regardless of the breed/mix).

Good Luck!

[kellbell191]

I would work harder on making sure he is getting enough exercise and stimulation. Then when he goes in the yard, you go in the yard and redirect him or shush him when he is barking. When he listens to the quiet command, he gets a hot dog.

How long is he alone in the yard when he is barking like this? I would not be leaving him out there unattended for long periods of time, then he is a nuisance and it is only reinforcing his sense that he needs to protect the yard.

[kellbell191]

I don't think I would use citronella in this situation....you want him to bark sometimes, just not all.the.time. He's barking for a reason other than boredom, he is doing a job. Find another way to fulfill his need to do a job. I like osulori's idea that when he barks playtime outside is over.

We are always outside with our dogs so they don't need to bark to protect us, we're right there.

[dexteroni]

Quincy is a barker too, but we just use "ah-ah!" like we would with any undesirable behavior and he stops, and after a year or so of this training, he's beginning to taper his barking on his own.

Does he get enough socialization and exercise? Part of the barking might be pent up energy. Does he go to dog day care or the dog park? Quincy barks *way* less when he's properly exercised, and hardly at all when he's tuckered out from a day of playing.

[glitterfart]

Ralphie´s recall is good when we are not in our yard, but not at home when he sees a bike, moped, etc. We do try to end play time, but that´s often easier said than done because you have to get him first. Though he frequently comes if he hears the refridgerator door open and thinks he might get a piece of cheese.

He has playdates with other dogs once a week, but doggy daycare got to be too expensive and the lady who ran it was very unpredictable and often brought him home absolutely filthy.

He probably does need a real "job" to do, and I would like to try agility training with him since he´s incredibly agile and liked this sort of thing at first, but the course is at a time when I simply can´t go. I´m really not sure how to go about doing training at home, and having our not quite two-year-old around complicates things. I´m unsure how to involve her so that she´s occupied and the dog is also getting his fair share of attention.

[dexteroni]

Agility training sounds like a great idea. I'm sure you can do some stuff at home, but it would probably be best to attend a class at least once so you can learn how they train it. If you really can't, then maybe there are training videos online to get you started? Then get some flags, a tunnel, a hurdle, etc. and go to town. You don't have to train to competition levels, just for fun and mental and physical occupation. I think he'll have a blast, and your 2-year-old will probably like the course too, lol. Have fun!