Barking!!!!

    • Bronze

    Barking!!!!

    I live on the bottom floor of an apartment building and live by the
    pool. So we have people passing by all day. I have gotten in trouble at
    the complex that I live in and I wan to correct this behavior.

    When Orion see's anyone he starts barking, or hears the common door
    open and close he barks. He will also bark at anyone when he is out on a
    walk. I try to take him around a lot of people so he gets used to them,
    sometimes he does really well, but sometimes he is so bad I get
    embaressed. I try to use the "no bark" comand that I learned in training class
    that doesnt work. I tried to make him sit and I tell him that he is
    okay and that we dont need to bark. The soothing method, no that dosen't
    work. I tried time out in the bathroom untill he settles down that
    didn't work. I tried coins in a can that didnt work. I will not "swat" my
    dog with paper. Or raise a hand to him, or use a shock color I feel that
    is unhumain, but I am starting to feel that I will not be able to get
    this out of him.

    Please help I do not want my puppy to pick up this bad habbit.
    • Gold Top Dog
    We live in a house, but own a condominium up in the mountains.  We've had similar issues there when we bring our dogs.  The comings and goings of other people around the building makes our older dog bark ALOT, which he does not do at home. 

    The trainer suggest that when we are there we spend alot of time walking him all over the property, so he can become very familiar with the surroundings and not be afraid of what's around him.  We have seen some improvement since we have started doing that.  When we arrive there, we walk him all around the perimeter of the building for about 1/2 hour and encourage anyone we meet to give him treat (we have a pocketful).  If he barks at the person he meets, he is not given a treat.  Also, when ever we leave the dogs alone in the condo, we leave a radio playing at a pretty good volume, though not loud enough to bother our neighbors.  This masks some of the outdoor noises.  Also, we got insulated drapes and curtains for the busiest side of the condo, and we shut them when out.  They also mask some noise and block the view.  

    I would recommend taking your dog out to the area where there's alot of activity, and just sitting there watching people go by.  If he is calm with the movement around him, give him a treat.  If he is not, give him a slight leash correction to divert his attention.  Do this ALOT. 

    Good luck with this. 
    • Bronze
    hey Docktor,  i've gone through the barking stage also...honestly i felt the same way as you about the shock collar but it was my last resort.  I could have tried the citrus spray but she was with another dog that all he wanted to do is tear off the collar so it was miss the dogs mouth all the time....resulting in no results! lol
     
    basically the shock collar is harmless.  After i saw what it can do, i knew my dog wouldn't get hurt...the first time she wore it, she barked and she just stood there like WTF! what was that....she was trained after 3 days with having the collar on for a couple of hours, supervised. well, she only barked outside at other squirls and ppl walking by so not entirely supervised, just be around your dog.
     
    Start off with the citrus spray collar or you can buy the bottle itself....it's called sour apple.  I had a german shephard mix that barked at everything.  at first when he started barking we sprayed some directly in his mouth, now he knows what the bottle looks like and whenever he starts barking we just show him the bottle and he stops.
     
    anyways, hope that helps and good luck
     
    • Bronze
    A trainer told our group to simply get on of those plastic lemons that holds lemon juice.  When he barks immediately squirt it in his mouth.  The Lemon juice is harmless.  He will immediately stop barking and making the "yuk I got lemon juice on my tongue look".  Make sure to use a one word command like QUIET at the exact same time he gets the juice.  Don't pansy-a$$ around with this method or you Will be torturing the dog.  It works very quickly.  You may only have to do it a few times.  He will respond to quiet very soon thereafter.
     
    You need to be very careful and put the lemon directly in his mouth.  Don't start squirting this thing like a water pistol or you will sting him in the eye.
     
    I am glad I never had this problem to deal with.
     
    • Gold Top Dog
    I think I'd rather use plain water in a spray bottle.  I aim at the neck.
    Hey, it's way more fun
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