Dog Community

Various Problems (Barking, Scratching etc)

Jon

Posted : 6/3/2006 3:51:54 AM

Hi all,
I'm after a bit of advice if possible - my girlfriend's dog is really starting to become annoying now and I don't know what to do about it.
Basically I wake up at about 7am , feed the dog and put him out into the garden. As soon as he finishes his food, he immediately starts barking as loud and as long as he can! If I go outside and say "NO!" or "STOP!" he just barks at me! The garden is enclosed and is surrounded by a high fence so he can't see much going on outside if that's what some people think. This annoys me so much that I can't even think straight - a complaint has been put in about the dog by the neighbours previously too.
He also has a thing about scratching the back door. At the moment it is covered in mud and dust because he does this a lot.
He also runs round in the garden, which is obviously to be expected... however he always runs the same route around for ages and ages - this has meant that the grass has been worn down and now all I can see in the back garden is a huge 'O' of dust and mud where he has been running for god knows how long

The dust is also being brought inside (he is kept in the kitchen overnight), which means that no matter how clean the kitchen is, it always ends up covered in dust. I can clean it immediately after the dog comes in, but straight away it gets covered again

The problem is not only the above, but my girlfriend is expecting a baby soon and the dust will be a massive hygiene problem so I need to sort it. The barking will have to be stopped because we will be looking for a bigger house now that the family will be expanding, and I don't want the baby being woken up by the dog all the time, let alone annoy the neighbours. I don't know what I'm supposed to do about him running round in circles day long causing the ground to erode like it is - anyone have any suggestions to any of these?

Yours, in desperation,
Cyberman

EW

Posted : 6/3/2006 4:00:22 AM

There will be more people with suggestions I'm sure, but I would try getting a few good, long, fast walks in for the dog. He's probably bored, and needs some play or exercise time. I have not had success in getting my dog to stop barking, but I have heard yelling at or correcting them in a loud voice encourages the barking. Maybe a squirt bottle to the face? That did stop my dog from chasing the vacuum and barking at it, at least for a little bit. Good luck

glenmar

Posted : 6/3/2006 7:05:43 AM

Yep, he sounds bored, and yes, he sounds like he just flat doesn't like being excluded from the pack by being left outside alone.

Yelling does encourage the barking....he "yells", you yell, what a cool game! When I say quiet I expect quiet and if I don't get it, the offender gets blasted in the face with a spritz from the water spray bottle. And that's NO small feat with six german shepherds.

He needs more exercise, more play time, more one on one with the family, and he needs to feel like PART of the upcoming blessed event. He KNOWS and is probably acting out a bit because he's feeling excluded from the big changes.

Debbie R

Posted : 6/3/2006 7:16:33 AM

The constant running and running in circles is an obsessive problem, the other posters are correct this dog needs more attention and activity, if it were me I would call in a behaviorist. as far as bringing in dust, well that is part of the joy of dog ownership.
How old is he? and how much time does he spend in the yard alone, and home alone?

forpaws

Posted : 6/3/2006 8:21:57 AM

Welcome to the forum Cyberman and the price is posting pic's of your fur kid. [

]

I agree with what has been posted by others here. It does sound like your gf's fur kid is bored and needs a job of some sorts.
Have you thought about clicker training. [linkhttp://www.clickertraining.com]www.clickertraining.com[/link] is a wonderful way of both giving your dog something to do and learn while it is fun for the two of you to do. It breaks up the menotony (sp) and instills the behavior you do want out of the pet.
Good luck. Happy training.

Xerxes

Posted : 6/3/2006 11:07:44 AM

I have to agree with everything that's been said here. The dog is bored, feels excluded, and is sensing some changes. He possibly needs more exercise and a morning walk might just be the thing for the both of you.

Jeffrey Feldman

Posted : 6/3/2006 1:04:47 PM

I know that there are mixed feelings on idog about Cesar Milan and his methods, but there was an episode of the "Dog Whisperer" (on National Geographic channel) with a dog that had the exact same behavioral issues. The owners had a huge yard for the dog to run around in which he obsessively ran around in the exact same path every day. You could see the "trail" that the pup had worn into the otherwise green grass. Anyways, like many others have said previously, what ended up solving the problem was walking the dog. The large yard allows the dog to be physically, but not mentally stimulated. Walking your dog while you are keeping their focus on you allows them to fixate on something positive and will alleviate the need for obsessive behavior at home. I know when I don't have time for two walks a day my dog would rather obsessively dig up my plants then walk himself in the yard (LOL).

Debbie R

Posted : 6/3/2006 2:22:06 PM

I'm glad you brought Milan, up I have the digital cable w/ the dvr on it now so I taped a few, and I like many had a lot of problems w/him but really liked the show and that he really does care about dogs. However I have noticed in the last couple of episodes that I watched he has changed drastically, he is using treats, and more calm, then assertive methods, I think some people finally got through to him, maybe even someone he respected. It has made me much happier, and he even said once please do not do this w/o a professional handler. and Not one stupid alpha roll, the change is obvious and drastic. Sorry to highjack this thread, I will start another thread

fuzzy_dogs_mom

Posted : 6/3/2006 2:25:05 PM

Besides being bored, maybe he lonesome. His *pack* is inside and he's outside by himself. Any chance of letting him come back inside after he does his business? He might feel more loved and less excluded.

Joyce & Max

schleide

Posted : 6/3/2006 4:47:24 PM

Like everyone has said, your GF's dog sounds bored... having a big fenced yard is great - but all that room alone doesn't mean a dog will exercise him/herself... Maybe try going out with the dog to play fetch - and then bringing him back in with you when he is finished. If he is engaged, he is less likely to bark... Just putting him out to amuse and exercise himself is probably not going to work - sounds like he wants to be with you - that is why he is barking...

Some dust and dirt is to be expected, I'm afraid... the dog is not purposely making a mess, so being mad at the dog for it is not really helpful... Is the dirt on his paws? He can be trained to wipe is paws on a towel/mat when he comes in - or someone can towel him off/wipe him down - that might help... Also, he would probably stop running that same circle if he were busy doing something else.