Barking, What can be done?

Front fence is chain link and around 5 1/2 while the back is a wooden private fence, I cashed a CD and started modling my fence=3. By hand so its taking awhile.lol The back yard leads into my shop/apartment? which is locked from the front so in part they are away from anyone yet in a small apartment area/car storage. The dogs have a doggie door to get INSIDE the area if they want. 

And yes Maxie was the one beaten but he was acting like this a while before the beating but not to the degree he is now. I have decide I can't trust him in my home with my kids because of his snappyness . Most likely he will be rehome because he doesnt do well with other dogs the older he gets. He was fine with my dogs and cat until he got bigger, Plus in part when my Chow died I think Max took on the roll of "boss of the yard" or so he thinks. Now that I think about it thats when he started becomeing a real Butt. I even decided to hold off on fostering the one dog because I don't want to upset my brood , Max does that enough. Thrusday he was eating a peacan and my pup Missy was just walking by and he bite her over the food and took a chunk out of her head. She was like "O_O What did I do!?".

I am very confused.  You live in the country on a cattle farm but have neighbors close enough to be "next door" and complaining about the dogs barking?  And you have "blocks" because you said the police officer only lives 3 blocks away from you.......strange "country" setting I guess.

I realize that in some parts of the country folks keep their dogs outside most of the time.  However, working dogs are a bit different than our pets, and our pets, IMHO, belong inside at the very least at nite.

I share my home with 6 german shepherds and 2 cats. The cats have a safe room with a  1/2 door that is hung so they can get under it but the dogs can't.  My dogs are energetic and active, but inside they are couch potatos.  That is our rule.  Inside, we lay down and be good.  Outside, they can get as rough and crazy as they wish, but, INSIDE, they lay down and behave themselves.  I too have rooms that are strictly off limits because of the fur factor and they do not even attempt to enter those rooms with or without a gate.

This was accomplished with training.  Calm, quiet expectations and training.  And Callie is absolutely right.  Training is an ongoing thing, not something you do once and call it done. Not something that you give six months too and give up on.  The trainer doesn't really sound like she was all that good if she too gave up.   I work with mine one on one and also in the whole group.  I'm the undisputed "boss of the yard" and boss of the house.  And I've accomplished that without raising my voice, without physical punishments and without being "mean".  And I've spent a good amount of time with fosters leashed to me as well, until they learn the house rules so that they can go to a new home and be cherished family members.

We make a lifetime commitment to an animal when we bring it home.  It's our job to make that lifetime happy.

 He shouldn't be allowed to be the boss. That's the point of what everyone is saying, and the point of NILIF. *You* should be the boss of your house, not some four legged creature who isn't paying the bills.

 I have a PRT who lives in the house and acts perfectly wonderfully. The breed is *known* for being wild and hyper, and she's a competition obedience dog. She acts the way she does because I don't feed her cheap kibble, and because I work, constantly, on her attitude. She gets better every day, and she's pure joy to spend time with.

 Most dogs can be taught to act in an acceptable manner, in the very least. Your dog sounds like he's seriously lacking confidence (which is why he is so loud and pushy) and really needs some boosting. Training and working a dog on a regular basis helps SO MUCH with that.

 

If you are not going to have the dogs in the house why not build a house for them?  Like a shed?  That has blankets and heating etc.?  My boyfriend's family has 3 dogs that live outside and one that lives inside (a 14 year old partially blind and deaf yorkie)  They are outside 24/7, sometimes they come into the sun porch though, but nearly 100% of the time is outside.  They live in the country, and yes, they do bark at night, until they are put in their house, then they are quiet, because I think they feel safe.  They close the door, it has heating, blankets, a radio which is sometimes on low for them, and they are very good in there.  It has a solid door for the winter, and a door with metal bars for the summertime. 

If you live in the country and back onto a field, as you said, then perhaps they are barking at the other animals they can hear or see or smell, that humans can't.  That's what my boyfriend's dogs bark at, the coyotes in the field.

big tip for peace in multi dog households: never let them interact while food is present.

I don't get it, if someone had beaten my dog nearly to death there's no way any of them would be outside unattended. It's quite easy to train dogs to be calm and quiet in the house. I'm sitting here right now with 500 or pounds of dog quietly lying around.

It sounds to me like you have many serious dog behavior problems you need to address. The barking is a symptom of how poorly you are managing your dogs, not the problem.

The inside/outside debate aside, after what you've described, taking a chunk out of your other dogs head!!!!, attacking the cat and injuring her ear, snapping at your kids, I would go ahead and think about finding a home for this dog that doesn't include children and other animals. The only other alternative I see is building a nice outdoor kennel for him. Personally I would bring them all in at night and crate the ones that cause trouble indoors in the meantime.

I think your dogs are scared. I think they are barking to protect themselves and warn off any predators.

Beau NEVER barks. I have probably heard him bark maybe 10 times since I have had him - but the first night I lived in the house I live in now, my roommate's father was in town and he doesn't believe in inside dogs. Beau sat out on the outside porch and barked his poor little head off, even tried to jump the very high privacy fence, and ended up shredding one of the posts. He wasn't barking for fun, he was barking because he was scared out of his mind and I didn't know what to do to help him.

Beau is now an inside-only dog - the only time we go out is to go potty, for walks, and to go to the dog park. I suggest building a nice cozy dog house for your dogs. It doesn't have to be large, because dogs do have a denning instinct and seem to often find it very comfortable to cram themselves into small spaces. Either that or I suggest bringing them in at night and crating them.

I don't understand--your're outside working 5-9 hours a day, the dogs are with you. Who's watching the girls? It sounds kind of chaotic to me and the animals pick up on that.Just because they're with you, doesn't mean they're getting attention-- then put in a shed at night or left to roam the yard.I'm sure they are still are afraid of being beaten.I don't think any dog should be out 24/7. Why have a dog? You aren't doing it any favors by adopting of fostering and the poor thing is left outside all the time.

Sorry' not watching what I'm typing. I meant   adopting OR fostering---  Need to take typing lessons

Honestly it is probably easier to teach a dog how to behave indoors than get an outdoor dog to stop barking.  The problem with having outdoor dogs is you have little control over their environment and aren't near enough to correct them for improper behavior nor reward them for good behavior.  There is so much stimuli for an outdoor dog to take in.  There is also the loneliness and boredom of being left alone outside.  For some barking acts as a positive experience in and of itself.

 Some things you can try is to give them something to do while alone outside.  Perhaps get some yummy kongs and stuff them full of treats and hide them around the yard along with other chew toys.  Although reading a later post about Max attacking over food I would not do this nor have him unsupervised around any of your children or other animals.  Sadly keeping him outside is only going to worsen his aggression when it comes to your children and other animals because he isn't going to feel like he is part of their pack.

Have you tried crate training.  Perhaps you could crate train them so they could sleep in the safety of your house while still being confined so they won't get into trouble at night.  You should at least try bringing in Lila since she seems to behave in the house.  It sounds like she is also the one starting and egging on the barking so that might take care of the problem. 

ATM My kids are next to me helping me work or my mom watchs them. Since I will only be doing this for another 3-4days its not a huge deal. We went outside to day while the dogs where having a fit, And brush hoged the first acer in the field... So far its 2am and not a peep from Max . Lila has been comeing and going from the house all day. Max isn't my dog so I try not to deal with him since he annoys me to no end. In the last three weeks I have a 1200vet bill due to that dog. I am going to make my husband spend time with max Solo tomorrow since Max is his. I am personally tired of dealing with someone else animals. Missy,Priss and Lila....and Kat* mean cow* Are the only animals other then my husband,lol, That get along with me. I think Max is a good dog one on one and with someone who had more time on there hands to deal with his issues, And ina  home with no other cats or dogs..or small children since he is easly jealous and agressive towards what you are paying attention to instead of him.

 

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Ok, I am gonna say it. And this is just MO from your posts. I am the most forgiving, tolerant and willing to give someone the benefit of doubt person you will ever meet. But my gosh.

Your dog was beaten, in the yard, ok, your husbands dog was beaten in your yard, and your now upset that he barks in the yard? They are not in the house, because they break antiques, doors and what have you? Your neighbors are close enough to complain and beat your animals, yet you let them still run and stay outside? One dog is "his" dog and not your problem and one is "your" dog and he hates you spending money on her? What about the 3rd dog?

You seriously need to either train your animals, build them an outside dog run, or rehome them.

I have an inside dog, my husband and I share responsibility of  75lbs of rough and tumble still growing puppy. He is not allowed to chase the cats, I have 3, he is not allowed to intimidate the rabbit, I have 1. He is not allowed to damage anything in my home and he has never done so. He is never outside alone. He is allowed to alert bark, but must be quiet when I say so. He is allowed to play rough in the house from time to time and if something breaks I am sure not gonna blame him. My dog has boundaries, I enforce them daily.

I am sure that right now your saying great for you, but the bottom line is he only knows the rules because he was taught the rules, he was not allowed to figure it out for himself or absorb it by osmosis. We spent and still spend hours training, and I am still learning things that I need to do to make my dog a good dog, not a dog my neighbors are willing to beat or complain about.

Seriously, you need to tighten your boot straps and make a decision, before someone or something dies.

 

 

 

 

I think that you will find most everyone here is very compassionate and willing to help.  However, some of us may feel like we are being conned with all the variations in what we are being told.  We've gone from the dogs sleeping inside in your bed, to being outside to be beaten nearly to death, to a spare room, to damage beyond control, from an $800 vet bill to a $1200 vet bill, and gosh, it's a little hard to know if we should be compassionate or wary.

I just gave my dog a raw meaty bone in the kitchen, his place to chew it. Well guess what he brought it here to me, carpets and raw meat do not mix, but I did not correct him harshly, or immediately, why?

Because my dog was taught that the cats are off limits and untouchable, my youngest weighs 5 lbs, Kord could do serious damage with a flick of his ear, but the kitten is fearless, and he is fearless because he has nothing to fear from Kord. He is so fearless that he will do this: (warning raw meaty bone consumption in progress)

Save my bone please!

FYI, I took Kord and his bone back to the kitchen and put the kitten in another room with the door closed so he could chew in peace.

Training, training, training...........

glenmar

I think that you will find most everyone here is very compassionate and willing to help.  However, some of us may feel like we are being conned with all the variations in what we are being told.  We've gone from the dogs sleeping inside in your bed, to being outside to be beaten nearly to death, to a spare room, to damage beyond control, from an $800 vet bill to a $1200 vet bill, and gosh, it's a little hard to know if we should be compassionate or wary.

 

Missy is the only dog allowed in bed with us, Ive said that before.Lila is allowed to come in when she wants, Max is outside and after the last time he came in and screwed my stuff up he will always be an outside dog if my husband dogs shot him first. I did convert the spare room into a doggie play room for Missy,Lila and Priss with beds in there if they choose to sleep in that room.tho most nights Lila goes out the doggie door into the backyard and sleeps with max in my Shop. And Yes last weeks vet charges where 105 for Missy shots and 692 for max's Xrays,shots,meds,exame, ect ect. Then this week Max took a chunk out of Missys head leaving her with 4 stickes and a vet check,75$, Then he bite Prisses head and pierced her ear drum which costed 280. Last night Max tore into the guy next to us small Dashound, He doesnt keep her in their yard so some how she got into mine, Most likely I going to give him to the Officer Down the road who wanted him.

Its alot of BS and I know most of you are like "Yeah right, Piato Kiishta".