Barking Driving Me Mad!!!

[maxusa]

Hi,

I have a 1.5 year old black labrador/staffy called Gabrield who we got from Dogs Trust in October and a Cairn called TK (4 years old). Both of them have been living very happily together and still are, just rest of family now been driven nuts!

Probem is Gabriel developed this habit of barking incessanty at you when he is not getting attention, he actually is coming right up to you and doing this. Have tried standing up and turning away from him - he thinks this is a game and he goes mad. Also tried removing him from room, but difficult since when you go to get him, he rolls over and he is massive and weighs a ton, so you have to drag him out.

Whenever TK hears any sort of noice barks constantly with this shrill noise, particularly when my neighbours walk up their driveway on the stones, he goes mad and will not stop.

Problem is I work from home, and spend a lot of time on the phone, and cannot get them to stop, particuarly TK. Gabriel really only barks when we are all in same room in evening, but TK is all day whenever anyone walks past, opens drive gates whatever......we have also tried spraying them with water, but that does not work either.

Please, please does anyone have any ideas, because now when TK starts it is now sometimes setting Gabriel off as well. Do want them to bark if someone is at door, but want to be able to get them to stop!

Thanks

 

[Bens_Mum]

No help but my JRT does the same. He is a rescue and gets in to a complete panic if you ignore him and then gets more and more frantic whatever you do! I work from home too and have to put them outside during the day!

 

[CorvusCorax]

With my female, the minute she starts barking or running round in circles, she is either put in a crate in the house or out in our exercise run, which is surrounded by a tall wooden fence, so she can see very little out of it.
No fuss, no talking, just grab and put her in.
Since we started this we haven't heard a peep out of her for months, and we had tried a lot of things including a battery shock collar which she ignored.

If you have to drag Gabriel, drag him, you can't let him know that he is stronger than you.
I have had to lift my male GSD in and out of the car before now, I am not a big girl, but he does not decide where he goes or doesnt go, and when, I do!

A very loud 'NO' or a sharp noise to shock them out of it can also help, just be careful you don't make the behaviour worse by making everything exciteable.
In your manner and voice, be very slow and calm - my mum used to mirror the dog's behaviour and yipped back 'shut up! stop it! that'e enough!' so talking to the bitch in a high-pitched tone and making her more excited.

 

[lovecharles]

Try keeping a water bottle close and squirting it in the face when they bark. Its a really good deterrent. A loud shout, or quick loud scream will make them jump and should stop.

When they bark, don't look at them, put you hand in front fo their face and make a quick, lound nice kind of like 'shup!'
when they are quiet for a minute or so, a small reward like a treat will go down well. However, only give them a treat when they have been quiet for a few mins, or they will think they are being rewarded for barking.

good luck.