UGHH advice needed Re: barking

Im losing my mind. Fred is a perfect angle all the time and the best dog ever until we have company. He barks and barks and barks like a lunatic when people are here to the point where I feel bad inviting people over.

I have tried EVERYTHING (coin can, spray bottle, putting him on a leash etc)

I was at the pet store the other day and the lady rec trying two other thing.

One: A muzzle... put it on him for first ten min or so and then try taking it off, putting it back if he starts barking etc.

Two: One of those vibrating collars.

It breaks my heart to even think of doing either of those but last night I was about to cry. The only thing that gets him to stop is giving him a raw hide to chew on and the SECOND he is done he goes back to barking...

Anyone have any experience, advice, a great trainer ANYTHING???

Re: UGHH advice needed Re: barking

Message edited 8/4/2007 2:21:11 AM.

Re: UGHH advice needed Re: barking

Re: UGHH advice needed Re: barking

I would not do either of those things, to be honest. The electric collars can be dangerous & IMO are just cruel. Muzzling a dog can make them uncharacteristically aggressive.

It looks like Fred is a beagle. Beagles are very vocal dogs by nature, so you will need to change his innate behaviours.

There are a few techniques you can use, but since you are trying to alter an instinctual reaction in your dog I would recommend getting a trainer to help you.

But for now one way to help curb barking is actually to teach them "speak." If you can get your dog to speak on command, then it is easier to get them to not speak when you do not want them to.

Message edited 6/10/2007 6:26:53 PM.

Re: UGHH advice needed Re: barking

Re: UGHH advice needed Re: barking

Posted by Jen2999

Do you have any idea why he only does it when people come over? Is it a territorial thing?

Does anyone know of a GREAT trainer bc I want to have people over and not worry!!!!!

Re: UGHH advice needed Re: barking

Another bit of advice I found online:

One of a dog's main duties around the home is to bark and warn off any strangers and alert fellow pack members that an intruder is approaching. This function is very much appreciated by many owners and has prevented many a burglary. Having a dog in the house is as good, if not better, than having an electronic surveillance system. But problems arise when overly enthusiastic dogs continue to bark longer than is necessary to alert its owners of approaching persons.

The trick is to train the dog to stop barking once the warning has been acknowledged. For most dogs this is usually not too much of a problem. A "good dog" or "thank you" is sometimes all that is needed to acknowledge the dog's warning of a stranger's approach. It's good manners, too, to thank your dog for performing his duty.

Re: UGHH advice needed Re: barking

Posted by MsMBV

Posted by Jen2999

Do you have any idea why he only does it when people come over? Is it a territorial thing?

Does anyone know of a GREAT trainer bc I want to have people over and not worry!!!!!

Beagles were bred to "alert" their owners when they found during the hunt. It is purely instinct. My MILs neighbors have a beagle & they have had the same issue in the past. They used a private trainer that came to their house. I can ask them who they used. A few people here use Mutt Manners and Bark Busters. If you do a search you can find more info.

Re: UGHH advice needed Re: barking

Jen, Maggie doesn't bark at all, but she jumps on company when they are here.

We mainly use the same "cue word" that we have when she does anything bad (UHOH) and she knows she is doing something wrong and tones it down. Sometimes it takes more than one UHOH, but she gets the picture and sits down.

Worse comes to worse, we put her out in the backyard for a few minutes, then let her back in.

Re: UGHH advice needed Re: barking

If you used BarkBusters in the past and have the lifetime guarantee, I would definitely call them.
I am sure they will be able to come up with a solution.

Re: UGHH advice needed Re: barking

Hi Jen.... they used BarkBusters

I had my MIL ask them last night. They actually called them to come back & reinforce the barking/howling bit once the summer came & he was outside a lot.