Out of Control Barking

[Milopup]

Okay today was a very trying day of barking for the pup and I, and I feel we are at a crossroads. He is getting to a point where he gets into situations where he feels he has to bark at every dog he sees/senses/hears/smells/etc. This has not made him very popular in the neighborhood. He used to only dislike a couple of dogs, but these days it seems he sometimes dislikes them all (and many owners as well!).

Short of moving to an uninhabited island, or giving up the pup (sob, I can't!), his trainer has advised we go a couple of different routes:

1) Correction collar - citronella or shock ( )

2) Training collar (pointed/choke)

I immediately want to avoid #2, but am possibly considering #1. What does everyone here think? Has anyone actually used one of the gradual shock collars (step-up collars)?

I know this may sound barbaric, but his barking is truly getting out of hand.

Thank you.

[chubbypup]

I have a very similar problem in that Metz is constantly barking in the back yard. Whilst i ealise there is a territory thing going on here the neighbours are beginning to think he is the demon dog from hell, especially when he barks at night when we let him out to do his stuff just before we go to bed. I was considering the bark control collar so it will be interesting to see what you guys suggest.

[kayharley]

Both my girls get in an uproar whenever my neighbors let their dogs out. I've tried desperately to get them quiet by TRYING to get them to come and if/when they do, they get a treat. When they're on the deck and start barking I say in my harsh voice "No Bark". Funny but they'll stop for a minute or so and then I can say "Good girls." Madison can become so hyper running up and down the length of our fence that she's in her own world. Winnie is older and much easier to catch! But, we are making progress so I'm hopeful at least the situation will be controllable.

I'm always threatening them with a no-bark collar but I just can't see putting a bulky contraption on their furry little necks. If things get worse than I may consider it. Let us know what you do and how it works.

[Milopup]

My pup is a city dog, so it is not a problem that can even be confined to the backyard. I walk him several times a day, and on several (but not all) of these walks, he will just bark at every dog he sees. Unfortunately, when he does just want to play with them, he has scared them away in previous instances, that dogs (and owners) are wary of him.

Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[kayharley]

I read somewhere that the more stimulation and experience you give your dogs, the more they'll be comfortable in different situations.

Have you just started walking him, is this behavior new or just gotten worse? Today we took our dogs to Petco. Madison was a terror jumping and barking at every dog she saw there and I was getting frustrated but kept walking her around. After 45 minutes I noticed she had calmed down a bit.

Do you speak to your pup when he's barking and getting out of control? As hard as it is to do, you might want to stop walking when he does that, say No and keep him in one spot until he stops. Maybe make him sit down. Then it's praise, treat and try again.

I'm only talking from my experience, not as a trainer or dog expert. I have issues with my girls that I'm trying to sort out too.....they go absolutely crazy when someone comes to the door. Now I make them sit at the top of the stairs with the "Stay & No Bark" command. I'll make whoever's at the door wait until I get the dogs under control. Sometimes it takes awhile and I get mad but I'm hoping the more I do it, the more they'll understand.

[Posey]

Nicky is two now. And when he goes out he starts "ruffing" down deep in his chest. And is in a full blown barking frenzy when he gets outside. What does he bark at?? A shadow, a cat or dog walking outside the fence. Or just to let the world know that Nicky Poo is out side and that too; is "his" territory. Doesn't his barking prove it?? Yeah, he barks at every dog and body he sees. It is part and parcel of Cairns. We live out in the country. Our nearest neighbor is an acre away. Our other neighbor is a good two acres away. She said that she hears him "barking at times." Hey, out here most of the people leave their dogs run. No, would not even consider letting Nick do that. We are thinking of moving later into more of a settled neighborhood. Any solutions???

[Scully'sMom]

Milopup,

I cried my eyeballs out when our trainer suggested the electronic collar. We have only used the "static" portion of it twice when she was really out of hand. The system we have, which we purchased at Petsmart is by Petsafe. It's called the Little Dog Trainer. (We paid $99.99 for it.)

On the remote, you can utilize the buzzer sound which is ALL we use, when we DO have to use it. My husband used the static part on himself to make sure it wouldn't hurt her. The static portion is adjustable from 1-10.

Again, we have had excellent results using the sound only on the remote and saying "NO!". We haven't used it a lot for the barking - that IS something we need to work on. She only barks 'cause she wants everyone to come play with her and she's looking for attention. She's not a "nasty" barker. I had a heck of a time at the vet's. She was barking at the dogs that had 100 pounds over her

www.petsafe.net

[wags]

I have a problem too. The barking isn't so bad at other times. But when he has to get out of the car he barks bloody murder! This came on suddenly for no reason we could figure out.

[Milopup]

Thanks for the suggestions and personal stories.

The lil' pup has been walked outside since he was 9 weeks old, this is nothing new. The barking became more and more frequent when he reached about 6 1/2 months, and has steadily increased. Sometimes he barks at every dog, sometimes only at a few. He is okay with people generally, though he hates noisy dogs and noisy motorcycles.

When he starts barking, he certainly feels like he doesn't only weigh 12 pounds! He pulls with tons of force, leaping off of all legs, and just won't stop barking. At this point, there is no way I would be able to get him to sit and stay, it is all I can do to prevent him from breaking the harness and taking off.

I very much feel I am at the end of my rope.

[hallswel]

We taught Rebel not to bark in the house by using a spray bottle with water in it. He know when he is in the fenced back yard he can bark all he wants, but we only let him out during the day time when no one is sleeping.

He barks at other dogs while on leash when he wants to play. If he can at least smell the other dog the barking usually stops. But some owners will walk way out of the way and thats when he barks the most. If I have a water bottle in my hand all I have to do is wave the bright orange bottle it in front of his face and he stops and asks like such a gentleman. I just forget to bring the bottle.

Of course he does not like boxers. I don't why maybe because when he was little in training class he was attacked across the room by a boxer. He did not get hurt but it was close, i thought the boxer was going to bite him or me but the instructor caught the dog just in time... every since he doesn't get along well with boxers we meet. I thought maybe it was me but even when he was walked by my sons he showed the same dislike.

He loves all other dogs just want to play with them!

[toomanypaws]

I'm sure people think we're crazy to have so many dogs. It never fails that I'm on the phone and something will set them off and the barking begins. I actually have to plan a good time to make a phone call, like when everyone is napping! If I know the mail truck is coming or dh is due home, I hold off using the phone because I know the place will explode w/ barks. Add to my 3 cairns, my lab barking and this place sounds like a kennel. I have to laugh sometimes, when my dh comes home from work and everyone barks w/ their "say hi to me first" yap, I feel like I have to wait my turn to get a hug from dh. He has to acknowledge each one and then they quiet down. We laugh and comment how not many people would put up w/ what we do. I control my cairns for the most part, w/ a rolled newspaper. I don't hit them w/ it, I just slam it down on the counter and tell them "no bark" and that quiets them until the next noise.

We have a 6 ft privacy in the backyard so they really don't bark outside. Being we have the large dogs too, my cairn girls always have extra playmates around here and love running the yard w/ the others. The 8 mth old has to have her walks everyday and she does bark a little then but is getting better. I don't carry the newpaper that I use indoors but I will stop walking and get down and grab Abbey around her mouth and tell her "no bark".

[MikeC]

Hi All,

I'm having a barking problem with Duffy also, but it is inside barking. We live in a condo complex and are renters. Duffy does not bark during the day when he is in his crate. The downstairs neighbor works nights and sleeps during the day, and told us he has not heard Duffy barking at all. At night however, when we are home he barks at any little noise. If he hears a phone ring on a TV show he will bark. If he hears people talking outside he barks, etc. etc. etc. We have yelled, "no bark", "Duffy quiet" but nothing seems to help. I too have considered the collar, but only want to use that as a last resort. I don't want any complaints to the management as they will contact the owner, and even though we are allowed small pets, I don't want any hassles over it. Anybody out there in the same situation?

MikeC

[Scully'sMom]

Toomanypaws,

I think one of my favorite parts of the work week is when I come home and I'm at the bottom of the stairs and I call her by her first and last name and I see this little furball running and skidding across the kitchen floor and barreling down the steps to me. I can only imagine the joy in your household with all those pups.

[kayharley]

Well, toomanypaws, it looks like I may have a few more in the near future too. Found a breeder in N.H. that has Cairns. Not too far from me here in Ct. Guess I'll have to change my name to "Dirty Dozen Paws"

Milopup, I know this may sound simple but I think you have to show your pup just who's the boss (and that would be you, no? ) I love my girls and am very gentle with them but I can be harsh and consistant. I think it's a Cairn trait to test their owners and see what they can get away with.

I have a chair that I do not allow my girls on. Madison will purposely jump on it while I'm right there and refuse to get down when I tell her to. I have to get up and start walking over to her before she'll get off. Her defiance and attitude is quite comical but I refuse to let her see me smile/laugh.

Stick to your guns and MAKE her sit and calm down next time she gets out of control. Distract her from the other dogs by giving her a treat when she does what you want. I know, I know, it sounds easier than it is but you are the parent.

[Guest Tototoo]

My mother-in-law always trained her dogs with a tin can with rocks in it, when the dog barks she would shake the can. Sometimes it would get the dogs attention, other times it wouldn't, but it made her feel better. It something she learned from a trainer...

K

[newcairn]

I don't see any problem with the shock collar if it is used properly and according to the manufacturers directions. I understand how some would feel it could be cruel. But I think it is more cruel to the dog if everyone who meets the dog can't stand it because of out of control barking, especially since this breed thrives on being around people. I can honestly say from seeing these dogs in great numbers at my breeders farm recently that they are tenacious little things and don't think they are 'little' dogs. They need to be properly trained with good leadership. This way, they are enjoyable to you and others who might not be so understanding of a 'Cairn's traits' as we Cairn owners. This is just my opinion, but I have a supreme dog self-awareness sense, and I don't want to make others miserable around my dog, from my friends & neighbors, to a passer-by on the street-this is important to me and very important to the dog. I know I find it personally abhorrent when I see an out of control dog in public or a friends home. So I would not hesitate to use the shock collar for out of control barking, if all of the other simpler methods failed. Used correctly I think it is totally appropriate for this breed. Remember YOU are the Alpha not them, if you want them to shut-up then they have to shut-up. You do the most effective thing you can as an owner to make your pet more enjoyable for everyone it spends time with, but most importantly for the dog.