is there ANYTHING to stop my dog barking?

Anthillmob

short of me removing his vocal cords with the carving knife?

we have a 7 year old staffy (possibly a cross breed. mr mob brought him for me from an advert in a paper and they said they had lost his pedigree papers)

he is a lovely dog apart from one thing...barking.

he dont bark constantly and i wouldnt mind if he just barked when someone knocks at the door but he barks at the following:

1. friends/family if they move from their seat when they are round here. if they go to the toilet he waits outside and then barks at them when they come out
2. the noise of any vehicle outside when he knows its time for my partner to get in from work
3. the phone of an evening (he knows this usually means someone is visiting and giving us a pre-warning of them knocking at the door so we can shut him in the garden so he dont wake chops up if shes sleeping)
4. barks when playing in the garden or if chops is chasing round after him

it drives me INSANE. i find myself constantly shouting at him. we have tried various methods (noisy rattles, an anti-bark alarm, water pistol etc) but nothing has worked.

however he doesnt bark when we are out (neighbours would inform us if he did), if i come home with or without chops unless were with mr mob, if mum or a friend pops in to feed him if we are going to be out late.

can anything be done or is he too old now to learn? i hate myself for shouting at him but to be frank his barking gets on my t1ts! unecessary apart from if someone knocks at the door.

he is extremely food orientated but even trying the treat for not barking method doesnt work.

its getting to the point where i am beginning to hate him and want to get rid of him.

i think he might not be right in the head sometimes, epsecially this time of year. he is the only dog i know of that likes to sit in the garden and watch fireworks (apart from the really loud ones) and he also likes going out in thunderstorms!

saucy77

I know it sounds rather silly, but have you ever tried him with toy's.

Staffie's love chewing, i heard somewhere that you can fill a kong toy (it's like a hollow bone) with peanut butter. It might take he's mind off visitor's.

Other than than, i saw something similar on "It's me or the dog" and the dog was removed from the room and placed alone with door closed until he stopped barking. When he stopped, you let him back out... and the same thing until he learns that he can't keep barking for no reason.

Just a a couple of thoughts, anything is worth a try at least once.

x_raphael_xx

I have a dobermann, and when she gets in a barking mood I just turn my back to her and ignore her, it took her a few times to understand I won't interact with her until she stops, but now she quietens down straight away.
She also gets very excited when visiters come round, I tell them to completely ignore her and she settles quickly (unless it's my brother who won't listen and runs in to play roughtly with her. :rolleyes:

I have heard of a collar you can get, which makes a sound people can't hear when the dog barks, it surprises them and they soon stop. Not sure where to get one thou, maybe you could ask at the local pet store?

x_raphael_xx

x_raphael_xx wrote: »

I have heard of a collar you can get, which makes a sound people can't hear when the dog barks, it surprises them and they soon stop. Not sure where to get one thou, maybe you could ask at the local pet store?

Found one...anti-bark collar

Buddy_Banana

Hi
next time he barks if you can get him to notice you try giving him a hand signal with a 'quiet' command and the second he stops give him a food treat.
I have a doberman and a golden retriever and I am currently teaching them the 'quiet' command.
You have to be patient and have good timing but it will eventually work for the guests moving around etc....

With barking in a more 'high level energy' I sometimes have to give a physical correction ( a poke ) to get there attension as they are so intent on what they are barking at - then the command and hand signal - then food treat when they stop.

I find it hard to remain calm at all times but if you can the results come MUCH quicker!

hope this helps

Anthillmob

thanks. weve tried all of these methods though apart from the anti bark collar. mr mobs mum informs us these dont work.

if you ignore him he gets worse and will not stop. if you shut him in a room he barks and howls. im at my wits end.

another thing that doesnt really matter now as i dont walk him anymore since i had chops, mr mob does all the walks, is he takes no notice of commands and tries to fight other dogs yet with mr mob he is the perfect dog, walks off the lead, nice to other dogs etc.

and he will not travel. when we went on holiday this year my aunt who lives near eastboure looked after him and knowing he hates travelling (were in surrey) i brought some tablets (herbal) that were meant to calm him down., they didnt work and he howled and barked the whole way there and back again. howeer when he was there he was the 'perfect dog' for them.

ive come to the conclusion that he's decided to be a git when im around lol

thanks for your help though.

x_raphael_xx

I wonder, if it's started when chops arrived, if he's feeling a little jealous?

Anthillmob

no, hes always been like this. we never pushed him out when chops arrived either and he follows her about like her guardian.

ZootHornRollo

i know people who have tried the 'silent' type anit abrk collars and the vibrating ones. neither worked.

the best ive heard about are the citonella remote control ones like spray commander - its about as cheap as i've seen themyou even get 10% off your first order there, free postage too i think. again, its all down to timing but i am told they work, fast. a lot to shell out but if it works then its worth every penny.

aspinallkate

have a look on ebay, look for a multi vet collar. they are brill, worked wonders on my dog.

kate1976

Anthillmob wrote: »

its getting to the point where i am beginning to hate him and want to get rid of him.

*Hugs* I know the feeling, I don't like my dog most of the time, his barking is driving me to insanity and I just seem to have given up trying to shut the hound from hell up, once he starts that's it and he has been known to bark for hours on end, he just loves his own voice!!

I have actually cried at times because he drives me crazy, I know it's not his fault, he had a hard life before we got him but sometimes I really resent him and wish I'd never laid eyes on him, I know that sounds harsh but it's how I feel at times!!

I have visited a few 'doggy' forums but they all suggest a behaviourist (have you seen how much they cost?) and are all doggy lovers so any anti bark collars or anything scary for the dog is a big no no!! :rolleyes: