Buying a flat with two yappy dogs

beanie414

onwards&upwards said:

beanie414 said:

boxer234 said:

I can’t think of anything worse than this for the other flat owners and I’m a dog lover.  Some leases restrict pets the estate agent should know that said this is a habit you can work on with positive training methods. 

This is what worries me. They are both rescues and have had training which didn't work. They are little dogs but one has a very loud bark.

Ah, maybe we should go for a house and just annoy our neighbours and they can't do anything about it, haha.

There is no dog that can't be trained, the problem is usually with the humans I'm afraid!  

Keep trying, get some professional help with it, you really don't want to be hated by neighbours when you want a peaceful retirement. 

MalMonroe said:

Mojisola said:

beanie414 said:

This is what worries me. They are both rescues and have had training which didn't work. They are little dogs but one has a very loud bark.
Ah, maybe we should go for a house and just annoy our neighbours and they can't do anything about it, haha.

Perhaps you need to try different training methods.

If you want to be happy in your new house, don't underestimate the effect of the barking on your neighbours - if they are so inclined, they could make your life miserable in retaliation for having to listen to your dogs barking a lot.

Are you sure that they don't bark a lot when they are in the house and you aren't there?

I agree.

Have you ever seen Graham Hall on TV training dogs?? Have you tried clickers?  Another great trick is to blow a loud whistle when they start barking, stop when they stop and then pet them and give them a treat. Worked wonders with my friend's rescue dog and took less than half a day for him to get the message. They've had no trouble since. 

Sometimes when you have two dogs, they can encourage each other to bark when they don't even know why they are doing it - but the whistle (which dogs don't like) really works. I love dogs but neighbours' yappy dogs? No.

Yes, I was definitely going to try again with dog training before we move. I will investigate Graham Hall.

Thanks guys.

beanie414

onwards&upwards said:

The trainer doesn't 'fix' the dogs.  The trainer/behaviourist is really there to train YOU!  You have to keep it up, every day, forever. 

Right, I'm just saying it didn't work for us with our dog! It seemed like it made her more nervous and anxious being around the other dogs.

hazyjo

Leigh-on-Sea by any chance?

There are lots of daytime dog walkers. That would be a much better option for any dogs left inside during the day

beanie414

hazyjo said:

Leigh-on-Sea by any chance?

There are lots of daytime dog walkers. That would be a much better option for any dogs left inside during the day

That is our ideal area. We visited it a couple of weeks ago and we find it lovely, especially around the old part. The Council tax is high, though.

(Our dogs aren't left in the house all day, again, lol. My wife or me will be there with them at all times.)

RestlessOverDebt

Hi beanie414
Although it's not relevant to your post, I just wanted to say... Thank you and well done for taking on the rescue dogs. It is nice to know that pets in need are given a chance to settle in a loving home.
Kind regards

Chilli6

Overall it sounds like your dogs don't bark excessively from your description. 
I'm a dog trainer and it is normal for dogs to bark!  Some dogs are more prone to excessive barking due to breed type, character, anxiety levels. Many small breeds (including mine) have higher anxiety/frustration levels combined with breed traits meaning they were bred to be more vocal.
Steer clear from 'celebrity trainers' - to look good on TV is very different to being able to give good behavioural advice in the real world. I know a couple of great trainers who managed to get some air time but know many more who aren't great at all.
This isn't a dog forum so I'll stop the advice there, but to sum up my opinion, if you are home all day and they have everything they need (food, quality rest, exercise, opportunity to play) then excessive barking won't be seen and a few barks in the garden or at sudden sounds is completely normal and your average person will tolerate

hazyjo

beanie414 said:

hazyjo said:

Leigh-on-Sea by any chance?

There are lots of daytime dog walkers. That would be a much better option for any dogs left inside during the day

That is our ideal area. We visited it a couple of weeks ago and we find it lovely, especially around the old part. The Council tax is high, though.

(Our dogs aren't left in the house all day, again, lol. My wife or me will be there with them at all times.)

Thought it might be

Shout if you want any advice.

Best move I've ever made. Love it here. I can't believe the moaning I see on Facebook. People don't know how good they've got it.

I moved from North Chingford 3 years ago.

beanie414

RestlessOverDebt said:

Hi beanie414
Although it's not relevant to your post, I just wanted to say... Thank you and well done for taking on the rescue dogs. It is nice to know that pets in need are given a chance to settle in a loving home.
Kind regards

Thanks. We do love them a lot.

beanie414

Chilli6 said:

Overall it sounds like your dogs don't bark excessively from your description. 
I'm a dog trainer and it is normal for dogs to bark!  Some dogs are more prone to excessive barking due to breed type, character, anxiety levels. Many small breeds (including mine) have higher anxiety/frustration levels combined with breed traits meaning they were bred to be more vocal.
Steer clear from 'celebrity trainers' - to look good on TV is very different to being able to give good behavioural advice in the real world. I know a couple of great trainers who managed to get some air time but know many more who aren't great at all.
This isn't a dog forum so I'll stop the advice there, but to sum up my opinion, if you are home all day and they have everything they need (food, quality rest, exercise, opportunity to play) then excessive barking won't be seen and a few barks in the garden or at sudden sounds is completely normal and your average person will tolerate

Oh, that is interesting. Yes, I have noticed it is the smaller breeds that tend to be yappy. That is good that you wouldn't think it was excessive.

It is maybe just the worry about living above or below people as where we live now one one side is someone who is a very heavy sleeper (we hear her alarm going off and she often sleeps through it) and the other side have a yappy dog themselves.

beanie414

hazyjo said:

beanie414 said:

hazyjo said:

Leigh-on-Sea by any chance?

There are lots of daytime dog walkers. That would be a much better option for any dogs left inside during the day

That is our ideal area. We visited it a couple of weeks ago and we find it lovely, especially around the old part. The Council tax is high, though.

(Our dogs aren't left in the house all day, again, lol. My wife or me will be there with them at all times.)

Thought it might be

Shout if you want any advice.

Best move I've ever made. Love it here. I can't believe the moaning I see on Facebook. People don't know how good they've got it.

I moved from North Chingford 3 years ago.

We visited a few weeks ago and it really feels like you are on holiday there.