Home › Blogs › barrows1978's blog

Problem barker

barrows1978's picture
Posted August 8th, 2008 by barrows1978
in

I have a 1 1/2 yr old male Border Collie named Justice and it was just brought to my attention by the local police department that my dog barks all the time when I am not at home. Apparently one of the neighbors contacted the police instead of letting me know about the situation. I have tried my best to keep him quiet throughout the day, he would only bark when someone came to the house. Now I am afraid to leave the house because if I don't keep my dog quiet and the police have to come out to my house I can get a citation. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can keep him quiet especially when I am not at home.

Comments

re: Problem barker

Aidan's picture
On August 11th, 2008 Aidan says:

The "instant-cure" is to leave your dog inside the house while you are out. Any barking should be below noise threshold levels for most areas.

Of course, there may be some practical problems - you might be gone 10 hours a day, your dog might not be house-trained, you might suffer from allergies etc

Then we also have to consider that your dog is barking for a reason, and it's not just because he likes the sound of his own voice! So leaving a dog inside as a cure for a barking problem is a short-term fix. Boredom is the usual culprit, and thankfully it's a lot easier to fix than most people imagine. While daily physical exercise is an important part of a dog's day, mental exercise is even more potent and satisfying.

I recommend some sort of daily problem-solving activity such as clicker training or nose-work. There are several articles on this site devoted to boredom busting, search "nose work" for starters.

Interactive toys are good for your dog. Most people give these to their dog when they leave for the day, I'm a fan of giving these to my dogs when I am HOME. Why? If I can satisfy them when I am home they simply sleep all day, even my working-line GSD. That is my preference. The cheapest toy is described in the e-course, and on this site, and that is the plastic milk bottle. Old cardboard boxes can also make good interactive food toys.

Never give your dog a meal in a bowl. All food should be earned. It can either be worked for in training or nosework, or simply hidden around your yard if time is short. The article on this site "Dinner Time Fun" makes a very effective yet simple suggestion.

In the short-term, if your dog is barking simply out of boredom and a citation is imminent, then a citronella collar can be an effective tool. It must be used in consideration of your dog's needs and the root cause of the problem, and seen only as a short-term fix. It should also be monitored for effectiveness. I would rarely recommend anything other than a citronella collar. Citronella is not particularly offensive, it is usually just an interruptor. Ultra-sonic collars are more aversive, and I would rather see someone rehome their dog than resort to an electric shock collar for barking.

Regards,
Aidan
http://www.positivepetzine.com

Barking

On August 15th, 2008 bluefilly says:

Border collies need stimulation, exercise, learning, a job to do. Think of what they were bred for - mustering sheep and cattle, travelling vast distances to do so. A focus. Movement. Leaving him at home alone for long periods is a recipe for problems with that breed.

Can someone visit your place and walk him once a day, or play with him? What about fetching a ball, frisbee, or other games when you are home? Teach him tricks. Do agility, flyball, or other dog sports. Obedience classes. Teach him to round up sheep, even if he doesnt ever need to do it seriously - there are farms where you can take him and they will give him some lessons. Let him use his natural instincts. They are very smart and he may surprise you with what he can do.

A large bone to chew might help keep him quiet during the day. Or toys to play with. A view - some movement to watch, even if it means cutting a hole in the fence and putting mesh over it. A treat ball, so he has to roll it around to get the food, or other interactive toys that give treats. A frozen block of ice with treats in it.

Exercise or a game before you leave, so he is tired and more likely to settle. You might also want to look into separation anxiety, if that is a factor, and work on that.

But please give this dog a job to do. Its what they were bred for. I see, and hear, it too much in my own neighbourhood.

Back to top