What Dog Owners Do...
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I have seen so many people take on pets that are just absolutely incapable, because of failure to do research and realize the responsibility of owning and taking care of one. My sister in law had a Pomeranian, got another one, and then wanted a golden retriever. So she got the golden, realized 3 dogs was too many for her in an apartment, so she got rid of one of the pomeranians. It broke my heart to see animals are disposable to her. Thankfully she gave it away to a family and not to a shelter, but still! My pets are like children, I don't get how people can just not care the way they do. If you are going to get a pet, READ and do research on them!0
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I have a rescue dog.
He was a stray and had been abused and was very scared when I got him.
I have spent loads of time trying to build up his confidence and make him feel secure. I give him a row when he does something wrong and he goes back into his shell.
Never had a problem in controlling him just keeping him happy and positive after all the abuse he has had to go through.0 -
I do hope that it's not a problem that i let my pup kiss me
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THAT DRIVES ME CRAZY!!!
I am a dog trainer and I have been working with and rehabilitating dogs for several years now. I have rehabilitated and re-homed a number of dogs, so it really drives me nuts when I get stupid questions from clients who don't do their research BEFORE taking home that adorable little puppy in the window.
Here are questions/situations that drive me crazy:
Q: When do I start training my new puppy?
A: As soon as you walk through the door of your house.
Client: My little dog jumping up on me is so cute, and I love it when he/she rushes to the door to greet me when I walk in! But I wish he would calm down the rest of the time...
Me: ...Srsly?
Q: How do I discipline my little chihuahua/other small canine?
A: Exactly the same way as if he were a 100lb german shepherd.
Q: BUT I DON'T WANT TO HURT HIM.
A: ...Are you trying to actually hurt, or are you trying to discipline? Discipline: no hurt. Abusing: Hurting.
Client: My dog always pulls on the leash. I tried it your way for a couple of walks (light corrections and treats whenever they pay attention), but it didn't work. So I just went out and bought a prong collar...and it still doesn't work!
Client: I'm afraid of my neighbors' pit bull! You should test it and put it down!
And so on and so forth. My main clients are the ones with larger dogs (because they pose a real danger if not trained properly), but it's definitely the people with small dogs who have no clue on how to train them or know how their small dog is SUPPOSED to behave.
In short: DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE GETTING A DOG, PEOPLE!
When you deal with them and their dog food purchases, come talk to me. It's even worse lol.0 -
Try being a horse trainer! I love my clients! I love educating people, but the questions that you get from people that just got their first horse and did no research make me tremble. I find when you get horrible questions, if you nicely let them know your hourly rate and that you have availability next week, you either get a new client or you don't get anymore horrible questions. But I feel your pain. I also think as trainers we have a duty to stress the importance of education and trainning.
Yep, we definitely do.
I find when I do the one-on-one sessions, I can get my point across. The most infuriating people are the ones who say "...But my friends told me this!" "...Are your friends dog trainers?" "No. But they have a dog." "...Okay..."
Usual working-with-people stuff, I suppose, but hey, if we can make the life better for the animal, that's what it's all about right?
I don't know if I could work with horses...dogs, even the big ones, are still small enough for me to control (plus I know what I'm doing, lol, so I suppose that helps). I'm always intimidated by a horses' size...and the power of those legs. I have a healthy respect for horses, that's for sure! Lol.0 -
THAT DRIVES ME CRAZY!!!
I am a dog trainer and I have been working with and rehabilitating dogs for several years now. I have rehabilitated and re-homed a number of dogs, so it really drives me nuts when I get stupid questions from clients who don't do their research BEFORE taking home that adorable little puppy in the window.
Here are questions/situations that drive me crazy:
Q: When do I start training my new puppy?
A: As soon as you walk through the door of your house.
Client: My little dog jumping up on me is so cute, and I love it when he/she rushes to the door to greet me when I walk in! But I wish he would calm down the rest of the time...
Me: ...Srsly?
Q: How do I discipline my little chihuahua/other small canine?
A: Exactly the same way as if he were a 100lb german shepherd.
Q: BUT I DON'T WANT TO HURT HIM.
A: ...Are you trying to actually hurt, or are you trying to discipline? Discipline: no hurt. Abusing: Hurting.
Client: My dog always pulls on the leash. I tried it your way for a couple of walks (light corrections and treats whenever they pay attention), but it didn't work. So I just went out and bought a prong collar...and it still doesn't work!
Client: I'm afraid of my neighbors' pit bull! You should test it and put it down!
And so on and so forth. My main clients are the ones with larger dogs (because they pose a real danger if not trained properly), but it's definitely the people with small dogs who have no clue on how to train them or know how their small dog is SUPPOSED to behave.
In short: DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE GETTING A DOG, PEOPLE!
When you deal with them and their dog food purchases, come talk to me. It's even worse lol.
Ooh...I'm probably one of those trainers who sends those people to you looking for a better food...sorry? Lol.0 -
I do hope that it's not a problem that i let my pup kiss me
So long as he/she is calm when they are doing it, you tell them when to do it, they don't jump up on other people/put their face in another person's space, and you've got complete control over the rest of his/her behavior, I think that it's ADORABLE!!!!!
I couldn't do it, lol. My hubby lets our dogs give him a few kisses now and again, but I just think it's icky.0 -
I guess I've just never seen anyone use the prong collars in the right way then.
I've also seen animal cops one too many times and how badly they can hurt the dog if not used right.
All you're supposed to do is a very quick, very light tug on the leash. Nothing with strength or anything that would lift the dog. It's a super quick movement.
Yuck. Never. There are other ways. In the UK I would seriously consider reporting anyone I saw with one of these on their dog - but I never ever have. Perhaps they are illegal here?
Certainly it would be considered abusive and the owner would be challenged by the general public, so perhaps that puts people off.
Who said that "rotties have a high pain threshold" and that's the only way to manage? it's a disgusting comment. Try one on your own neck and see how it feels (Victoria Stilwell actually made some owners do this on her US version of her TV programme, and it cured them...) Well like OP said, do your research and get a nice little chihuahua that you can be a good owner to without cruelty. Or a cat. Or a budgie.0 -
I have a rescue dog.
He was a stray and had been abused and was very scared when I got him.
I have spent loads of time trying to build up his confidence and make him feel secure. I give him a row when he does something wrong and he goes back into his shell.
Never had a problem in controlling him just keeping him happy and positive after all the abuse he has had to go through.
Yeah. Rescue dogs are tough and take a long time.
Just remember that he's not dwelling on his past. Moving forward is always the best thing to do for a dog. Yes, feel sorry for him, but always be happy for him and each day that he's living away from the hell you took him from.
The more confident you are, and so long as you have strict rules and boundaries, he'll be perfectly fine. 0 -
THAT DRIVES ME CRAZY!!!
I am a dog trainer and I have been working with and rehabilitating dogs for several years now. I have rehabilitated and re-homed a number of dogs, so it really drives me nuts when I get stupid questions from clients who don't do their research BEFORE taking home that adorable little puppy in the window.
Here are questions/situations that drive me crazy:
Q: When do I start training my new puppy?
A: As soon as you walk through the door of your house.
Client: My little dog jumping up on me is so cute, and I love it when he/she rushes to the door to greet me when I walk in! But I wish he would calm down the rest of the time...
Me: ...Srsly?
Q: How do I discipline my little chihuahua/other small canine?
A: Exactly the same way as if he were a 100lb german shepherd.
Q: BUT I DON'T WANT TO HURT HIM.
A: ...Are you trying to actually hurt, or are you trying to discipline? Discipline: no hurt. Abusing: Hurting.
Client: My dog always pulls on the leash. I tried it your way for a couple of walks (light corrections and treats whenever they pay attention), but it didn't work. So I just went out and bought a prong collar...and it still doesn't work!
Client: I'm afraid of my neighbors' pit bull! You should test it and put it down!
And so on and so forth. My main clients are the ones with larger dogs (because they pose a real danger if not trained properly), but it's definitely the people with small dogs who have no clue on how to train them or know how their small dog is SUPPOSED to behave.
In short: DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE GETTING A DOG, PEOPLE!
When you deal with them and their dog food purchases, come talk to me. It's even worse lol.
Oh GOD don't get me started on the crap people feed their dogs!! Nutrition for dogs is just as important as it is for people!!
What makes me crazy are the idiot dog owners in my apartment complex that let their dogs run around off the leash. I don't know how many times I've had to slam on my brakes to keep from hitting my neighbor's dog, or keep my dog from tearing the head off some pain in the *kitten* yappy little dog that wants to run up and bark like crazy, while the owner does nothing but yell at ME to control my dog. Yeah, MY dog that's on the leash and going nowhere but where I let her go and responding to what she sees as YOUR dog who is off the leash trying to attack her/me. But since my dog is bigger and has a scarier bark, apparently I'm the only one who needs to control their pet. Right.0 -
I have a Roxie-Dog....she's a lab/shepard mix rescue that is amazing with my kids. She walks well on a leash and doesn't usually pull. She will sit, stay, catch frisbees, tennis balls, etc...she comes when called.
But the barking. OH>>>>>the BARKING!! We have walked her until she's tired. We have trained and trained and trained. But she doesn't stop barking. She barks at cars going by. She barks at nothing. She barks at people jogging. She barks at squirrels. Last summer we had contractors fixing our house and we had to break down and get a citronella spray bark collar. It seemed less cruel than the shock ones.
But she literally barked for 12 hours straight one day and I knew she was driving the contractors insane. he eventually figured out that the collar beeps a warning, so she barks until she hears the beep and then pauses long enough to let it reset. Rinse and repeat. She's VERY smart....
What can you do for barking? It's the one thing I can't seem to train out of her.0 -
THAT DRIVES ME CRAZY!!!
I am a dog trainer and I have been working with and rehabilitating dogs for several years now. I have rehabilitated and re-homed a number of dogs, so it really drives me nuts when I get stupid questions from clients who don't do their research BEFORE taking home that adorable little puppy in the window.
Here are questions/situations that drive me crazy:
Q: When do I start training my new puppy?
A: As soon as you walk through the door of your house.
Client: My little dog jumping up on me is so cute, and I love it when he/she rushes to the door to greet me when I walk in! But I wish he would calm down the rest of the time...
Me: ...Srsly?
Q: How do I discipline my little chihuahua/other small canine?
A: Exactly the same way as if he were a 100lb german shepherd.
Q: BUT I DON'T WANT TO HURT HIM.
A: ...Are you trying to actually hurt, or are you trying to discipline? Discipline: no hurt. Abusing: Hurting.
Client: My dog always pulls on the leash. I tried it your way for a couple of walks (light corrections and treats whenever they pay attention), but it didn't work. So I just went out and bought a prong collar...and it still doesn't work!
Client: I'm afraid of my neighbors' pit bull! You should test it and put it down!
And so on and so forth. My main clients are the ones with larger dogs (because they pose a real danger if not trained properly), but it's definitely the people with small dogs who have no clue on how to train them or know how their small dog is SUPPOSED to behave.
In short: DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE GETTING A DOG, PEOPLE!
When you deal with them and their dog food purchases, come talk to me. It's even worse lol.
Ooh...I'm probably one of those trainers who sends those people to you looking for a better food...sorry? Lol.
I'll need a few more sorry's for some of these people. lol0 -
THAT DRIVES ME CRAZY!!!
I am a dog trainer and I have been working with and rehabilitating dogs for several years now. I have rehabilitated and re-homed a number of dogs, so it really drives me nuts when I get stupid questions from clients who don't do their research BEFORE taking home that adorable little puppy in the window.
Here are questions/situations that drive me crazy:
Q: When do I start training my new puppy?
A: As soon as you walk through the door of your house.
Client: My little dog jumping up on me is so cute, and I love it when he/she rushes to the door to greet me when I walk in! But I wish he would calm down the rest of the time...
Me: ...Srsly?
Q: How do I discipline my little chihuahua/other small canine?
A: Exactly the same way as if he were a 100lb german shepherd.
Q: BUT I DON'T WANT TO HURT HIM.
A: ...Are you trying to actually hurt, or are you trying to discipline? Discipline: no hurt. Abusing: Hurting.
Client: My dog always pulls on the leash. I tried it your way for a couple of walks (light corrections and treats whenever they pay attention), but it didn't work. So I just went out and bought a prong collar...and it still doesn't work!
Client: I'm afraid of my neighbors' pit bull! You should test it and put it down!
And so on and so forth. My main clients are the ones with larger dogs (because they pose a real danger if not trained properly), but it's definitely the people with small dogs who have no clue on how to train them or know how their small dog is SUPPOSED to behave.
In short: DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE GETTING A DOG, PEOPLE!
When you deal with them and their dog food purchases, come talk to me. It's even worse lol.
Oh GOD don't get me started on the crap people feed their dogs!! Nutrition for dogs is just as important as it is for people!!
What makes me crazy are the idiot dog owners in my apartment complex that let their dogs run around off the leash. I don't know how many times I've had to slam on my brakes to keep from hitting my neighbor's dog, or keep my dog from tearing the head off some pain in the *kitten* yappy little dog that want to run up and bark like crazy, while the owner does nothing but yell at ME to control my dog. Yeah, MY dog that's on the leash and going nowhere but where I let her go and responding to what she sees as YOUR dog who is off the leash trying to attack her/me. But since my dog is bigger and has a scarier bark, apparently I'm the only one who needs to control their pet. Right.
ugh, some people. Not everything you read on the internet is TRUE, shocking, I know.0 -
Ha. My border collie/husky cross? Amazing. Smart dog. I taught her to sit in 10 minutes at the SPCA before we brought her home. (She was a stray puppy, estimated to be around 13 weeks when we got her.) She's phenomenal on a leash.
My chihuahua? Let's just say that he's not exactly the brightest crayon in the box.
The border collie is better trained, but the chihuahua is still manageable. For instance, he only jumps on me. And the border collie only jumps on the husband with an invitation. (She likes "hugs".) I don't understand people who don't even attempt to teach their dogs decent manners.0 -
I guess I've just never seen anyone use the prong collars in the right way then.
I've also seen animal cops one too many times and how badly they can hurt the dog if not used right.
All you're supposed to do is a very quick, very light tug on the leash. Nothing with strength or anything that would lift the dog. It's a super quick movement.
Yuck. Never. There are other ways. In the UK I would seriously consider reporting anyone I saw with one of these on their dog - but I never ever have. Perhaps they are illegal here?
Certainly it would be considered abusive and the owner would be challenged by the general public, so perhaps that puts people off.
Who said that "rotties have a high pain threshold" and that's the only way to manage? it's a disgusting comment. Try one on your own neck and see how it feels (Victoria Stilwell actually made some owners do this on her US version of her TV programme, and it cured them...) Well like OP said, do your research and get a nice little chihuahua that you can be a good owner to without cruelty. Or a cat. Or a budgie.
I'm completely against those prong collars, but a gentle leader harness does WONDERS without being painful at all. There are two kinds, one that goes across the chest (which we have for our dog--30 lb mix of something we can't figure out, she's a shelter dog), and the other that has a light strap around the muzzle that I've seen used with larger dogs like Rotties, Pits, German Shepherds, etc. It's not tight, the dog can still drink water or receive a treat, but they can't pull you along just because of the direction it makes their head go when the leash becomes taught.0 -
I have a Roxie-Dog....she's a lab/shepard mix rescue that is amazing with my kids. She walks well on a leash and doesn't usually pull. She will sit, stay, catch frisbees, tennis balls, etc...she comes when called.
But the barking. OH>>>>>the BARKING!! We have walked her until she's tired. We have trained and trained and trained. But she doesn't stop barking. She barks at cars going by. She barks at nothing. She barks at people jogging. She barks at squirrels. Last summer we had contractors fixing our house and we had to break down and get a citronella spray bark collar. It seemed less cruel than the shock ones. But she literally barked for 12 hours straight one day and I knew she was driving the contractors insane. he eventually figured out that the collar beeps a warning, so she barks until she hears the beep and then pauses long enough to let it reset. Rinse and repeat. She's VERY smart....
What can you do for barking? It's the one thing I can't seem to train out of her.
What's she barking at?
squire bottle works (with water) and is fun.0 -
I can understand your frustration... but wouldn't you be out of a JOB if everybody did their research and were 100% au fait with the methodology and practice.THAT DRIVES ME CRAZY!!!
I am a dog trainer and I have been working with and rehabilitating dogs for several years now. I have rehabilitated and re-homed a number of dogs, so it really drives me nuts when I get stupid questions from clients who don't do their research BEFORE taking home that adorable little puppy in the window.
It is true that some folks just shouldn't be responsible for any animal because they are totally irresponsible, but I've been around animals all my life and still sometimes there are things I wonder about.
But others are well-meaning and want to love and care for another animal, be it a dog, a cat, a hamster or a goldfish. They might have done a little research, but that's why they then come to experts for advice.
And like MFP... there's advice and there's advice and not everyone sings for the same hymn sheet, but they all believe their way is best!0 -
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Try one on your own neck and see how it feels (Victoria Stilwell actually made some owners do this on her US version of her TV programme, and it cured them...) Well like OP said, do your research and get a nice little chihuahua that you can be a good owner to without cruelty. Or a cat. Or a budgie.
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Sorry, but I absolutely HATE this rationalization. Sure put one on, but be sure and put several layers on under it! Dogs skin is NOTHING like a humans and making this comparison is just asinine! I've seen Victoria, and she is a great trainer, but I do not agree with everything she does.
Most issues CAN be dealt with with another tool, however to compare a human neck and structure to a dogs is simply foolish.0 -
I guess I've just never seen anyone use the prong collars in the right way then.
I've also seen animal cops one too many times and how badly they can hurt the dog if not used right.
All you're supposed to do is a very quick, very light tug on the leash. Nothing with strength or anything that would lift the dog. It's a super quick movement.
Yuck. Never. There are other ways. In the UK I would seriously consider reporting anyone I saw with one of these on their dog - but I never ever have. Perhaps they are illegal here?
Certainly it would be considered abusive and the owner would be challenged by the general public, so perhaps that puts people off.
Who said that "rotties have a high pain threshold" and that's the only way to manage? it's a disgusting comment. Try one on your own neck and see how it feels (Victoria Stilwell actually made some owners do this on her US version of her TV programme, and it cured them...) Well like OP said, do your research and get a nice little chihuahua that you can be a good owner to without cruelty. Or a cat. Or a budgie.
Actually, it really depends on the dog. Some dogs can handle the choke collar, some can't. If it works for her and both her and the dog are comfortable with it, it's really not a problem.
She uses what's called 'negative reinforcement.' If her dog responds to it, then that's what works for her. All three of my dogs use different training methods, anywhere from positive reinforcement training, to negative reinforcement training.
If she's using the pinch collar responsibly, then it's a good tool to use. She's also got her dog in level 3 obedience, so I think they're pretty good in terms of figuring out what works for them and the dog.
You can use a different method, absolutely, but a properly used choke collar isn't abuse. Just a tool.
Also, humans have a very low threshold of pain on our necks. We're pretty much wusses if we were to compare ourselves to a dog. Dogs nip each other to correct, and using a choke collar is the exact same thing. You wouldn't call a dog nipping another dog who is doing improper behavior 'animal abuse.' If the dog was attacking the other dog, it would be a different story, but a quick nip is just a correction to snap the dog out of whatever mindset they were in before.
People who drag the dog off the ground when they correct and, or, don't correct properly, however, are definitely abusing. There's a fine line, but she's doing it correctly.0 -
My boyfriend and I have 3 heelers between us (2 for me, 1 for him). They're not perfect, but most of their faults are because it was an annoying behavior we allowed because it didn't bug us that much (they bark at the doorbell, for instance, but the are NOT allowed to jump on whoever enters).
We walk all of our dogs off leash, and call them in when people approach (even in dog-friendly areas not everyone likes dogs and some people are scared off being approached). People are always amazed that our dogs will come, even if there are distractions, and sit at the side of the trail until we say they can move.
What I don't get is why good behavior in a dog is so damn amazing. One of my dogs is deaf as a stone and we can get him to do this... but so many of the people we see can't control their dogs even on a leash, much less with voice / hand commands.
The other one I "love" is the people who say "Oh, it's ok, my dog is friendly" as their dog runs up to jump on mine. Yeah... what if mine weren't? You just let your dog enter a dangerous situation. I've seen that one sooooo many times when people let their "friendly" dog approach an unknown dog, often when the other dog is on leash. Really?? Not all dogs are dog friendly, and that can't always be trained away... so the responsible dog owner who kept his/her dog under control then gets put in a situation where their dog may harm another animal. Nice.
And don't even get me started on dog parks. WATCH your dogs, people. DON'T BRING aggressive dogs to the dog park. If you're not sure if your dog is aggressive, figure it out FIRST, before you go to the dog park.
Ok... rant over :-) Thanks for putting up this forum so I could vent!0 -
I have neighbors who have pitbulls and chihuahuas. The pitbulls are for making them feel manly, the chichis are for dressing up and letting the kids terrorize. Both of course are fair game for kicking, tying up with no water on hot days, and feeding nothing but leftovers. The dogs regularly escape their yards (because they don't close the gates or because there are gaps) until one of my housemates screams at the owners. The result being all the neighbors hate my housemate... but their dogs don't get out anymore! F*ckers.
None of the dogs gets fixed, none of them have vaccinations.
It's sad and scary.
And I have interacted with some very sweet pitbulls. However I was under the impression that they have been exclusively bred for fighting and for biting down and never letting go. I thought that was the issue with pitbulls. Is this untrue? It's nothing personal, I don't want all of them put down or anything. I just think they ought to all be fixed and never bred. God knows there's enough in the shelters. 0 -
For gods sake people, there is nothing wrong w/ those types of collars if they're done/used correctly.0
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I can understand your frustration... but wouldn't you be out of a JOB if everybody did their research and were 100% au fait with the methodology and practice.THAT DRIVES ME CRAZY!!!
I am a dog trainer and I have been working with and rehabilitating dogs for several years now. I have rehabilitated and re-homed a number of dogs, so it really drives me nuts when I get stupid questions from clients who don't do their research BEFORE taking home that adorable little puppy in the window.
It is true that some folks just shouldn't be responsible for any animal because they are totally irresponsible, but I've been around animals all my life and still sometimes there are things I wonder about.
But others are well-meaning and want to love and care for another animal, be it a dog, a cat, a hamster or a goldfish. They might have done a little research, but that's why they then come to experts for advice.
And like MFP... there's advice and there's advice and not everyone sings for the same hymn sheet, but they all believe their way is best!
I would LOVE it if I were out of a job and everyone were training their dogs properly. LOVE IT!!!!!!!! (and I'm not even joking)
At the same time, if everyone did that, I would constantly be doing obedience classes, so my job is safe. =D All is well.
I'm not saying that all animal owners are idiots, just the rare gems.0 -
I have neighbors who have pitbulls and chihuahuas. The pitbulls are for making them feel manly, the chichis are for dressing up and letting the kids terrorize. Both of course are fair game for kicking, tying up with no water on hot days, and feeding nothing but leftovers. The dogs regularly escape their yards (because they don't close the gates or because there are gaps) until one of my housemates screams at the owners. The result being all the neighbors hate my housemate... but their dogs don't get out anymore! F*ckers.
None of the dogs gets fixed, none of them have vaccinations.
It's sad and scary.
And I have interacted with some very sweet pitbulls. However I was under the impression that they have been exclusively bred for fighting and for biting down and never letting go. I thought that was the issue with pitbulls. Is this untrue? It's nothing personal, I don't want all of them put down or anything. I just think they ought to all be fixed and never bred. God knows there's enough in the shelters.
Sounds like my old neighbors moved in next to you......so sorry...0 -
Those poky/spikey collars piss me off.
I am a firm believer that the stigma with pits is BS. It's all in how you raise them. Mine is the equivalent of scooby doo. A big dumb cuddely loveable bear!
They shouldn't piss you off. They're meant for bigger dogs (and mine being a Rotti has a VERY high pain tolerance) they're not meant to abuse, they're meant to discipline.
And yes, the stigma about pits is stupid. Every single one I've met has been a freaking sweetheart.
I've got a 2 year old black lab - pit mix that I got from a rescue shelter a year ago. He's big (83 lbs and kind of lean), powerful, playful, extremely smart and the friendliest monster dog I've ever come across.
Adopting and training an adult dog means you need the patience for the dog to un-learn whatever bad habits they have, but they can be trained. Dogs want to be good and obedient to a master they respect and love. All you have to do is respect them, love them, be consistent with how AND WHY you discipline them, and never abuse them.
not sure if this picture will work, but how could you hate this guy just cause he's got some pit bull in him?0 -
I have a Roxie-Dog....she's a lab/shepard mix rescue that is amazing with my kids. She walks well on a leash and doesn't usually pull. She will sit, stay, catch frisbees, tennis balls, etc...she comes when called.
But the barking. OH>>>>>the BARKING!! We have walked her until she's tired. We have trained and trained and trained. But she doesn't stop barking. She barks at cars going by. She barks at nothing. She barks at people jogging. She barks at squirrels. Last summer we had contractors fixing our house and we had to break down and get a citronella spray bark collar. It seemed less cruel than the shock ones. But she literally barked for 12 hours straight one day and I knew she was driving the contractors insane. he eventually figured out that the collar beeps a warning, so she barks until she hears the beep and then pauses long enough to let it reset. Rinse and repeat. She's VERY smart....
What can you do for barking? It's the one thing I can't seem to train out of her.
There are a few things. Sounds to me like this has become an 'obsession.' Barking is a natural thing for a dog, so having her bark once in a while isn't uncommon, but going for 12 hours straight is definitely obsessive.
If she's food motivated (will do ANYTHING for food - try cooked hot dogs), cook some up, cut them up, and keep them in a ziplock bag in your pocket. She'll smell them. Get her to sit and treat two or three times, and she'll focus on you. After that, just go about your normal business and ignore her.
When she barks, pull the treats out and redirect her attention. Have her sit again and wait until she's calm (not snapping her head between you and the sound). If she's not snapping out of it, you'll have to resort to the leash and a favorite toy. If she does, at first, reward her for simply focusing on you. Let her bark two or three times (it's a normal alert-thing), which will give you enough time to get the treat out of your pocket. Reward her for coming to you instead of barking at the window. Eventually, you can switch to praise.
If treats don't catch her attention (and hot dogs are damn good too!) then you'll have to walk with her on leash in your house for a few days. Everytime she starts to bark, give a quick tug on the leash to snap her out of it and redirect with a toy or a treat.
Also, and this goes for everyone who owns a dog, reward her for being calm when she is simply laying down and napping. You want that kind of calm behavior all the time, so reward it when she does it on her own. Eventually, she won't be worked up to the point where she needs to bark so much.0 -
Having personally trained nearly 2000 dogs in the last 15 years, I've got enough stories to fill volumes.
- Some people love their dogs more than their kids.
- Just because you managed to raise a couple dogs (or kids) without killing them, doesn't make you an expert in the world of 'behavior'.
- Just like in fitness/ nutrition, you can point at the tragic results of a person's efforts, and they will still argue with you about your ideas to fix the problem. (If you knew the solutions, why did you ask for help?)
- Most clients think all dogs are created equal, and should all be trained as fast or to the same level as someone else's dog.
- There is no ONE way to train an animal.
- TV trainers are dangerous to the public. The audience is only getting an 'edited' portion of the situation, and many viewers take the filtered portions as the entire truth (like a certain Whisperer who hid his e-collar methods in the early seasons). This can send the DIYers down a dangerous path.
In the end, I'd rather work with dogs than people, and I try not to give my clients much grief for being untrained; they keep me employed. :happy:0 -
I have a Roxie-Dog....she's a lab/shepard mix rescue that is amazing with my kids. She walks well on a leash and doesn't usually pull. She will sit, stay, catch frisbees, tennis balls, etc...she comes when called.
But the barking. OH>>>>>the BARKING!! We have walked her until she's tired. We have trained and trained and trained. But she doesn't stop barking. She barks at cars going by. She barks at nothing. She barks at people jogging. She barks at squirrels. Last summer we had contractors fixing our house and we had to break down and get a citronella spray bark collar. It seemed less cruel than the shock ones. But she literally barked for 12 hours straight one day and I knew she was driving the contractors insane. he eventually figured out that the collar beeps a warning, so she barks until she hears the beep and then pauses long enough to let it reset. Rinse and repeat. She's VERY smart....
What can you do for barking? It's the one thing I can't seem to train out of her.
What's she barking at?
squire bottle works (with water) and is fun.
She barks at anything that moves. Or nothing at all. Maybe she hears voices or something....I don't know...but she drives me NUTS!0 -
Thank you! I'm going to give it a shot. She's an awesome dog otherwise.0
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We bought our German shepherd when she was 6 weeks old. We started house training the day we got her took only 3 days. We have trained her to not pull when on her lease by stopping and not moving until she calmed down, she no longer pulls, she is a little over protective, but I understand that's what German Shepherds do. She is very well behaved and very loved, you need to train them how to behave just as you would a child, you don't train or discipline a child, or a dog they will get outta control. And by discipline I do not mean hitting them, we never once hit our Bella and she is a wonderful dog.0
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