Go Dogs wrote: Okay. I am NOT suggesting that I have all the answers BUT... Instead of manipulating the environment, shocking the dog, performing rituals,etc. Wouldn't it be easier to train the dog? I just know lots of folks that have dogs that make their lives very difficult.
If you cannot drive a car, should you be behind the wheel-in traffic? If you cannot train a dog, should you own one?
As far as me recommending the Thundershirt -- my thought process is that a lot of small dogs are high strung and some have anxieties. I agree with training the dog, but when they have anxieties or mental issues, I don't think you can necessarily "train" them out of that.
JMHO for whatever it is or isn't worth.
Whatever hits the fan will not be evenly distributed.
Here's the thing. I have relatives and friends that went out an got a dog for the wrong reasons. My DIL has gone thru 4 dogs in 5 years. Now, she's looking to rehome a 1 yr old, untrained, unneutered chihuahua because they have decided to divorce.
When she got this dog, I told her that to avoid the problems that she had with the other 3 dogs, she should train, socialize, etc. Obviously, she blew off my advice.
Now, if an inexperienced person chooses a breed without researching it. Then, doesn't train or socialize the dog- I feel that this is very irresponsible. There's so much info available on choosing the type of dog to match your lifestyle. People think small dogs are great because of their size but they are often a handful.
I feel a dog should be your best buddy, not a battle of wills. IMHO.
Go Dogs wrote: Here's the thing. I have relatives and friends that went out an got a dog for the wrong reasons. My DIL has gone thru 4 dogs in 5 years. Now, she's looking to rehome a 1 yr old, untrained, unneutered chihuahua because they have decided to divorce.
When she got this dog, I told her that to avoid the problems that she had with the other 3 dogs, she should train, socialize, etc. Obviously, she blew off my advice.
Now, if an inexperienced person chooses a breed without researching it. Then, doesn't train or socialize the dog- I feel that this is very irresponsible. There's so much info available on choosing the type of dog to match your lifestyle. People think small dogs are great because of their size but they are often a handful.
I feel a dog should be your best buddy, not a battle of wills. IMHO.
That's too bad that they keep getting rid of dogs. To me, getting an animal is a lifetime commitment. I would never give up my son, and likewise would never give up my dogs.
But someone trying their best to deal with dog issues isn't in the same boat with people who keep getting dogs for a short period of time. Unfortunately, there are a lot more people out there like your relatives and friends... which is part of the reason that there are so many dogs sitting in rescues and shelters.
A dog is a combination of nature and nurture. Some behaviors can be modified by training, but if a dog has a screw loose and it's genetic, there's not a lot that can be done.
Brings to mind one time a guy called me. He had an adult pair of cockers. He had an entire litter of puppies that were now about ten months old. He couldn't stand the puppies in the house, so they were booted out in the back yard for the summer. They had no training, no house manners - just ran wild all their lives and did whatever they wanted. Winter was coming.....
He wanted to unload the adults and some of the pups. Reason he wanted to get rid of the adults was that they were (in his words) just plain nuts.
I told him to stop and listen to himself. He had two dogs who by his estimation were just plain nuts and he bred them. I told him if he's breeding dogs who are nuts, what's he think he's going to get? More dogs that are nuts. Well, gee, he never thought about it that way.
People see dollar signs and breed dogs with the wrong intentions. And then when it's time to sell them, the first person with $$ in their hand that comes along, leaves with a dog.
A reputable breeder will try their best to make sure the new owners are totally aware of all the needs of the breed, and only sell to what they feel are good homes.
All the rescues and shelters, and all the work, and it's only a drop in the bucket when you look at the big picture.
All we can try to do is educate people and save what we can. It's a huge problem in society.
TaterSr wrote: Thanks folks. Believe me I am totally against cruelty to animals but without them, we can't have a guest over. They bark out of control incessantly. We tried tossing them treats the whole time to keep quiet & they threw up. Got the gravity lounges ready.
Have you ever tried a spray bottle? I use water bottles that spray - you can adjust it from a mist to a stream. I set it to a stream so I can get them from across the room. When the stream of water hits them, it surprises them and they shut up. This has worked well for me, to stop problem barking. I shoot them with the water and give them a firm "no".
raindove wrote: When the stream of water hits them, it surprises them and they shut up. This has worked well for me, to stop problem barking. I shoot them with the water and give them a firm "no".
I can't even imagine what this would encourage Jimmy to do?? When he sees me turn on the outside faucet - he gets in his "ready/set/go!" stance; then waits for me to say "OK - chase"
At that point, I set the nozzle to spray a hard line of water across the yard that he chases and bites - I really try to NOT blast him in the face, but he seems to relish it?? Of course, he's drenched when I stop the game.... but it's his idea of BIG FUN!
If I sprayed him every time he barked - he'd never shut up!!!!!! Crazy dog - must be the poodle!
raindove wrote: When the stream of water hits them, it surprises them and they shut up. This has worked well for me, to stop problem barking. I shoot them with the water and give them a firm "no".
I can't even imagine what this would encourage Jimmy to do?? When he sees me turn on the outside faucet - he gets in his "ready/set/go!" stance; then waits for me to say "OK - chase"
At that point, I set the nozzle to spray a hard line of water across the yard that he chases and bites - I really try to NOT blast him in the face, but he seems to relish it?? Of course, he's drenched when I stop the game.... but it's his idea of BIG FUN!
If I sprayed him every time he barked - he'd never shut up!!!!!! Crazy dog - must be the poodle!
LOL We have a chessie that loves to chase the water from the hose too. Back when I had 13 cockers in the house, they were like a bunch of kids. Let mom get on the phone, and they were off and getting into anything they could, and barking -- With doing rescue, I had a lot of phone calls with strangers -- I hated sounding like a shrew yelling at the dogs. When you're on the phone, you can shoot them in the butt with the spray bottle, silently. I remember one person remarking that I had them well trained with they shut up with a squirt. LOL If they only knew.....
I only had one dog that was a problematic barker. He had severe seizures, and I really think he had some brain damage. I'd squirt him -- he'd come over, park his butt square in front of me, squinch his eyes shut to the point his whole face was wrinkled up, and he'd proceed to bark. Frustrating, but I had to laugh every time he did that. He was the only one the spray bottle didn't work on.
TaterSr wrote: Thanks folks. Believe me I am totally against cruelty to animals but without them, we can't have a guest over. They bark out of control incessantly. We tried tossing them treats the whole time to keep quiet & they threw up. Got the gravity lounges ready.
Have you ever tried a spray bottle? I use water bottles that spray - you can adjust it from a mist to a stream. I set it to a stream so I can get them from across the room. When the stream of water hits them, it surprises them and they shut up. This has worked well for me, to stop problem barking. I shoot them with the water and give them a firm "no".
The squirt bottle works very well, but I can't find it when the doorbell rings. If I can lay my hands on it all I have to do usually is wave it around like I'm going to use it.
TaterSr wrote: Thanks folks. Believe me I am totally against cruelty to animals but without them, we can't have a guest over. They bark out of control incessantly. We tried tossing them treats the whole time to keep quiet & they threw up. Got the gravity lounges ready.
Have you ever tried a spray bottle? I use water bottles that spray - you can adjust it from a mist to a stream. I set it to a stream so I can get them from across the room. When the stream of water hits them, it surprises them and they shut up. This has worked well for me, to stop problem barking. I shoot them with the water and give them a firm "no".
The squirt bottle works very well, but I can't find it when the doorbell rings. If I can lay my hands on it all I have to do usually is wave it around like I'm going to use it.
When I first started using it, I had squirt bottles all over the place - I wanted on at arm's reach. Mine got to the point that all I had to do was let them see the bottle too. Now, all I have to do is point my finger at them and make a shh.. shh... noise, and they stop.
I found the bottle VERY effective. It's worked with a lot of rescue dogs, too.
I don't believe in using the shock collars - used correctly they have their place, I suppose. And I'm not criticizing anyone - this is just my personal feeling. But I did try one of the electronic bark collars that emits a high frequency noise when the dog barks. I did not find them effective. I also tried one of those citronella collars. The one dog I used that on, learned that if he barked long enough he could empty the citronella and he took the hits to empty the daggone thing. My 99 cent water bottle beat them all, hands down.
The big problem with water bottles is that they don't work when you're not there. It's quite easy to teach most dogs to not bark in your presence. But dogs don't generalize well at all, so most totally don't get that "don't bark when I'm here to squirt you" means the same thing as "don't bark when I'm not here." If the number of complaints on here about unattended barking dogs can be believed (even allowing for some exaggeration), then a lot of dogs aren't making the connection. And for those dogs (or dogs who live in an apartment, condo or other close housing) a bark collar can help.
Me and the DH
Two boys and two dogs (and two cats who prefer to stay home)
2008 Forest River Georgetown 350DS (bunkhouse model)
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