barking at strangers

[Tobysmom]

Is there a way to stop a dog from barking at people who come close to our yard. I am assuming this is a territorial thing so maybe he won't stop. If he barks in the house I say hush and he listens, but not outside.
If we go in public he doesn't bark, he's a good boy. So maybe he is being protective. Should I let him bark then?
This morning a man was jogging by and he started barking, when I said hush it was like he totally ignored me. He was too focused on the man.
Sorry if this is a dumb question, I'm a first time owner.

[mrose_s]

Its ok, I shush our dogs if they get too over the top, but the way i see it, they are doing there job, not letting strange poepel into our yard and looking after us :D.

If this is just not an option for you, you could try getting poeple you know, but your dog doesnt and practice on getting them to walk past. This way you can predict your dogs behaviour because you know soemone is coming, therefore you can sit your dog down and hush it. or you can invite in your friend and let them pat and give the dog a treat, letting them know strangers are good things, eventhough soetimes they are not.

[Fran27]

Boris does the same. I just let him in when he does. I don't want him to stop doing it, it's just too handy if someone ever comes in the yard or gets close to steal him or something. But I'm a bit the paranoid kind.

[Doberluv]

If they bark too much though, you get habituated to that and get so used to it that if someone bad really does come around, you'll think, "Oh...it's just someone walking past." So, although you don't want to tell your dog, "no" because it's not always a bad thing, you can teach the dog "enough." So, when you look and see that it's a harmless stranger, you can go to your dog and distract him, hold him, bring him away from the fence and when he is quiet for a second, say the command, "enough." (so he learns that "enough" is associated with stopping the barking. Then right away, while he's still quiet, say, "goooooood enough" and give him a treat. You'll have be very consistant and ready to run over to your dog to distract him and get him to stop by physically turning him away if you have to and getting him interested in something else so he stops. It's a lot of work for a while. Don't just holler out, "enough" because for quite some time, he's not going to know that word. You'll have to get that behavior of stopping first and then attach the word, "enough." And then, "goooooood enough." (to reiterate) Much later, when he gets this concept, you'll be able to holler out, "enough!" And it should help a lot. My Chihuahuas are little yappers. But they've learned this command pretty well. One of them is very good about stopping when I say, "enough!" The little boy is a little more persistant and not as obedient. He needs more work. My Doberman is pretty good too, but it depends on what it is...how serious. Last night, all through the night, off and on, he was going balistic. I'm sure there was a bear outside. I closed my door because he kept running from my open bedroom window to the livingroom, back and forth, going nuts. Finally, I said, "ENOUGH!!!! ZIP IT!!!!" I didn't get much sleep last night. Grrrrrrr. It's like, so what....there's a bear outside. Go to sleep Lyric! (yeah, right)

[Becca_]

Princess looks out the window and barks when a neighbor gets company, and barks at the neighbors cat, barks at our cat when our cat goes to visit the neighbors cat, and will bark at a neighbors dog when he is taken out to potty. I end up saying "enough" and then make her get down and close the curtains for a short time. I dont know what her deal is with a neighbor getting company because when we get company, she doesnt bark! She waits at the door wagging her tail. I kind of think she's barking to say "yoohoo, over here, you can come to my house".

[Doberluv]

I kind of think she's barking to say "yoohoo, over here, you can come to my house".

A-w-w-w-w...that's cute. I bet you're right!

[Manchesters]

Is there a way to stop a dog from barking at people who come close to our yard. I am assuming this is a territorial thing so maybe he won't stop. If he barks in the house I say hush and he listens, but not outside.
If we go in public he doesn't bark, he's a good boy. So maybe he is being protective. Should I let him bark then?
This morning a man was jogging by and he started barking, when I said hush it was like he totally ignored me. He was too focused on the man.
Sorry if this is a dumb question, I'm a first time owner.

Very simple....keep the garden hose near the door. After you tell him to be quiet, tell him a second time and if he ignores you, give him a spritz with the hose. Since you have a naked dog there is no worry of his hair getting wet, lol. This is the most effective way of controlling barking in a dog. Period.

[Doberluv]

That will stop them all right, but it may teach them that barking is bad....period. If they think they're not to bark at all, having been punished for it, where's your watch dog?

[Adrienne]

Letting him bark is up to you. Is it a constant problem? I like my dogs to bark when someone enters our yard but then again I have my dogs partly to keep me and my family safe so I find it acceptable. Katya is/was the worst barker ever, my mom never told her no bark when she lived in the country. When Katya came to me in the city we really needed to make her aware of what was and wasn't acceptable to bark at, and also how long she was allowed to bark at something. To teach her I would give her a verbal warning out the window, "mind your business Katya", if she chose not to listen then I would go out and bring her in. She hated to come in so this was a great punishment for her. She now only barks if someone is walking into our yard (pretty stupid of people to do with a dog like Katya around) or if someone is hesitiating and appearing to be thinking about coming into our yard. She is 100% better. It is possible to teach a dog what is Ok to bark at and what isn't. Tamara the breeder of Katya and CO's deals with some 15 CO's who think they should bark at everything from their kennels. She has successfully taught them that they can and should bark for some things but don't even think about it for others. She uses a two-by-four which she slams down on her window sill and then issues a quite command. The two-by-four gains their attention well and eventually they get it. Don't know if this will help you at all but if you want a dog to alert you to someone dangerous you need to make sure that it understands that it is Ok to bark sometimes. Good luck with Toby!

[Doberluv]

I agree. It does depend on how much you value a dog warning you about something. Of course, it is in their nature to do that. I do like making a distinction between, it's ok to bark, it's not a no no, but now I want you to stop....it's enough for now, thank you very much. LOL.

Here where I live, I have lots of land around me and it's very, very quiet. So, if there is someone driving up my long driveway or some unusual sound outside, the dogs really notice it and let me know in no uncertain terms. When I go visit my daughter in Seattle, there are doors closing right next to her apartment, cars, an occasional bus going right past, people walking and talking, dogs barking on the sidewalk right out her window, all kinds of racket. These dogs right away when we get there, remember that when staying in this place, all that is normal and they don't bark much at all. It's cute how they can adjust to different enviornments and realize what's normal for one isn't for the other. If someone knocks on her door, then they set up a racket. But that's about it. Then we come home, they're back to one weird sound equals bark, bark. LOL.

[Manchesters]

I seldom need "protection" since not only am I completely fenced in, but have neighbors right next to me for a certain amount of security.

AND you can tell from the barking the dog is doing if there is something serious it is barking at, or if it is just barking because the wind is blowing. I know every nuance of the dogs barks. If it is intense barking, I will check, and then tell them "It's OK, knock it off". Of course by now mine know I mean what I say. Only on occassion when the boys are barking at George in back working in his woods do I need to spray them. They seem to think that just because I am far away from them behind the fence around the patio they can ignore me. Unfortunately for them the spray from the hose can just tickle their butts from my front door, rofl.

And I can tell you that short of debarking, NOTHING will ever even come close to inhibiting a dog's barking. If you ever find anything PLEASE let me know what it is!!!!!!!!!

Most of the time if I am in my chair watching TV and the girls go out and start shooting off their mouths, I just holler a few choice words to them, and they come back inside.

Now mind you, from time to time they have let me know when the poor pizza man is outside the gate up here at this end trying to find out how to get in, roflmbo. And this is even when I have left the darned gate opened for him down at the street!!

[Manchesters]

That will stop them all right, but it may teach them that barking is bad....period. If they think they're not to bark at all, having been punished for it, where's your watch dog?

Not punished.....corrected when enough is enough!

[Adrienne]

I was told by someone that if you holler or yell your dog just thinks you are barking with it. Much better to say in a "scolding" low voice "no bark" or something to that effect. It has worked well with my dogs but at my aunt's house they have five dogs and they all yell and holler when the dogs start barking and it just makes it worse. They finally figured out to slap a fly swatter on the table and that gets their attention...then they give the no bark command and it works 99% of the time.

[Manchesters]

I was told by someone that if you holler or yell your dog just thinks you are barking with it. Much better to say in a "scolding" low voice "no bark" or something to that effect. It has worked well with my dogs but at my aunt's house they have five dogs and they all yell and holler when the dogs start barking and it just makes it worse. They finally figured out to slap a fly swatter on the table and that gets their attention...then they give the no bark command and it works 99% of the time.

QUIET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!

Works wonders. And I think I can safely say that at least any dogs I have ever been around know exactly what they are being told, and why. I do on occassion have "Howl Ins" with the dogs. Unfortunately the best singer, and choir leader passed away, so it takes more to get them going, rofl.

Just as with time and exposure most humans can pick up on every little sign our dogs put out, so can they pick up on what we mean by what we say and HOW we say it. They are much smarter than most would give them credit for----as long as they are able to live in close proximity to their people.....or even on top of their people, lololol.

[bridey_01]

Sometimes the hose idea CAN work wonders, but the house calls I get are from people who have tried the hose/water pistol, and now their dog only barks when they're not at home, because it knows it can avoid the punishment.

[bridey_01]

Also, a correction is a punishment. Anything that is used to decrease a behaviour is labelled a positive punishment, positive meaning something added.

[Manchesters]

Sometimes the hose idea CAN work wonders, but the house calls I get are from people who have tried the hose/water pistol, and now their dog only barks when they're not at home, because it knows it can avoid the punishment.

Why would anyone care what their dog does when they are gone???? The whole point is for the dog to not bark excessively. When I go out, my dogs are in here in their crates. It doesn't matter if they all sit and whistle Dixie while I am gone, rofl.

I guess my dogs are geniuses........they know the difference between a correction and punishment. Mine consider things like toe nail clipping or a bath to be punishment, rofl. Anything else doesn't bother them in the least. They never actally get punished or corrected. Spoiled little beasts! And they DO hush when I tell them to!

Considerinig the thousands of dogs that are killed every year because of excessive barking, whatever works is what must be used!!

[bridey_01]

they know the difference between a correction and punishment
They never actally get punished or corrected
They must be geniuses! Some people have to care if their dog is barking maniacally whilst they are gone, neighbours don't generally take nicely to it! roflol

[bridey_01]

As i've said before, anything ADDED to DECREASE behaviour is termed a punishment, the word "correction" is just a politically correct way of saying punishment. I don't have much against the hose idea, except that it rarely works when the source of the "correction" (ie the owner) isn't home. Yet, I also think that responsible people should keep their dogs inside away from stimulus that produce barking, but many dogs will also howl and cause a ruckus inside.

[Tobysmom]

He does stay inside. We only go outside to walk or potty.

[bridey_01]

Thats good Tobysmom, I was reffering to some of my clients when I said that. It really depends on how excessive the barking is, if it's really bothering you or you can see it becoming a problem I would follow Doberluv's advice.

[Manchesters]

They must be geniuses! Some people have to care if their dog is barking maniacally whilst they are gone, neighbours don't generally take nicely to it! roflol

They are. And they don't bark maniacally while I am gone. I leave the TV on for them while gone. Nearest neighbors that would matter are a couple hundred feet away and can't hear the little darlings when they are inside.

Neighbors closer can move if they don't like it-----I own the property they are living on, lol. But they can't hear it anyway when doggers are indoors.

[bridey_01]

That's good for you Manchesters, I wish I had the same situation. My neighbours will call canine control at the drop of a hat, so everything has to be very hush hush here, especiall when I'm not at home to shut them up.

[Manchesters]

That's good for you Manchesters, I wish I had the same situation. My neighbours will call canine control at the drop of a hat, so everything has to be very hush hush here, especiall when I'm not at home to shut them up.

I have been in that siutation in the past. And some people are so cruel, knowing that they have us by the throat because of our dogs. Of course the very few times anyone called the pound on my dogs the dogs were inside being good, and I told the Animal Control Officer that unless she had a warrent to get off my property or I would have her arrested for trespass. She tried to B.S. me, but I had my cam corder going while talking to her. She tried to inform me that I HAD to give her access to my property. I told her that she had already been tramping illegally all over my property and bothering my tenants.

She denied it, and I told her that as soon as she left the street she was on my property. She left finally. That was about 9 years ago. The drunken "ho" who had called them moved many years ago, thankfully.

But I know what it feels like to live in dread of those idiots from animal control showing up. I had a couple of dogs debarked, and if I lived close to anyone else, I would likely have them all debarked if I could afford it. There is NO pain, and not even enough of a sore throat to keep them from eating dry food!! Vet uses an instrument that curves down at 90 degrees, and goes down and snips each cord. Does wonders!!

Hope no one jumps on that.....it does not hurt the dogs, and is better than a dog having to be killed because of barking! Unless anyone has had experience with a dog being debarked, please spare me the anthromorphisizing (or however it is spelled, rofl). Just remember there are still those who consider castrating a male dog as being cruel! (They would consider it for their HUSBANDS, tho, roflololol)

[Doberluv]

Another thing you could try, Toby'smom, is if a lot of people walk or jog past your yard, you could sit with your dog where he can see them, maybe just outside your fence by the sidewalk (or whatever) and let him see for himself that all these people going past are just honky dory and not a big deal. Just sit and sit and sit for a long time. Take a good book out with you and some treats and a toy for Toby. When people go past, be super friendly and maybe they'll stop and chat for a few seconds. Maybe you can ask them to give Toby a treat, that you're trying to habituate him to people going past so he'll slow down with some of that barking. It might work. But if he's super terrotorial, it might not help a lot. It's worth a try. That way if he gets a little use to this, he may decrease some of the barking because it would become more normal to him. And if something happened one day that was not normal, someone coming into the yard, he's still going to bark and warn you. It's just an idea to show him what normal, nice strangers are and that it's OK that they're walking past your house.

Remember to praise and give a treat when he's calm. If he starts barking, try distracting him and try your "enough" command that you will have been working on also. LOL.

[Manchesters]

Another thing you could try, Toby'smom, is if a lot of people walk or jog past your yard, you could sit with your dog where he can see them, maybe just outside your fence by the sidewalk (or whatever) and let him see for himself that all these people going past are just honky dory and not a big deal. Just sit and sit and sit for a long time. Take a good book out with you and some treats and a toy for Toby. When people go past, be super friendly and maybe they'll stop and chat for a few seconds. Maybe you can ask them to give Toby a treat, that you're trying to habituate him to people going past so he'll slow down with some of that barking. It might work. But if he's super terrotorial, it might not help a lot. It's worth a try. That way if he gets a little use to this, he may decrease some of the barking because it would become more normal to him. And if something happened one day that was not normal, someone coming into the yard, he's still going to bark and warn you. It's just an idea to show him what normal, nice strangers are and that it's OK that they're walking past your house.

Remember to praise and give a treat when he's calm. If he starts barking, try distracting him and try your "enough" command that you will have been working on also. LOL.

Cresteds are a whole distinct bunch of characters. They will bark. It is just their nature. And from what I have been told, the Powder Puffs are different still from the naked ones!

[Raika's Mom]

Raika barks at people near our yard too, but I'd rather have her SOUND like a good protector. She sounds scary, but if you walked her up to someone she's be as friendly as can be. She loves people.

[trainthosepaws]

hello im anewbie im just starting out and learning to be a dog traininer and this worked for my dogs so ill let you have a go. well ost dog owners want ther dog to bark at strangers to let the owners know that someone is aproching but theres a fine line between letting you know someone is aproching and just being anoying hers what you can do. its a good thing to bark at stranger just not continulay. get a can and sinker or and put the sinker in the can so it rattels if you dont have one you can also use a money tin. anything tht is loud. when your dog barks go down and chek it out once you have assured that the stranger is ok praise your dog then say ENOUGH to your dog and if he continuly barks the shake the tin and and when he stops barking prais him continue this and you dog will assosiate when you say enough then its enough but make sure you chek it oout before syaing enough.therfre you dog will tell you that somone is aproching but it wont be anoying. anyways asi sayed im onley young and just strting out dog training so can you please let me know how you get on thanks and good luck