basset hound

[a.baker]

I have a Basset Hound. We got her from the Humane Society. She is mixed with something but we don't know what. She is almost a year old. She is an awesome watch dog but she watches a little too much. She will bark at anybody she sees and with us living in town, well.... She is a very calm dog especially for still being a puppy. I know Bassets are know for being vocal but she barks way too much. When I take her for walks she barks at every person she sees and cars that drive by her too. She has been around public and strangers very often in and out of our house; but she seems nervous around people when they get close and I don't get it. We have a 4 year old daughter whom she is not skiddish around so she is used to kids. We don't hit her either.

She was about 8 wks. old when we brought her home so she wasn't exposed to a bad previous home environment. She is awesome around other dogs. We have another puppy she romps with and she gets a lot of attention and long daily walks. She is generically stubborn for being a Basset and loyal. She is really smart too. She would make an awesome show dog if only she were pure bread or hunting dog; but thats not my thing. (just to give a little of her personality)

So my question is how do I get her to bark only when appropriate (since I know she does need to talk and we do like the guard dog personality) and to be comfortable around all people; especially when I am so she's not picking up a vibe from me?

[mjb]

I have seen some trainers on the forum post on how to control barking. It can be done, I think, but I don't remember how. You might can find those posts by doing a search.

Hopefully, one of the trainers on board will see this and answer soon!!

[a.baker]

Thanks for answering! It is a problem and I don't want to feel I need to resort to an expensive and what I feel is a mean method of training like a shock collar. I have searched all over the internet and thats what everyone recommends; that or this citronella spray. This is why I signed up here hoping someone here can give me some training tips. I feel you can train any dog anything; just not the same thing works for any dog. I tried shushing and saying no but that doesn't work. She is totally into the barking; spraying water at her doesn't work either. I am telling ya she is an awesome guard dog LOL but not everyone is the enemy.

I also signed up here in hopes someone knows something about the Basset Hound personality and temperament and can help with what training would work best for this breed for this problem.

Again thanks for responding; much appreciated!

[mjb]

I don't know the answer to what you're looking for, but I know there are some folks on here that do. That's why I responded.....so your question would get bumped up, and the trainers on the forum would not miss it. Some of them may not get on over the weekend, but I do know you can get some good information here. And most here don't use the harsher methods of training, so you'll get some good advise.

In the meantime, you might can search the forum and find some information that will be helpful.

I don't remember right off-hand anyone else with a Bassett Hound. But there are quite a few hound owners!

[mjb]

http://www.chazhound.com/forums/show...hlight=barking

Try this thread while waiting for personalized help!!

[Maxy24]

I will be back after 5 to write out some ideas, I have to go somewhere soon though and don't have t time to write it out now, barking is a tricky one! Are you willing to do clicker training?

[lizzybeth727]

Here's an excellent explanation I found on www.clickertraining.com about how to put "bark" and "quiet" on cue. I think it will help:

Karen [Pryor] writes: Let us assume the dog is already barking. (If you want to provoke the barking you can knock on a nearby door or table; that will usually set off a barker). You click, give a treat, and as the dog is swallowing, you startle the dog a little by making a "stop" hand signal in front of its face (or any other signal, I just chose that one.) The dog will react with a little sign of surprise: maybe an anxious look, maybe a slight calming signal such as a head turn. In any case, the instant you've shoved your hand at it you click and again treat. (Treats are in the clicker hand, for this stunt.) The dog eats the treat. Now you wait (or knock on the door if you need to), the dog barks, click/treat, hand gesture, dog looks at hand or looks away but is not barking in that instant; click/treat. Repeat.

What's happening here is: you are provoking the bark (or the dog is barking spontaneously, better yet), and reinforcing it. You are provoking another behavior, and reinforcing it. There are no cues established yet, just two opposite behaviors that you are clicking and treating alternately. Now, this is NOT a pair consisting of barking and the absence of barking. I don't believe you can train the absence of something, in dogs...perhaps in people. The little flinch or reaction you got at first is the behavior you are reinforcing. The dog perceives it as "close my mouth," or "turn my head" (with mouth closed as part of it) or "duck" or "look worried" or whatever it is doing. But it definitely is doing something, and you a clicking that something.

[a.baker]

Hey thank you so much!! That is interesting and I have never heard of that clicker training method. I will try it out and let you know how it works. I will also check out that barking thread. This site looks so busy I was a little lost where to go so thanks also for highlighting that thread for me. I am super busy too; so maybe I just didn't spend enough time looking.

[a.baker]

Also I am very greatful for this because my dog is teaching our new puppy that "hey this is how you do it" LOL so its becoming a two dog problem.