Barking, Barking, and more Barking

[Phoenixangelwyngs]

Alright, so I have two Border Collies that are crated for the night in the basement under the stairs. I have lived by myself with the rest of furkids and my son with them for months.
Shye has always been bothered by noises and barks at just about anything that he doesn't recognize, including wind through tree leaves, neighbors, and apparently nothing. It got to the point that I gave in and bought a bark collar for him. This is a vibration activated collar so it can't be set off by sound, only his own barking. The battery eventually died on the collar and I took it off him and had no problems with barking. I did just replace the battery and put the collar back on.
River has NEVER been a barker.

I now have people staying in my house with me. I don't know exactly what's going on. I've taken to covering the kennel fronts with a blanket in order to reduce visual stimuli since the new people have three cats that move remarkably like normal cats whereas mine are all very laid back and move more like dogs. Still there is barking.
There has to be some other stimulus that is causing the barking. If Shye is collared, River barks and whines. If River is collared, Shye barks.

Anyone have any ideas? It's driving me insane. I could just get another collar... I realize that. I feel like spending another $60 on a collar for controlling barking in a dog that normally doesn't bark unless there is obvious reason for it, just shouldn't be my first option.

 

[lizzybeth727]

It's important to remember that dogs bark for a reason. Bark collars stop the barking, but they don't address the reason that the dog is barking. In rare instances, a bark collar is going to be your best option.... But they should be used only when you and a professional trainer/behaviorist have explored and ruled out all other options. In other words, bark collars should be an absolute last resort.

Dogs, especially in your case, bark as an emotional response to a stimulus. You know that little rush of adrenaline you get when something you're not expecting startles you? Dogs bark to release that adrenaline. So the sequence goes: stimulus -- startle + adrenaline -- bark to release adrenaline -- feel better. If the dog is wearing a bark collar and the bark collar inhibits the barking, the sequence goes like this: stimulus -- startle + adrenaline -- realize that barking will cause pain -- still have adrenaline from the startle + scared because of the bark collar -- still hyped up over the stimulus and also now a little nervous about the collar. Where's the release of adrenaline? When does the dog feel better? This is why it's so important that if you're using a bark collar on your dog, you should be concentrating on reinforcing the quiet. That way, when he feels like barking but doesn't, you can reward that non-barking, and then he will feel better, ending the sequence. ONLY THEN will the bark collar be an effective training tool.

To answer your question, though, your dogs are probably barking more because with the new people in the house there are also lots of new noises to bark at. Border collies tend to be extremely aware of what's going on in their environment (like wind blowing through the trees!), and tend to be hyper vigalent. Make sure that they have a lot of exercise throughout the day and a lot of mental stimulation (training, out of crate time, outings to pet stores, etc.). Then I'd suggest getting a white noise machine that will help to drown out some of those noises. You might also consider moving the crates somewhere else in the house; if the dogs feel closer to their family, they might be better able to relax and sleep rather than bark.

 

[Phoenixangelwyngs]

Thanks for the ideas Lizzy!