Help With Dogs Barking

In My Humble Opinion
1

Ok, so I bought a new house fairly recently. It’s a very lovely mid-century modern ranch house (think Atomic Ranch magazine) and the front room is basically glass from floor to ceiling. It’s really really pretty (I think) but it’s causing a problem-- my dogs bark at everything and it’s driving me nuts.

I have four dogs, but really only three are at issue here (one is old and lazy and doesn’t bark). Actually, another one really only joins in when the two young ones decide to go bananas. So, really two dogs that are causing the problem; a little terrier mutt and a medium shepherd mutt. They are both very good dogs who are pretty well trained; we don’t do obedience or anything but they know basic commands and have good doggy manners.

Anyway, they have a full view of the front yard and the street now, whereas in our old house, they had NO view of the outside world. The thing I really want to teach them is discernment but I haven’t a clue how. I want them to bark if someone is on the front porch knocking, or creeping around the house. I do NOT want them to bark because a cat is sunning 3 houses down, or a jogger went past, or a mouse farted across the street (because usually when I come look to see what the issue is THERE’S NOTHING EVEN THERE!!!).

Now, I’ve been very consistently reprimanding them for barking at nothing, and it does seem to be working, slowly. They bark less often now, and when they do bark it’s not as intense or long-lasting. They are also MUCH better at stopping when I say to; at the old house that was not a skill they had (of course, the barking wasn’t an issue then). Now they stop pretty much 100% of the time if I’m in the room and I say stop, but only about 50% of the time if I’m not there and I yell from across the house.

Here’s what I want: I want them to bark when we have a real, actual visitor (or trespasser) and never any other time. However, I would also be happy if they would consistently stop barking on command, even if I’m not in the room. Does anyone have any tips or techniques for that?

Oh, and before it comes up, the floor plan makes it basically impossible to block off the front of the house from them, and I really really really don’t want to cover the windows, since that’s pretty much why I fell in love with the house. :slight_smile:

2

Bumping this, hoping for an answer, as we are having the exact same problem.

3

We’ve had to cover the bottom part of the glass in the front door, else the mutt goes nuts all day long.

Yeah, I know you don’t want to do that, but it is the simplest solution.

We didn’t cover the whole door, just the bottom foot or so that she can easily see out of. In your situation, I’d think about doing something pretty and decorative that would cover the lower parts. A stencil or something, maybe.

Everyone I’ve found says to first teach them to bark on command, then you can teach them to stop on command.

We’re working on the first part. We’ve spent so long yelling at her for barking that she’s a bit confused when we encourage her to bark. But it already seems like she responds a tiny bit better when we hush her random barking. That may just be wishful thinking, though.

4

Our problem with that is our dog can hear anything out there, doors/windows open/closed. Doesn’t matter. Hates the school bus and UPS guy, but at least that’s once a day per incident. We are pretty sure we live in the dog-walking capitol of the world, on the jogger’s paradise street, so it’s many, many times a day.

I have heard of clicker training, but would that work for barking? He is an extremely well behaved dog otherwise, so have never had to do any behavior training. He is also probably ten years old (if that’s pertinent).

5

I wonder this too. It drives me crazy when my neighbor’s dog barks at me - I’m all the way across the street, entering MY house. Shut up dog, I’m not a threat, I’m not even close to your house. I wonder how people can handle that shrill barking that live in the house. Do they just not hear it anymore?

And the neighbor down the street leaves his dog in his fenced up yard, so he barks at bikers and joggers and walkers.

It’s annoying!
ETA: I did see one cute thing though. I was biking through my neighborhood and as I shot past some guy watering his lawn his dog broke and raced after me. I had just started to curse when the owner barked (ha, pun intended) the dog’s name. The dog stopped on a dime, turned around, and went back to its owner with the most ashamed expression ever.

6

I don’t know what to do about the sounds. Yeah, our girl does that too.

We’ve been working with her for a couple of years now. It’s better, but still a problem. Fortunately we have a big house and a little space between houses here.

She never gets (intentionally) left outside because of the barking.

7

For those who worry about the neighbors (and I did too!) I’ve gone out to the road to check how loud it is. You can hear them, but it isn’t loud or distracting. I’m sure my neighbors inside their houses can’t hear anything at all. And I don’t put the dogs out to bark, unless it’s a special reason, like I’m having a fridge delivered.

Gah, I was really hoping for someone to have some awesome idea I’d never thought of! I guess I’ll keep working on it the slow way for now. We are making progress, it’s just so maddening.

And I know blocking their view would work, but I just can’t yet.

8

I hear ya, Miss E. It’s also doggy central in our neighborhood, so there are always dogs barking. Speaking to each other, if you will. So I know that my neighbors are tolerant. However, it’s when he BARKS! out of nowhere, making me jump a foot that it does NOT go over well. I have done some searching for dog training for this specific issue in the Madison, WI area, but not too hopeful so far.

9

One thing I found with my mom’s dog (who I brought up and trained) is that yelling at the dog to stop barking does absolutely no good. As far as they can tell, they’ve sounded the alarm, and you’ve joined in, which just makes it more alarming, which means they should bark longer and louder.

Instead, what I would do when the puppy started barking was go over, check it out, and either nod and leave or give her positive reinforcement (for the UPS guy, for someone coming up the sidewalk, et cetera). It took a while, but she mostly learned that the people across the street could do whatever they wanted, and it wasn’t a bark-worthy matter. She also learned that if she continued to bark when it was not bark-worthy, she would lose her premier spot on the landing and be cooped up somewhere boring for a while.

Of course, all that went for naught when I moved away and the parents went back to yelling at her. >sigh<

10

Yeah, the yelling doesn’t work. Which isn’t to say I haven’t screamed, “SHUT UP OH MY GOD SHUT UP STOP BARKING OR I’M GOING TO TURN YOU ALL INTO SOUP!!!” before, just that it isn’t effective. I used to use a Caesar Milan style “Shhh!” or I’d tell them to sit. I’ve started saying “Hush!” consistently, though, so I’ll actually have a command.

And you’re right, if I go in the front of the house, they stop. It’s just, a lot of times they bark when I’m busy doing shit, and it’s really frustrating because I come in there and THERE’S NOTHING THERE. I try yelling hush from the back of the house, but they only respond about half the time. Also, not to be a complete whiner, it ruins them as far as alarms go. I mean, it used to be if I was in the shower and the dogs barked, someone was here, I need to get out. Now… who knows? When they bark at night its a bit scary. Is something there? Or are they just being stupid again?

They really are improving though. I guess there just isn’t a shortcut. (but if I’m wrong, post it ya’ll!!)

11

Maybe try something like an air horn to startle them and get their attention, then a stern NO!

12

Duke, I was thinking of something along these lines. I had a black lab back in the day who had a terrible “aimless” barking problem. A vet recommended laying in wait for the dog to start barking, then toss water at him (she was in a fenced-in yard). It was humane and very effective, as she hated water, and it took exactly one dousing. I was thinking maybe buying a spray bottle and squirting the dog with water when he aimlessly barks, perhaps reward him with a Charley Bear when he warns of someone approaching the house.

13

I wonder if you keep doing what you’re doing, they will train fairly soon. You say it’s getting better.

14

Positive and negative reinforcement. Frankly, it’s work. My cat was always jumping up on tables and counters so we got a squirt gun and simultaneously yelled, “No!” and squirted him. It worked pretty well, but catching him in the act when we had the squirt gun in hand was a pain.

I would suggest the same for your dogs. When they bark, grab the squirt gun and check it out. If it’s somebody across the street yell, “No!” and squirt them. If it’s somebody at the door, do nothing and answer the door.

Hopefully, over time, they’ll learn.

Oh, and for positive reinforcement, if you happen to be in the room and notice them perking their ears up about a car passing by or whatever, but they do nothing, give them a pat and an, “attaboy” for not barking. I don’t know if they’ll associate the two, but it can’t hurt

15

It is getting better, but then again, it’s been like 2 months. Also, when I wrote this, we’d sort of plateaued.

BUT! interesting news: I tried a squirt bottle yesterday afternoon/evening and WOW! It really really worked. I used it on them both when they barked at a guy walking his dog, and they stopped instantly. Then, the shepherd mix didn’t bark the rest of the night. The terrier had one more instance, but one squirt ended that and she didn’t bark again. Now, we did have a storm blow through, so there was less foot traffic than usual. But I’ll keep you guys updated! I think we may have a winner! (and yes, for the record, they got LOTS of praise and treats for laying in the front room and not barking)

Thanks you guys! :smiley:

16

How cool! Guess I’ll be making a stop at Toys R Us this weekend.