Training a dog not to bark or eat poo!

[PlasticLentilWeaver]

So how do you do it?

I have a young (11 month) Vizsla, who is currently driving me demented barking at the invisible fairies at the bottom of the garden whenever I let her out, or if I leave the back door open for her to come and go while I am working at home during the week. I've talked to my neighbours and apologised and explained that I am trying to sort it. Thankfully, they aren't bothered as they know she is young, and that I don't leave her out there barking incessantly. But, I am getting so frustrated with her, and have been considering getting an anti-bark collar (spray, NOT shock, one that is remote activated so it doesn't randomly go off, and might be useful for her unsavoury poo eating habit too!), but I would prefer not to, if someone has any top tips.

The poo eating - it is only her own, and only if she goes in the garden, which she only does if her afternoon walk is a little later than she would like!

Thanks.

[minimu1]

Well easy to sort the poo problem then walk her earlier.

Re the barking why does she bark?

When you find out why she barks you can then prevent it from happening.

Is she excited?
Is she bored?
Is she nervous?
Is she reactive?
Is she greeting?

[PlasticLentilWeaver]

She barks at every car that goes past, every person that walks/runs past, the neighbour's guinea pigs in their run, birds flying over, the moon, invisible fairies, heaven help me if someone walks a dog past the back of the garden! I can't stop all these events.

And the poo thing is not that easy. Clearly, we avoid her pooing in the garden as much as possible, as apart from anything else we have children who play out there. But, if I am in the middle of a teleconference, which happens quite regularly, I can't take her for a walk at her preferred time every day. Surely, it is better to train her not to eat it in the first place?

[LetThereBeCupcakes]

Reference the poo eating - does she eat it immediately? Is there a window of time where you could recall her or distract her some way? Has she always done it, and do you know what triggered it?

For the barking, I think I would teach her the quiet command. Wait for her to stop barking, and as soon as she does, say "quiet", click (if you clicker train), and reward her. Eventually you should be able to say "quiet" whilst she's still barking and she'll stop.

Can you provide something to distract her in the garden, like a stuffed kong? minimu1 asked some questions about the type of barking - if you're not sure perhaps a local trainer could help you?

[tryingtocookacurry]

It is also worth teaching her to "speak".
A trainer taught me this as my chocolate lab would bark all the time. If you teach them to speak/bark on command then it stops them from barking - not sure why, but it worker with mine.

[jezebelle]

You're not my neighbour are you ?? :) They have a yappy dog who i may have to report to the council, it barks constantly when left and is doing my head in, i actually hate the dog now, i know its not the dogs fault but it goes through my brain the constant yap yap yap.

[PlasticLentilWeaver]

No jezebelle I'm not . I have one neighbour, and I've spoken/apologised to them, so they know I'm not happy about her behaviour and want to sort it out.

She doesn't do it in the house when left, as she is crated, only in the garden or if she can see out the front window.
I think it is mostly excitement because of her age/breed, but it might be boundary guarding. I am working on 'quiet/enough', but I just don't feel I am getting there at the moment. Might be time to get my trainer back for reinforcement.

The poo eating has been on and off since we got her. I really do try to avoid her pooing in the garden, or leaving her unsupervised. If I know she has gone, I clean it up immediately, but so does she if I'm not quick enough. What I would like is to be able to leave my back door open on a nice day, without being paranoid that she is poo munching!

[jezebelle]

our boy dog, a chinese crested, eats cat poo, its gross but we have yet to find a way to stop him as cat poo can be anywhere.
She's not a lhasa apso is she ?? only ask cos thats what the yappy thing next door is, oh and the owners dismiss her noise which is what angers me most :(

[chickchickchicken]

there was a thread on poo eating a few weeks ago. as far as i remember though the consensus of opinion was that the only thing that worked was picking it up before dog sorry, probably not what you wanted to hear! might be worth you searching for it as my memory is appalling

[chickchickchicken]

OP said dog was a vizsla

[higgle]

Is it a breed thing? We did not take much notice of the "good voice, freely given" in the breed spec when we got our ( sadly deceased now) PBGV but he barked loudly and constantly at everything for over 15 years, until his bark was worn out!