To use a bark stop on my 8 month old dog

[Horsegirl1]

We live on a farm and any little noise she hears she barks. Even during the night a slight noise means she yaps. She sleeps with me as she is like my baby girl so I'm forever being woken up with a start because of her yapping on . She is a jackapoo and I don't want anything in humane to use . I want a gentle way to get this barking to stop. It really makes you jump when she starts as it's so random and loud. I have bought a bark stop but I'm. Unsure if it's working as it's in audible to humans. I just got it today and she has barked a few times but doesn't act like this bark stop is upsetting her ? Aibu to use this and has anyone any advice for gentle ways to stop her barking

[Willyorwonte]

Make her up a bed downstairs!
Yabu to sleep with it.
Surely the upside of a dog is that it barks to alert you if it hears something during the night.
Imo dogs are dogs not "baby girls".

[WannaBe]

Agree it's a dog not a baby. Put it downstairs, and when it barks go and tell it in no uncertain terms to STFU.

[Horsegirl1]

Thanks for the advice

[DearMrDilkington]

Ignore them! My beautiful cat sleeps in my bed every night, animals are wonderful company. Has she always been a barker?

[Horsegirl1]

We have collies as guard dogs so no I don't need her barking in night. No I won't put her downstairs . She is like another member of family and totally attached to me . I guess neither of you are dog lovers. I was asking advice on using a bark stop . I wasn't asking for opinions on how I choose to look after my dog. Thank you anyways but I will choose to ignore your cruel advice. Have a great weekend

[SalemSaberhagen]

I was with you until you called it cruel advice OP.

[Horsegirl1]

Dear Mr she has just started doing it this past couple months. It's so loud and makes me jump out my skin. As we live quite rural she goes mad if she hears even a bird chirping above bedroom window. It's driving me mad. We can be sitting on sofa and my kids can open front door and she goes mad barking at noise of door opening. As soon ad she sees who it is she stops and goes back to sofa. I have this bark stop device but I don't even know if it's on as it makes no noise at all ?? Thank you for actually taking time to help xxx

[Mishegoss]

It's a dog, not a baby girl. Put it downstairs in a dog bed. She'll survive the "cruel" treatment.

[Horsegirl1]

Huh Salem??? I do think them telling me to put dog downstairs and tell her to stay is cruel advice ! She has been with me from day one and suddenly putting her downstairs woukd be cruel ! Not sure why your suddenly not with me ??? I want the best for my baby girl and don't think it's nice to suggest I kick her out bedroom and tell her to shut the f k up !

[Horsegirl1]

Thanks mishegoss but il pass on that advice. Again not relevant advice but thanks

[Horsegirl1]

She is my baby girl and is part of our family. She is my 5th child 😊

[Mishegoss]

Then accept her behaviour will be less than desirable because you're treating an animal like a human.

[Horsegirl1]

I don't treat her as a human and I know she isn't a real baby. What I mean is I love her and she is part of our family. I honestly am.not a crazy dog person that dresses her up amd carries her around in a purse. I admit iv been too soft with her allowing her to sleep on end of me bed but as a puppy she just cried and cried when alone and I felt sorry for her so allowed her to be with me. I just want advice on how to get this random , loud barking to stop and wondered if anyone had experience of these bark stop devices or if they could recommend a humane way to stop this behaviour . I promise I'm not some freak who treats her dog like a child haha I just want advice

[BeastofCraggyIsland]

OP, you might want to ask to get this moved to the Doghouse board rather than chat. I don't have time to write a long response right now but be wary of using aversive training methods on your dog. Your best bet is to find a good local trainer who uses positive reinforcement methods. Aversive methods (including things like water pistols, rattle bottles etc.) suppress behaviours, they don't tackle the root causes, and they can cause both physical and psychological harm to the dog, as well as damaging your relationship with them. This is all proven, look up the APDT website for more advice and details of accredited local trainers.

[Horsegirl1]

Thank you . I'm new to mn and have no clue how to get a post moved . How do I do this ? Thanks again for the good advice

[Crunchymum]

So having the dog downstairs is cruel but a bark stop is OK?

[hungryhippo90]

See a dog behaviouralist, they will help you train her out of this behaviour.

I do wonder how putting the dog in its own bed is cruel, but one of these bark collars isn't?

I'm also with others, sleeping with your dog? If you view it as part of your family, get it a bedroom. I love my DD but we don't share a bed.

[powershowerforanhour]

Barking is a difficult behaviour to stop. I suggest you consult an APBC behaviourist. If, like the majority of the dog owning population, you are too cheap to pay for this, try this: take baby girl out running round the farm until she is tired (small breed dog so will be skeletally mature now). Repeat morning noon and night every day. Also teach her various commands (kennel club good citizen classes are good for this) and practise for 10 or 15 minutes a couple of times a day so she gets mentally tired too.
If, like 90% of the dog owning population, you can't be arsed to do this, then whatever, go ahead and use the Aboistop I suppose.
Here's another piece of advice for free: telling the dog to STFU, as advised by a PP, does not work. My neighbour (terraced house) has been trying this approach for 3 years on her 3.5 year old dog. It's still not working....

[Willyorwonte]

Paaaahaa!!! Cruel.... !! A dog sleeping downstairs is cruel, well I never.
Everytime it barks, spray it with water.

[Idefix]

Meh my dogs sleep in the same room as me op they are well adjusted and only ever bark to alert me to something unusual.
Why do you think she is barking op?
If it is barking because a child us going to the toilet she needs to be told to be quite, do this over an over till she stops.
Yy to Power regards exercise and training it will all lead to a calm dog ime.

[DearMrDilkington]

Is she anxious or nervous about something? I have a relative who has a dog that always barks at everything and sometimes for no reason at all so definitely try to get her out of the habit whilst she's still young! Try a firm no everytime she barks for no reason and every time she hears a noise and doesn't bark reward with a treat. I'd try this before the no bark items.