Advice on my king Charles plssss!

[Cwmbranchildminder]

I need your help and advice plsss!

My dog nearly 2 is driving me mad! He barks quite a bit lately and noticed it more since we moved into our new home but that was back in April. There is a dog next door (staf) and they go mad at one another through the fence and he gets caked in Mud so its a nightmare everytime he comes back into he. I now limit his access to the back garden which is the last thing I want to do.
He's not very disaplined (wont sit etc) do u think taking him to classes will help?
He is a lovely dog and my son adores him so I just need some advice really to make things better. He also hasnt had his male parts removed - would u think this would help as it is a bitch next door?

Firstly yes, classes would be a great help. I wouldn't go down the castration route with him if the barking is the only reason you want him done, the barking now will be a learned behaviour - a habit - I'd doubt very much that it would stop the barking. You could try some distraction methods, go out into the garden with him, and play/train instead of letting him bark, I expect he is quite bored if you haven't done much/any training with him, so the game of chase he plays with his buddy next door is great fun, but no where as fun as you throwing a fav toy around for him!!

Re. the mud, any chance of fencing off a (good sized) piece of the garden, taking the grass out and laying paving slabs or even stones, for him to use as his garden? Or getting rid of the whole lawn if the garden isn't very big anyway? Else there isn't much you can do for that really.

ok thanks for that advice
I will get my dh out the rear garden and sort it out more dog and mud proof. The children dont use the rear garden anyway so we can change it to suit dog.
Does anyone know where I can find out about lessons to take him too?

If you decide to lay paving slabs, be careful that they will drain somewhere other than towards your back door, or into next doors garden!

You can find out about classes at your local vets. Make sure you go to a class on your own before taking the dog so you can be sure you are happy with their methods, there should be no mention of hitting/shouting, you should looking for reward based training only really.

Good luck

Oh, meant to say, is there any way that you and neighbour could make sure the dogs aren't out together as well?

well that would be another issue with the neighbours dog!
The Poor Staf is left out ALL day and MOST evenings. Oh I correct myself the back door is left open but I totally disagree with that - they are a young couple who are out all day & the door crys terribly - I feel for him so much -He even jumped the fence (dont ask how the other day) but when I shouted at him he quivered straight down and started crying I felt so bad!
What would u do? I have thought about reporting them but they would know its me as Im the only one home all day! I think there dog has issues and its causing problems in my hse!

Unfortunatly, as long as they are giving food and water, and not physically abusive to the dog, then there is nothing you can do really, the RSPCA certainly wouldn't be interested.

Are you friendly enough with them to suggest that they come along to the classes with you? Sort of pitching it along the lines of you being pissed off with both dogs for making such a noise and so want to get something sorted? Or, if you have the time/inclination, you could offer to go round to theirs to feed/play with the dog in the day time so she isn't left outside the whole time?