Gun Club shooting outside my house - my dog is going mad!

[sb6699]

Any ideas how I can calm him?

The field is right outside my back gate.

I dont think he's scared, more excited at all the men and dogs in the field.

Hope Valhalla doesnt see this - she will be round to give them a piece of her mind!

I'd be walking out of my front gate as quickly as possible with a firm grip on the lead

Act normally and ignore it - if you try to soothe him you are rewarding his reaction.

LOL - tbh it is very loud today I'm not sure I'm brave enough to set foot outside the door.

I have been assured that they stay far enough away that the pellets wont reach my garden but I'm still a bit scared

He really is going mad Bella, trying to stick his head through the cat flap and has been barking non stop for about 40 minutes.

My head is pounding.

Will do my best to ignore.

Will he do watch me? (show treat, lift treat up to chin, say 'watch me' - treat when he is looking into your eyes).

Or teach 'quiet': wave a treat in front of him, he goes quiet, you say 'good boy' very quietly and calmly and treat. Build up the length of time until treating but do not reward unless he has stayed quiet the whole time.

He normally will do watch me (have been using this to stop him barking at the horses when they go past) but not today!

Hasnt mastered "quiet" yet but will give it a go.

Shit, back in a mo - DS has just accidently let him out the back door.

LOL at the thought of sb's dog stuck in the cat flap!

When we get fireworks we just put some music on and try to ignore it. Give him his kong, that'll give you a whole ten minutes of peace!

Okay, he's back and lying on the carpet - just giving the occassional growl and bark now (that's an improvement).

Dont want to give him his Kong 'cos he gets excitable with that - might give his last bone instead.

Was supposed to be going to get him more today but I can't go out and leave him making that racket - might come back to an eviction notice!

When they are barking is an excellent time to teach quiet, btw

Okay, panic over I think he's going to fall asleep - after all that he's probably tired himself out

Think we have some work to do teaching "quiet"!

The idea is just to get him to understand that if you say quiet (and wave a treat in front of him) then he will get that treat if he stops barking, even just for a few seconds, then build that time period up. You won't get an effective quiet straight off, but you cannot teach it if they aren't barking in the first place (unless you've already taught 'speak'), iyswim

He barks at anything that moves going past our gate - pheasants, horses, dogs, people.

We dont want to stop him barking at people - one of the reasons we got him is because our house is pretty isolated and cant be seen from the gate so its good that the barking acts as a deterrant for anyone who shouldnt be there (our garage has already been broken into twice!).

We have been using "watch me" to stop him barking at everything else and he does obey - doesnt stop him barking at them if I dont go out though!

I know - I have a very willing guard dog here too: she spends much time barking at her own reflection in the window

Useful to have an 'on' and 'off' switch

He does that too and at the reflection in the TV.

How I long for an "on/off" switch - genetic engineering is the way to go

Funnily enough, he actually sounds ferocious when you walk past but as soon as you get inside the gate he is your best pal.

Guard dog - pah.

I meant training as an on and off switch

Yes, my lab barks with a huge, deep bark that sends shivers up my spine, but is a pussycat really.

Puppy, on the other hand - I suspect she means it!