Need advice on dog barking at people passing the window.

[AboardtheAxiom]

My dog has lots of issues

As my neighbour has just mentioned this one and the fact that it's also driving me crazy, I figured I would ask on here for tips.

Basically whenever anyone walks past the front of our house and the dog sees or hears them he barks like mad. The neighbours know he's harmless, delivery men are more wary, the noise gets on my nerves. I love down a terrace which means we all live a little too close for comfort and I know myself how annoying noise is from some of my neighbours so I feel a little self conscious that the dog's barking is disturbing them

What can I do???

I live down a terrace.

I really should preview!

Is it possible to keep him away from the front of the house? (Except when you're actually with him to provide training.)

When I go out grimma he goes in the back half of the house, so it's only really a problem when I am at home. I'm just not sure of the best way to tackle it.

Devil Dog is only allowed in the living room when I am in there with him, for this very reason.

I just keep checking on where he is and tell him out when he is in the living room unattended. He soon got sick of being moved and now stays out.

Although it would seem by the looks of the new net curtains (the last pair was shredded by him) Dh is not as vigilant at checking where he is

When I am in the room with him I give him a 'get down' (as in get down off the window sill) command.

I intend on training him to stop altogether just as soon as we have dealt with his worst in the house bad habit (trying to bite the postman) by getting dd1 and her friend to play in front of the winow with a tennis ball (his favourite) and click and treat him when he manages to 'ignore' them.

Your dog is warning somebody to keep off of his territory, they carry on walking, so the behaviour is reinforced. He has no idea that they would have walked past anway!

DooinMeCleanin makes a good suggestion - get people to be outside of your house so you can train. If your dog doesn't pause for breath (so you can't click and treat for him ignoring the people), you may have to begin by teaching him the quiet command. Whenever he barks, be ready - as soon as he stops barking, say "quiet" and click and reward. Repeat this A LOT, until eventually you can start to give the command before he actually stops. Then you can move on to setting up the training session with some friends who don?t mind hanging around outside your house for a while (maybe let the neighbours know what?s going on, just in case they think something odd is going on! Once he has this cracked, you should be able to tell him "quiet" every time somebody passes your window.

Sometimes, boredom can make a barking problem like this work ? you could try taking him for longer walks, getting involved in agility classes, and providing him with toys / treats that keep him occupied.

Good luck!

He has 2 to 4 walks a day where he gets to run, sniff, socialise with other dogs. He has a toy box of toys (pfd), and attends doggy training classes (we follow on the training out of class too).

That's a good point that they keep on walking.

I don't like to be outside my house and don't allow ds to play out there. I live in a very rough area where my neighbours like to sit out in their dressing gowns with cans of beer day and night, and my immediate neighbours have in the past loudly discussed torching my house and then helping me out of it (after I phoned the police). I'm hoping to move soon.

Anyway I digress! Maybe distraction is the best idea.