Dog barking at neighbours/birds/squirrels/rain in the garden

[mintysmum]

I really need help to calm my dog down in the garden.

First thing in the morning he is chomping at the bit to get outside, he dashes out the door and races to the fence barking. He will bark at any noise from neighbours chatting to the rain dripping in the trees! This has been going on about two weeks and happens first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

Throughout the day it's not as bad - if I'm out he is shut in the kitchen and quiet (our neighbour is home a lot and honest) - if I'm home the back door is open and he spends a lot of his time sleeping inside/outside, pottering and occasionally zooming around barking.

My solution right now is to have him on a lead at 630am when he first goes out and after 9pm if he needs to go outside so he can wee but can't run at fences and no barking.

I can't disturb the neighbours with him barking before 8am and after 9pm but me and DH are getting fed up with needing him on his lead before and after these times.

Any ideas for getting him to relax a bit out there? He used to love the garden and over the winter has spent hours lying sleeping on the grass when I'm home.

I take your point about it being squirrels but would have to disagree that means exercise or extra stimulation won't help. My terrier also always has a focus for his barking - cats, squirrels, helicopter - but is less alert to them and more able to remain calm when he has a good amount of stimulation from elsewhere (walks, training).

You can certainly have a good go at training calm when they are around. Likelihood of success will be linked to strength of prey drive!