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

kali
OP shouldn't drugging her pet to counteract her own stupidity
You wouldn't get your kids hyped up and scared before bedtime by telling them they had to keep an eye out for the monsters under their bed, and then drug them as soon as they cry out in the night.

Having read more of the OP's posts it sounds as if the dog is barking a fairly normal amount at the sort of sounds that dogs bark at. Probably the collies are barking too, but because they aren't in the OP's bed it's not a problem. I think that she has to accept that if she has the dog in bed with her she will occasionally be woken up.

I agree that it doesn't seem like a good idea for the dog to be so attached, and I wonder how she is with being left alone during the day. You really don't want a dog with separation anxiety OP!

Our family dog used to sleep on our bed occasionally, but he doesn't like being disturbed so dh's fidgeting and snoring soon meant he hopped off! I doubt very much that gradually moving from the OP's bed to the floor at the side of the bed, end of the bed, outside the room and then downstairs to the kitchen or other suitable room would be at all distressing now she isn't a tiny pup. Just make sure she has a nice bed with some treats and the transition can be managed without making her unhappy.

ThymeLord (great name) that's my point really. I'm bemused that someone who lives on a farm with working dogs has swung so far the other way as to now have a dog with such massive separation anxiety that it can't cope with her going to the loo.

Exactly what corgi posted.

You can, as pps have suggested, definitely train the dog to stop barking at specific threats (postman, etc) by treating the dog whenever these threats arrive.
But random passers by in the night - tbh, you probably don't want your dog NOT to bark at these. You say the collies do, and you welcome it - so why shouldn't your other dog?
Given your set up, and how much your dog's barking is disturbing you, I would agree with pps that it is best not to have her in with you. No doubt many people successfully co-sleep with their dogs, and there is nothing inherently wrong with it - but neither is there anything inherently wrong with your dog sleeping downstairs. The people I know who sleep with their dogs in the bed either live somewhere where very little disturbs the dogs at night, or don't mind if they are woken at night ( child free or older retired couples, for example). I personally don't usually sleep with my dog in the room, because I work full time, have a young child, and need my sleep. I do make an exception when dh is away, as I feel safer with her there because of the barking(!) But it does mean I get less sleep. I have friends whose partners regularly work away, who move the dog into the room when they are alone. It's not unusual, and the dogs adapt to switching bedrooms quickly.
You mind being woken, so something has to give. Moving the dog is much kinder than using the horrible noise thing.
Good luck.

I see what you mean trapdoor but it can be tough to go from hardy bomb proof working dog to coddled squishy pet dog. That's not a dig at the OP at all, just an observation. It's also entirely possible that it is just in this particular dog to behave like this and OP is doing her best to try to sort it. It's easily fixed IMO it will just take a bit of time, training and perseverance.

Love your name by the way, I'm singing "don't open that trap door, coz there's something down there" to myself 😂

Jackapoo? Mongrel surely

Designer crossbreed I think 😂 £500 for a mongrel.

sparechange the things i listed are for animals suffering with anxiety and are all herbal so no not 'drugging animals'
And all recommended by the vets also...

Just because something is herbal doesn't mean it isn't a drug. Presumably the remedies suggested have active ingredients otherwise there wouldn't be much point in taking them.

I don't think that there is anything wrong with the judicious use of medication. We had our cats on milk thistle for a bit when they were having a lot of accidents, and I would use feliway on my dog to help him cope with thunder, but for such a young dog a behavioural change is likely to be the best approach as you'd not want to use medication long term if avoidable.

Designer crossbreed I think 😂 £500 for a mongrel

Totally agree, and there are idiots out there who'll pay it!

Yes she is a mongrel. I actually paid nowhere near 500 for her . This is what breeder said her breed was but I agree she is a mongrel. I personally hate all these cross breeds being made out to be pure breds . I'm very shocked at the nastiness shown towards me when I'm asking a genuine question and wanting to do right by my dog . Thanks to all who have tried to offer advice

Oh and the reason I have her in bed with me is because she belonged to my mam and mam had her in bed with her . My dad died a few months ago and mam had to go back to work full time as she no longer had dad's wage . The dog was being left 5 days a week 8 hrs a day so mam asked me to take her as it was unfair the amount she was being left. I have always had a good relationship with the dog and she immediately became super attached to me and I couldn't not have her in bed with me as she was so upset when I tried having her sleep in dog bed in kitchen. The collies are working dogs on the farm and run around in cow shit all day so I don't really fancy having them clamboring all.over my bed . They are working dogs that work our sheep and Dairy cows. Totally different to a house dog. I'm not some crazy dog lady who treats her dog as if it's a child. I just love the little dog and we both enjoy eachothers company. Since dad died she has been my little comfort and keeps me smiling on the days when I'm struggling with grief.

She adapted to living with me straight away as I used to look after her regular for mam and she would stay with me overnight so she never once got upset when she came to live with me . It was a gradual process and she adapted very well . Infact a little too well as she is attached to my hip now

If she is doing it during the day as well, you might be able to work on that. Arrange for someone to be outside during a designated training period each day, making noises that would normally stimulate barking. Be prepared with plenty of lovely dog treats that she likes (a friend of mine saves up a large percentage of her dogs' daily food portion for training purposes so the dogs don't become overweight). When the person outside makes a noise that would normally set her off, immediately distract her with the treats so that she learns that noises outside mean something good is going to happen.

Better still, if you can train her to perform some fun activities so that her attention is on you (and your treats) at the time the noises occur, then she will learn to remain calm and that those noises don't mean anything bad is about to happen.

Dr Sophia Yin's techniques work well for me as a vet. I haven't got dogs of my own, but my colleague has two very well socialised calm dogs and she uses these types of technique. Good luck OP.

drsophiayin.com/product/skills-for-handling-your-reactive-or-hyperactive-dog-part-1/

Hi OP, can't see if it's been suggested but have you tried clicker training?

Might be a long slog, but (once you've "loaded" the clicker) wait until she stops barking, click and reward. She will soon get the hang of quiet=treat.

Adversive methods do not work the way their supporters think they do - and the science backs that up.
It can cause additional problems, and personally I am not happy with using fear to control my dog.

I've got a very vocal small dog, and at 8 months she was an absolute nightmare so OP I do think you're probably living through the worst of it now. If I were you I'd set up a cosy small crate in the bedroom and cover the outside with towels or blankets so it's dark. You can keep her in the room with you, but it should help her settle to have a dark, confined space and I bet you'll find she's less reactive than when she's just loose on the bed.

Google crate training to find out how to introduce it - you don't just pop her in one night and expect her to love it (although that's exactly what my mum's terrier did - as soon as my mum set the crate up her dog refused to sleep anywhere!)

I don't really have an issue with dogs sleeping with owners.

However it's sounds like you dog has high levels of stress. Treating the dog like a baby, might not be the best thing for the dog in the long run.

I have a puppy and it's sleeps in a crate in another room. It's not cruel. She is happy. She doesn't get upset when someone goes for a wee or if I leave the room.

You seem to be creating more problems than you are solving and separation anxiety is not something you want.

You compare you dog to your kids. Would you have a piece of equipment that omitted a noise your kids don't like, when they show behaviour you don't want? Or would you consider that cruel?

I'm really sorry about the lose of your dad

I can see how the dog is helping with your grief, and it is something lots of dog owners can relate to.

However, you really have to admit that this is something which is purely for your benefit and not for the dogs.

The dog is massively stressed by this situation - a change in owner and routine - and is over bonding to you. You HAVE to do something about this, because it is cruel to the dog to keep this situation going.

Sleeping with you is not helping. In fact, it is more than likely making things worse.
The dog needs to learn independence, and that she is safe without you. She needs to lower her stress levels when she is around you and 'guarding' you.

Please, for the sake of this dog, you have to work on this, and that includes having the dog sleep somewhere else until she can cope with the stress and separation anxiety. The longer you leave it, the worse it will get and the more stressed and upset the dog is going to be.

I'd rather take the advice of my vet and specialist than randoms on the internet, but thanks

thyme glad it's helped your pet too! Yes the plug in worked wonders for ours after we had a new cat move in.

Don't know why everyone is being so mean op. You should try Adaptil you can get a collar and also a diffuser to plug in try that along with more training for her. Hope that helps.

This is a weird thread. OP likes sleeping with her dog and referring to it with terms she finds affectionate and people are getting a little giddy about it. Sometimes this happens and it always leaves me glad that my RL isn't full of bruisers. OP has come looking for help with barking and with a product she's trying. If you know how to help with barking or about the product she's trying then I'm sure there are ways of communicating this in a way that would be helpful.

I don't know anything about the product and whether it's abusive, but I do know that if I saw someone doing something abusive and I went up to them in RL and spoke to them the way OP has been spoken to by some here then I'd likely end up in a fight or a shouting match pretty quickly.

Welcome to MN op, watch your step! Sometimes it's just wrong post/wrong day!

Have only read first couple of posts.

Aren't those bark stops the things that give your pet an electric shock for barking? It is cruel to expect a pet to sleep downstairs but not to zap them for barking? What an odd thread...

In serious answer to the OP though, I could never use such a cruel training method on any pet. I see it as, imagine everytime someone didn't want you to speak they shoved a cattle prod in your throat and zapped you...

OP I have asked for your thread to be moved to the Doghouse. You'll get better advice there. BTW my bull terrier sleeps with us....under the duvet, because that's what they do.

It might have been better to have posted this in 'the doghouse' OP. You probably wouldn't have had all the nasty unhelpful comments that you're getting on here.

You can train a dog not to bark, as some pps have said, without using unpleasant methods - lots of patience and lots of treats. I have what is considered a barky breed. My dog sleeps upstairs, sometimes in my room, sometimes in other rooms, but unless she needs to wee in the night - a very rare event - she never barks during the night.

If the doorbell goes, she's allowed to bark to alert me but stops when told it's enough. I've also trained her not to bark when the letter box makes a noise, so no barking at the postman/woman.

It's very possible to have a dog who will alert you to unwanted visitors but who's barking is controlled.

I wouldn't use the sort of thing you're using as you've no idea if it's causing your dog pain or distress. Positive training is much more effective and of course, it goes without saying, kinder.