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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Can we stop dog barking at the neighbours?

59 replies

GladysKravitz · 07/02/2017 15:13

If he sees them coming in or out of their house, in the garden etc, he strains at the lead and barks like he would like to rip them to shreds. It's very embarrassing. If he smells the other neighbour's gardener while in the back garden he goes mental barking with hackles up, trying as hard as he can to get over there!

He's 8 months old and a large guarding breed (presa canario cross). Apart from when he's being territorial like this he's very friendly to people and dogs, and will greet strangers in the park fine.

How should we address this, or is it just something guarding breeds do?

OP posts:

picklemepopcorn · 07/02/2017 16:52

I must admit I was assuming the dog would notice, but not have time to react because of the distraction/reward. I rarely spot and react so fast that my boy doesn't even notice at all, and occasionally don't spot and react fast enough. Usually, I spot before him and distract just as he notices.

HistoriaTrixie · 07/02/2017 16:52

OP, it's not an Ovcharka he's crossed with, is it? I think either way you must seek professional advice from a trainer with long and specific experience working with guarding breeds. I'd actually suggest finding someone who trains police dogs if you can - sometimes, just like the police academy runs 'citizen academies' the canine unit trainers hold workshops or offer training for 'civilian' dogs. It's important you do this ASAP because if you don't get your dog's behaviour in check while he's young he'll quickly hit the point where you can no longer control him.

Isitjustmeorisiteveryoneelse · 07/02/2017 17:02

Yes I think Siberian Defence dog sounds like Ovcharka too. I'm experienced with large breeds and Ovcharka and Presa Canario are not breeds I would feel comfortable taking on let alone a cross between the two. He is basically starting to do what he is supposed to do. Keep people away from you and his home. You're really going to have get yourself an excellent trainer to help you if you're not experienced yourself otherwise you're going to end up with a nightmare on your hands. Do you have a branch of Dogs Trust near you? My local branch has a list of trainers and behaviourists. Could be a good place to start.

Whitney168 · 07/02/2017 17:03

Assume Serbian Defence Dog, not Ovcharka (not sure which would be more worrying!).

Whitney168 · 07/02/2017 17:04

Serbian Defence Dog

HistoriaTrixie · 07/02/2017 17:06

OP said Siberian defence dog I think (which is why I went straight to Ovcharka).

Whitney168 · 07/02/2017 17:11

I initially thought Ovcharka too, but suspect the Siberian was an error on Serbian, given the 'defence dog' bit - but neither answer is great, anyway!

BlueKarou · 07/02/2017 17:30

In all honesty I would seriously consider rehoming this dog to someone who works in dog security. My brother is a security dog handler and has had many Presas in the past. They are beautiful dogs, but need an experienced handler as they are incredibly powerful.

More practical advice would be to get to training classes - not saying you haven't trained him, but more that it would be a good idea to keep him mentally stimulated, and to keep up a routine of regular positive training; the classes just provide the structure.

Get the fences reinforced. Rope in some friends to practice meeting people with him on lead - get to a point where you can get him to sit nicely or walk nicely to heel when near new people. If you get on well with your neighbours then work up to doing the same exercises with them nearby as they're the current trigger point. Work in the house on training him to ignore anyone out front (he will not be able to distinguish between friend and foe so needs to be trained out of reacting to any passers by)

One more thought - I could be well out, having not seen a picture of your boy, but is he at any risk of being classed as a pitbull-type? I know Presas are close, but not quite, and it's all done on measurements. If there's a risk, then it's definitely worth looking into the definition, and maybe seeking better advice on what to do if there is a risk he might be classed as a 'Dangerous Dog' according to the act.

Original poster

GladysKravitz · 07/02/2017 17:32

Sorry, Siberian was a typo, Whitney was right.

We actually do have the card of a police dog trainer who dh met and had a chat to.

There are people here all the time, we have 3 adult ds who have various friends who visit - he's never reacted aggressively to any of them. The most he has done is growl at a man who approached and stroked him while dh was distracted at a cash machine - the man actually said 'don't be silly' and carried on stroking him and he then calmed down!

If I had the slightest feeling he might bite I would muzzle him.

OP posts:

HistoriaTrixie · 07/02/2017 17:36

With the barking at people and dogs outside, I was having a horrible time with our younger dog (a giant Hound mix, 33" and 110lbs) going bananas if people walked by and god forbid the postie came to leave a package on the porch! Then I realized that it only happened when I was in the room; I was lying down for a nap and heard the postie come up and a package thump on the porch, but the dog didn't make a peep. Once I realized that I figured out that instead of telling Ddog to stop barking, or that everything is okay, the best thing to do is to be non-reactive. Anything else feeds his alarm.

OP, I think the reason for the territoriality is that he is protecting you. You need to make him realise that you are the alpha, you don't need protection and that passersby are a non-event. See, when you react to him barking he can't interpret that it's the barking he's reacting to; as far as he knows he barked to alert you to danger and then you became alarmed as well.

HistoriaTrixie · 07/02/2017 17:37

Oops, the barking you're reacting to, sorry!

BlueKarou · 07/02/2017 17:37

The most he has done is growl at a man who approached and stroked him while dh was distracted at a cash machine - the man actually said 'don't be silly' and carried on stroking him and he then calmed down

Very bad form of that man (not your dh) - not only should he never have stroked a stranger's dog, he should definitely have stopped once the dog growled.

Whitney168 · 07/02/2017 17:39

I suspect this thread hasn't entirely gone as you expected, GK, but I hope you are taking on board the challenge you have taken on, and that this boy is very unlikely to be a 'normal' family dog?

He is still a puppy, and yet he has already growled at someone approaching in the street. A puppy of a more regular breed would have been more likely to be leaping in for a cuddle.

Adolescence is going to start kicking in at a rate of knots now, and he will get more and more protective. You absolutely need to understand what you are dealing with, to give you any chance whatever of keeping this dog safe (both from his own point of view and that of others).

LilCamper · 07/02/2017 17:45

Please ignore any advice saying you should be alpha. In your case this outdated crap could be dangerous.

Blackfellpony · 07/02/2017 17:48

Sorry OP I didn't mean to be harsh with the muzzle comment.

My dog was very similar. Barked at people, lunged at them across the street defensively etc but fine with people he knows. One day I was caught off guard and someone tried to stroke him while I wasn't looking (tying a shoe lace!) and he went lunged towards her. I'm not sure if he would have bitten her but I wasn't about to take the chance and muzzle him now. It's just not worth it. If he was to lunge aggressively in the way he is doing currently and you trip or whatever and he gets away from you could you recall him back instantly? If not he needs a muzzle as he could do some serious damage!

TrionicLettuce · 07/02/2017 17:50

A police dog trainer isn't necessarily going to be an expert on this type of dog, there's a huge difference between the types of dogs the police use and hardcore guardian/LGD breeds.

You need a trainer or behaviourist who is very experienced with this type of dog and sooner rather than later so you can learn to appropriately handle him before he matures into a very serious dog.

Definitely don't get sucked into doing any training involving "dominance" or "being the alpha", it's bunk anyway and these types of dogs are nothing like as forgiving of poor handling than you're average pet dog.

CalmItKermitt · 07/02/2017 17:51

LilCamper - absolutely which is why I stressed the OP needs a trainer who knows what they're doing. You can only imagine the results if an old school alpha/dominance theory/yank n' crank trainer got hold of this dog.
In fact I'd be wary of police dog trainers. They can tend to be a bit old school ime.

LilCamper · 07/02/2017 17:56

Totally agree about police handlers...Kermit I was reiterating cause the A word was mentioned further up the thread

CalmItKermitt · 07/02/2017 17:58

Oh yeah I know Lilcamper! Sorry, my post came out wrong. I could have more accurately and succinctly responded to your post by simply saying "Innit though?!" 😄

Original poster

GladysKravitz · 07/02/2017 18:29

The trainer said he was experienced with presas. I would absolutely check what methods he uses though first.

This is my boy

Can we stop dog barking at the neighbours?

OP posts:

CuddlesAndShit · 07/02/2017 19:17

He is adorable

Nothing useful to add, there's been some excellent advice here and I wish you both the very best of luck.

Cakingbad · 07/02/2017 19:41

The presa is an illegal breed in Australia and NZ. I think you should rehome him responsibly to a dog handler. You are not a suitable owner for this dog. Your garden is clearly not secure. If I was your neighbour I would be terrified. When this dog is adult he could kill.

Cakingbad · 07/02/2017 19:48

What do you think would happen this time next year if a child came into your garden to retrieve a ball? Or the dog got out when the postman was making a delivery?

HistoriaTrixie · 07/02/2017 21:36

Oh he's a lovely fella! How big is he, OP?

I'll bow to those with more recent experience regarding "alpha" training and police dogs, and retract my suggestion of same. But definitely get him in training as soon as you can.

Cakingbad · 07/02/2017 22:05

Sorry to be a spoilsport and post again. I do agree your puppy looks adorable, but so do tiger cubs.

By the sound of it, your dog has been bred deliberately to be a real defense dog who will attack hard when its property is threatened. For all you know, both parents could be dog aggressive and stranger aggressive. Those genetic traits could suddenly kick in and override any training. It wouldn't be the dog's fault - it's the job he has been bred to do. But the victim could be a child that's wandered into your garden or an OAP walking an ordinary dog.

You are a first time dog owner that did not want a dog. In your opening post you are asking how to stop him barking and saying that you find it embarrassing. How will you feel if he attacks an unsuspecting visitor? I strongly advise you to rehome this dog to a specialist rescue like this one while he is still a puppy:

canecorsoukmolosserrescue.co.uk/

That's what I would do.

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