Wanting to rehome my dog..

[emilyjayne5]

Okay so we currently have 2 dogs, one is 1 and the other is 3. We've had them both since pups but other 1 year old pup is our problem. Our neighbor constantly complaining about him barking even though we only leave him for around 1ish hour and that's for the school run. Hes a greyhound x whippet so hes pretty big and we only live it a 2 bed house, with 2 small children and another dog. Our other dogs isn't the problem at all but we are in two minds about rehoming the 1 year old. Any advice for us would be helpful please!

Is he constantly barking or is your neighbour just a pain?

Have you actually tried to stop the barking

Can’t he come with you on the school run rather than be rehomed?

Feels like there’s information missing here

Don’t leave the dog! If this is separation anxiety it’ll get worse and worse.
You chose to take it on and after a year (how much training?) you’re giving up for no good reason.
Your house hasn’t shrunk. So if it’s too small for two dogs why did you get a second?
What exercise and stimulation does it get? Where did you get it from?

If you’ve had him as a pup and he’s become a problem then you’ve gone wrong somewhere. And I don’t get the size issue. Why did you get another dog if you didn’t have room for one? Lurchers are not a popular breed, especially noisy ones, so if you dump him in a rescue it’ll likely he’ll stay there (unless they euthanise him which is very possible). What have you tried to address the barking? Have you contacted any trainers/behaviourists?

That is ridiculous, dogs bark!

Is he getting enough exercise? Can he go with you on the school run?

Can you tell us his routine?

It's a mixture of both, we never got any complaints before we had him. He will lie in the window and when somebody walks past he will bark so we put up blinds and he still managed to see out, we've tried keeping the door shut so he cant get to the window and he crys and cry. We have try every toy to keep him busy whilst we are out but he still barking when we are getting g home. When out on walks he barks at everyone we walk past, again we've tried distracting him with meats or treats,different harnesses and leads. The thing is hes fine with other dogs he knew but soon as he see any other dog or someone he doesn't, hes barking and pulling and like I said hes a big done and very strong. We are completely lost on what to do.

Training? Behaviourist?

Get a professional dog trainer to help you train the dog not to bark.

Kong when he shut away? Radio on? It really isn't fair to pass on a ddog with issues. How many times will the passing on continue if you don't fix it? And it really is up to you to fix it...

We have spoken to vets/trainers and they have said it may be a dominant thing and when out to distract him, like I said before we have tried so many different things. It feels like we are running out of options. We would only rehome him if we knew that he was going to someone who could look after him and we wouldn't put him rescue as we wouldn't know where he would end up.

Dominance is bollocks. You need a proper trainer or behaviourist to advise.
It’s only been a year.
What exercise does he get? How much training do you do?
If you need to rehome go through a decent rescue.

We have spoken to vets/trainers and they have said it may be a dominant thing and when out to distract him

But have you actually had a behaviourist in to work with you to combat this behaviour. Personally I think it should be the first thing to do before considering rehoming.

It doesn’t sound like you’ve tried “so many different things” at all, OP.

The thing is hes fine with other dogs he knew but soon as he see any other dog or someone he doesn't, hes barking and pulling

He's under-socialised. It's very common in second dogs to the family - because they see the first dog at home all the time, they actually don't get familiar with other dogs as puppies, so they get anxious and worried around unfamiliar dogs.

Did you take him to puppy training like you did Dog #1? Did you/do you walk him alone, and do any training 1-2-1 with him with the first dog not about?

I would bet this is the crux of your issue.

Pay for a proper behaviourist to come in, and follow their advice, no matter how inconvenient it is.

We walk him maybe around 3/4 times a week but it only ever short because of his barking and pulling gets too much, bearing in mind that I normally have my other dog and 2 small children with me and my partner. We have trained him with the basic commands when he was still a pup. He is such a good dog and he is 100% apart for the family but we cant take the constant complaining from neighbours and even the council is getting involved.

We walk him maybe around 3/4 times a week but it only ever short because of his barking and pulling gets too much

You need to walk him every single day. You need to do that 1-2-1 with his, so you can do training with him and work on the behaviour.

If he's not exercised he will be bored and need to make his own entertainment - barking at people he sees etc. Start with the walking.

Either you or your DP have to commit to doing that before or after work.

I’d try a different trainer. We went to three different trainers before we found one that clicked with us (and it is us, the humans need training more than the dogs). The great thing is that they offer such a variety of classes that 2 years on, we are still going to their weekly classes. If you want to say vaguely where you are, I’m sure people will have recommendations.

Also, your dog may have hit the awkward teenage stage, when They try to rebel and bush the boundaries. In our dog it was from about 14 to 18 months, so at that time we really focused on the training. Then after he hit 18 months he settled down into a wonderfully calm dog who is a pleasure to take out walking.

It's very unusual for a lurcher to bark like that. Definitely see a behaviourist. Also, 3-4 times a WEEK for a walk????? They need a walk every day! Only for 20 minutes or so. You are woefully neglecting your dogs needs. If you can't see that, then rehoming is the best thing for your dog. You clearly are not capable of what's required.

You absolutely owe it to your dog to get a professional dog trainer in!

There is the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. They may have proper trainers and behaviourists in your area.

The dominance theories are mostly old hat now, and discredited. I remember the ridiculous ones years ago which virtually suggested that if you allowed your dog to go through a door or gate before you then it would practically go for world domination next. All bollocks.

It is a proper trainer and behaviourist you need. On a one to one basis. Until you have begun working with one then I would take the dog on the school run with you. Surely it can go in the car, or walk with you and you wait with it at the school gates while the children go in.

It does sound like possible separation anxiety, and if the council are now becoming involved you are going to have to show that you are working to tackle the issue.

I'm guessing that either you have been served a noise abatement order for the barking and/or the Animal Warden has contacted you.

Local authority animal wardens can also be a source of help. Many will know the best local trainers and behaviourists, so call them to enquire.

My lurcher couldn't cope with 3-4 walks a week, he needs at least 30 minutes per day.

Lurchers need walking at least twice a day. He needs more exercise, not less. He’s strong and uncontrollable because he’s not getting enough exercise and he’s wired. No wonder he’s not settling in the house! Aim for 2 x 45 minute walks a day. Get a kong, stuff it with peanut butter then put it in the freezer. Give it to him the one hour you’re out a day. That should keep him busy for the majority of it. And find a proper behaviourist. I find it hard to believe a vet told you that barking is due to dominance because that’s bollocks

And I don’t get why you have to walk him with your other dog and children in tow. You have a partner so either you or him can walk it on your own

Walking the dog only 3 - 4 times a week is inadequate unless it happens to be ill or recovering from an injury or surgery. You should be getting out every day for a decent walk.

If you were stuck in the same four walls for several days at a stretch you would be pretty bored really. It is often known as cabin fever. Dogs are not so very different from us there. They need to get out. They need to exercise, to just get the chance to let off steam and simply be dogs for a while.

I had a labrador for 15 years. In all of that time the days when I didn't take him out were few and far between, always with a very good reason. Normally we were out in the fields for a blast every day.

You can't expect a young dog to settle when you're walking him only 3 or 4 times a week.

The odd missed walk is not a disaster, but a dog of that age not being walked daily on a regular basis is going to be bored and under stimulated.

What else has he got to do except bark at passing people. I'm guessing that with two small children and another dog, you do little or no actual brain work or proper training with him either.

If you're serious about wanting the best for this dog get a professional trainer to help you train him, walk him every day at least once, and do some training with him yourself.

Alternatively, rehome him via a breed specific rescue or a good general rescue and do it before he develops even more bad habits and becomes unrehomeable.