Barking, all the time day and night, I'm done in.

[MotherForker]

16 month old labradoodle (I know, I know). I'm at my wits end. The main are barking and high arousal biting. I've posted about this before, but I sort of need a let it all out post, cos I am so fed up. Feel free to berate me for my crap dog ownership skills.

Some background, she had recurrent ear infections and skin itching and was started on a special allergy diet. This did seem to help, to start with but the scratching has returned recently. It means we can't use high value treats for training, we've tried a rabbit skin toy, but she always interested. We have two cats, they have spaces away from her and one used to get in with her well. But now she is obsessed with sticking her head through the cat flap and barking at them (through the window)

Barking- has got a lot worse recently. Used to be postman, dogs walking by and we were working on training with this (low threshold, treats, building up). But now it is all the time, including the middle of the night. She will settle, but as soon as anyone moves even slightly in the evening or at night she will jump up and run barking at the door to where the cats are or the back door. I have been doing mat work with her, enrichment sniffing stuff and treats for staying calm with us. But none of it has made any difference and she is getting worse. Last night she did it all night, running downstairs barking. She now also barks on walks (especially when it's dark). I think my neighbours hate me.

The biting I've posted about before. Always in walks or in the garden. She gets highly aroused and snaps, barking, growling and biting us. I'm covered in cuts and bruises from it (I fold my arms in and turn my back). We do have a muzzle and use this most of the time, but she still jumps and bashes her head against me (which bruises).

I've contacted a behaviourist and I'm taking ddog to vet today to follow up allergy food and to ask for referral form the be completed. But I'm just so fed up. I know it's my fault, I've not been attentive enough when she was a puppy. In hindsight it was a terrible time to get a dog, my marriage was in rocks (were currently separating), my mh wasn't brilliant etc. So I'm a terrible dog owner, and I'm at the end of what I feel I can manage. Of course I love her to pieces, as do the dc.

Not part of a big chain. There are 6 practices and a vet hospital, which is the emergency animal hospital for our city.

I dropped the letter in on Thursday, waiting for a response. I've had a lovely walk with her today and a second one where she was mad from the beginning, biting, jumping. And butting me with the muzzle, and refusing to walk with muzzle on.

I really need some help soon as I am done in.

She doesn't seem to have calmed down since the glands were cleared. If anything her behaviour has been ramping up. She's on some medication for skin itching, but is still scratching a lot and shaking her head a lot.

OP I was recommended a dog behaviour/advice group on FB called 'Dog Training Advice And Support'. It's a force-free group managed very efficiently by some very committed behaviourists.

You have to read a number of compulsory modules before you can post. They have some really really excellent resources to read/videos to watch. I've learned loads from the advice filed out to others, it's an amazing group.

In the absence of a rl behaviourist right now you might find it a useful stopgap?

I'm already on that fb group. I've read all the units and nothing really applies because anything about biting is usually about puppies. I've not posted an actual question, because I'd have to put my real name to it and I always get confused about when you are allowed to post and if I'd get told off as the answer was somewhere in a unit I'd read but missed.

I would try OP. It sounds like the barking and biting is both out if hyperarousal - your dog is finding it hard to calm down and stay calm, and maybe there's a number of factors to that including itching.

In your position I'd try posting on the group. If you've marked unit 1 and 12 as done they will direct you to anything further that is relevant.

Thanks I will. Posting of off until Tuesday now, so I'll post then.

@MotherForker (great username!)

Have you tried doing calm-on-cue/settle training?

positively.com/dog-behavior/basic-cues/relax/

www.dogstrust.org.uk/help-advice/training/settle-training

Reinforcing calm quiet behaviour is really important for easily-aroused dogs.

It sounds like she may be generally over-aroused/anxious. How much sleep is she getting over a 24 hour period?

She sleeps quite a lot. She sleeps most of the morning after her morning walk. (2-3 hours) then the same in afternoon. She then sleeps most of evening with us in sofa. But she can be completely conked out, legs in the air and if one is moves she jumps up, alert.

She come to end with us at 10pm until 7.30am. So about 16 hours a day?

Just chased the vets as have had no response to letter. Asked for an appointment of soeone to call.

God, its been awful this week. Adding to the problem is that I am now working from home full time (no change since March) but also homeschooling two primary age children. And I am divorcing H. She is getting her walks, but I don't have much time to do training.

Took her for a walk and she went crazy, attacking me biting and I just couldn't get control of her. I ended up just stanidng there crying while she bit me and ripped my coat.

Sorry, I think I've offloaded a lot of life stress onto a thread about a dog.

I agree with Veterinari, 'permission' sounds very strange - and I've been a vet over 30 years! Your practice may well be owned by a corporate even if this isn't obvious (if it doesn't explicitly say it's independent on its website, it probably is) and your vet's hands may be tied by practice policy, therefore, which they would obviously be reluctant to admit.

IMO you absolutely need qualified behavioural help ASAP. What you describe is a torment to live with and well beyond normal adolescent silliness. Explain to practice management that you will change practice unless they refer to the place you've chosen. Where I work we would always comply with owner referral wishes even if we thought another choice was better - after advising them - it's their money and dog!

Good luck!

"Took her for a walk and she went crazy, attacking me biting and I just couldn't get control of her. I ended up just stanidng there crying while she bit me and ripped my coat."

That sounds horrendous. You are working hard for her, so I hope you can get that behaviourist soon. Are you using a harness with a chest clip? I had a dog-aggressive dog a few years ago and even when he was on full rampage, I could turn him using the chest clip. It might help you to turn your dog if she's approaching to bite you?

@motherforker I am so sorry you are having to deal with this on top of everything else

In the short term could you contact a local dog walker to take the dog out and give you a bit of breathing space.

Also do this the other way tround. Contact the behaviourist (I can give you some recommendations if you need them) have a phone consult with them. Do not hide how stressful this is for you to the behaviourist it helps them to know everything warts and all.

Then the behaviourist can chase the vet for you. It oftens works better one professional to another professional and one less thing for you to do.

We do have a doggy day care that she goes to. might book her in for a couple of days.

The vets have now got back to me- their behaviourist is leaving, the vet still doesn't understand why we need a referral. But she has completed the referral and sent to the behaviourist. Who I hope will agree ot work with us again after all this nonsense!