Dog barking at the back door in evenings - help!

[Playdoughcaterpillar]

Help from experienced dog people please! Our 15mth old JK/border terrier has started barking to go constantly in the evenings the last few weeks. He's super hyped up and jumping at the door and then races down the garden when he gets out. Sometimes barking at something. Sometimes just racing in circles. We bring him back in. 3 mins later his ears prick up and he's off again. Very hard to distract him and get him to settle with us although we try. Is not going out to toilet. I suspect foxes/ more wildlife about. Any advice to save our evenings from being ruined? He's pretty chilled in the day and it doesn't matter if we walk him more. He's still the same!

[Wutipo]

I saw something the other day about standing between them and window and slowly walking forward to encourage them to walk back and settle down. Worth a try maybe?

[Wutipo]

i must say I am not an experienced dog owner though. First time owner!

[coffeecupsandfairylights]

He needs to learn that going out in the garden is boring.

So instead of letting him out and allowing him to run around barking, put a lead on him and take him outside on that. So he can only sniff/toilet, and then if he does start barking, you can just bring him inside straight away.

[Playdoughcaterpillar]

Wutipo I tried that. Works for a few mins but never settles for any time.
Coffeecups thanks. Will try that more. Have done a bit but I just get bored myself!

[Wutipo]

I think coffeecups has the better solution, but it is difficult to be consistent

[coffeecupsandfairylights]

You really do have to be consistent - otherwise it won't work.

Dogs are smart - at the moment he knows he can jump and bark at the door and he gets to go out and play or bark some more - so you need to break the association.

That means every time he barks and jumps at the door, you either ignore him until he's been calm for a few seconds, or you take him out on a lead and make the garden incredibly boring.

[Mindymomo]

We have a 4 year old border collie who doesn’t settle well in the evenings, constantly in and out, barks at birds, foxes, cats and even just people walking past. We live on a corner, so we get a lot of foot traffic. We’ve tried to teach calm with him, by putting on a spare lead, he will then relax and lay down and sleep. Like yours he is fine daytime.

[Playdoughcaterpillar]

Yes agree consistency is the key. Will have a concerted crack at it next few nights. Just ruins our evening when I'd really like to sit and relax! 😭 my kids were easier in the evenings! 🤣

[Girliefriendlikespuppies]

This is called door excitement, I think terriers are prone to it as mine goes it and do does my dads dog (Jrts).

In theory what you're meant to do is put a lead on them every single time they go out and eventually it gets boring and they stop.

However I got fed up doing that so now I get in front of him and firmly walk him back into the room and tell him to settle or go on his bed/the sofa.

It seems to have worked for now!

[longtompot]

The only thing mine barks at at night in the garden is the occasional hedgehog

[vivainsomnia]

Exact same thing with our terrier and started around the same age. We don't let her out unless we really believe she needs to wee. In that case, I get down at her level, very calmly tell her that she is safe (use that word a lot), that she's only to do a wee and come back, and that there is no barking and then she'll get a treat. I repeat this 3 or 4 times, then open the door but don't let her out yet, repeat one more time and very gently open the door fully. 9 times out of 10 it works.

Unfortunately, the barking inside is more tricky. Best cure is distraction, reminding her she is safe and closing the door between lounge and the dining room where she goes out from.