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The doghouse

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Original poster

I just shouted at dog

36 replies

Yesnomaybeok · 21/09/2023 19:15

I've just really shouted at my dog and I feel awful. Her barking at people passing the house has been awful today. She has an incredibly loud bark and it's driving me mad. I shouted really loudly and feel so bad. She's falling asleep on my knee now so I know she's fine but it's completely unproductive and just horrible to shout at a completely innocent animal. How do I desensitise her to not need to defend the house?

OP posts:
SirChenjins · 21/09/2023 19:19

Does she get to look out of the window? If so, try closing the blinds or curtains and keep her from looking out.

Don’t worry - she still loves you 😁

Original poster
Yesnomaybeok · 21/09/2023 19:22

She's the same if the view is blocked as she has great hearing.

OP posts:
SirChenjins · 21/09/2023 19:25

Can you play music or white noise to lessen the sound? I distract ChenDog by throwing a ball or if I can get him in time I use a settle command which for him is “on the mat”. I sympathise, it’s a pita.

Original poster
Yesnomaybeok · 21/09/2023 19:35

SirChenjins · 21/09/2023 19:25

Can you play music or white noise to lessen the sound? I distract ChenDog by throwing a ball or if I can get him in time I use a settle command which for him is “on the mat”. I sympathise, it’s a pita.

White noise doesn't work unfortunately. I can't distract her when I'm working which is when I need her to be at her quietest . I work from home a lot of the time.

OP posts:
Chickenwing2 · 21/09/2023 19:37

Don't stress, the fact you feel so terrible means you're a good person who loves your dog. She wont be traumatised or anything.

Unfortunately the only way that works for me is to keep blinds shut, she still sometimes barks if someone comes near enough that she can hear. I just keep repeating "quiet" "no" and "its Ok" none of which really work Grin

Goodornot · 21/09/2023 19:39

Please shout at the dog...or invest in some training. My neighbours dog does the same and her barking does my head in. It's dreadful to live next to. Think of people not the dog.

Original poster
Yesnomaybeok · 21/09/2023 19:43

Goodornot · 21/09/2023 19:39

Please shout at the dog...or invest in some training. My neighbours dog does the same and her barking does my head in. It's dreadful to live next to. Think of people not the dog.

I care for my dog far more than I care for my neighbours. Sorry.

OP posts:
Goodornot · 21/09/2023 19:48

Yesnomaybeok · 21/09/2023 19:43

I care for my dog far more than I care for my neighbours. Sorry.

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That's clear. No one else cares about it though...its a pain in the backside.

This is why there are so many people fed up with dogs.

Why didn't you train the animal you wanted? It isn't defenceless either...

Original poster
Yesnomaybeok · 21/09/2023 19:52

Goodornot · 21/09/2023 19:48

That's clear. No one else cares about it though...its a pain in the backside.

This is why there are so many people fed up with dogs.

Why didn't you train the animal you wanted? It isn't defenceless either...

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I've done huge amounts of training thanks and this is the one thing I've not yet cracked. Why are you on this forum as you clearly don't like dogs.

OP posts:
WhyHasAllTheRumGone · 21/09/2023 19:53

I read somewhere (specific, I know) that if you shout then it encourages the dog because they think you are joining in and encouraging them. So I, shhhh him. I did it today when I opened the door to the postie and he was going mad. She whispered, I've got a parcel for you 😂

NuffSaidSam · 21/09/2023 19:55

Yesnomaybeok · 21/09/2023 19:43

I care for my dog far more than I care for my neighbours. Sorry.

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That's a shitty attitude. You don't get to ruin your neighbours enjoyment of their house/garden by letting your dog bark excessively.

Original poster
Yesnomaybeok · 21/09/2023 19:56

WhyHasAllTheRumGone · 21/09/2023 19:53

I read somewhere (specific, I know) that if you shout then it encourages the dog because they think you are joining in and encouraging them. So I, shhhh him. I did it today when I opened the door to the postie and he was going mad. She whispered, I've got a parcel for you 😂

🤣. Yeah I can imagine to the dog, it's like you joining in. Usually I try to ignore but I lost it today.

OP posts:
Original poster
Yesnomaybeok · 21/09/2023 19:58

NuffSaidSam · 21/09/2023 19:55

That's a shitty attitude. You don't get to ruin your neighbours enjoyment of their house/garden by letting your dog bark excessively.

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It's just honest. I don't know my neighbours. I do know (and love) my dog. I want to improve things but I'm at a loss as it's the only thing I can't crack.

OP posts:
Chunkyspunkymunkey · 21/09/2023 19:59

I have two- one is a barker and believes it is her job to alert the whole neighbourhood to the postman coming to our door. Noise is fucking unbearable.

Only way of dealing with it was to move quickly to divert them from going to the door, and dashing them into the kitchen for a small treat. It broke the cycle, so now they give one bark and dash to the kitchen doorway.

I am sure someone who actually knows what they are doing will be along in a minute.

Original poster
Yesnomaybeok · 21/09/2023 19:59

And for what it's worth she only does it when they pass so they won't ever hear her when they are in their own home. I doubt they notice her at all apart from when they walk past the house.

OP posts:
Azaeleasinbloom · 21/09/2023 20:00

I have been there OP. DDog 2 kicks off because she smells next doors cat. DDog1 joins in but is unsure why. Fairly certain I am louder than both of them 😳. But I think they forgive me. It’s not like I withhold food 😱

MrsMigginscoffee · 21/09/2023 20:00

Yesnomaybeok · 21/09/2023 19:22

She's the same if the view is blocked as she has great hearing.

Oh I hear you. Mine is the same and I almost posted too on Monday to say I'd shouted "just ....stop ...it!!"
Curtains closed barely help. It's so hard.
I try to distract but when working it's nigh impossible

MrsMigginscoffee · 21/09/2023 20:01

WhyHasAllTheRumGone · 21/09/2023 19:53

I read somewhere (specific, I know) that if you shout then it encourages the dog because they think you are joining in and encouraging them. So I, shhhh him. I did it today when I opened the door to the postie and he was going mad. She whispered, I've got a parcel for you 😂

Hahaha! Love this. If I'm not working I go over and cuddle and say shhh it's ok but the postie doing it is great!

NuffSaidSam · 21/09/2023 20:02

Yesnomaybeok · 21/09/2023 19:58

It's just honest. I don't know my neighbours. I do know (and love) my dog. I want to improve things but I'm at a loss as it's the only thing I can't crack.

Show quote history

I also like my dog more than my neighbours.

I think most people do.

I'd imagine most people like their kids more than their neighbours too.

But you can't just not care about being a noise nuisance, be that dogs or kids or your recreational drum playing. We have to live side by side. Let's try and be reasonable.

I hope you get some good advice re. stopping the barking! Sorry I can't offer any.

muddyford · 21/09/2023 20:02

Every time she barks bundle her away from the window, don't say anything, and shut her in another room alone for five minutes. Rinse and repeat, as they say on MN. Most dogs get it after a few repetitions.

AncientSpinningWheel · 21/09/2023 20:03

I working in a clients home today and the dog barked for 45 minutes at a man sat quietly in his van 😕 I was ready to shout and it wasn't even my dog! Don't beat yourself up, we all have limits.

margotrose · 22/09/2023 07:47

Have you ever tried to teach her a quiet command?

Wait until there's a gap in the barking (about a second or two), then say "quiet" and treat. Repeat for what feels like forever until they realise that being quiet gets them a reward.

Eventually when they bark, you'll be able to say "quiet" and reward, and then swap the reward for praise.

Newpeep · 22/09/2023 08:52

For a dog to learn to stop barking they have to start it first so it's better to stop them barking in the first place. Clever dogs learn to start, then stop for snacks.

Depends on the reason for barking. Excitement calm then down, alert, change their mindset, noise get a vet check then work on their feelings about the noise.

All really easy to deal with tbh with some time and consistency. Have a look at 'click the trigger'. Works really well and very quickly if you do it right.

margotrose · 22/09/2023 08:55

Newpeep · 22/09/2023 08:52

For a dog to learn to stop barking they have to start it first so it's better to stop them barking in the first place. Clever dogs learn to start, then stop for snacks.

Depends on the reason for barking. Excitement calm then down, alert, change their mindset, noise get a vet check then work on their feelings about the noise.

All really easy to deal with tbh with some time and consistency. Have a look at 'click the trigger'. Works really well and very quickly if you do it right.

I can't speak for OP, but I want my dog to alert bark, so a quiet command was really useful.

I want him to tell me there's something wrong in the garden, or that there's someone at the door, or that the delivery man is here. I find it useful as I often don't hear the door otherwise.

PinotPony · 22/09/2023 09:27

The last thing you should do to stop a dog barking is to shout at it.

The dog is going "OMG! Look at this exciting thing! Quick!! Come and see! OMG! I'm so excited!"

You come running in yelling. All the dog hears is "HEY! I'm making loads of noise too! Let's both be really loud together! OMG OMG OMG!!"

You're completely reinforcing the behaviour.