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The doghouse

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

Original poster

Lady sprayed my dog

139 replies

Shyfrog · 07/10/2024 10:22

My dog is a chihuahua and barks loudly and incessantly at anyone who passes by the fence. It’s not a main road. She’s hard work and I can’t seem to control her. She stops listening to commands when she’s afraid and will run away from me and she runs along the fence to stop me from grabbing her and taking her back in just so she can keep barking. Someone has come with a spray bottle and sprayed something on her face and when they saw me coming they left quickly before I could say anything. She seems ok I’m hoping it was just water. What should I do? I know she’s my problem

OP posts:
Flossflower · 07/10/2024 14:29

I am sure I will get flamed by this post but a friend of mine had a dog that constantly barked at people passing by. She trained it not to bark by a remote controlled collar that sprayed citronella. Now everyone will say how cruel that was but the dog stopped this barking and was a much calmer happier dog.
I agree you neighbours are probably fed up and you need to do something.

PuddlesPityParty · 07/10/2024 16:19

Shyfrog · 07/10/2024 13:23

I don’t let her out the front I let her out the back but there’s a path that runs along it.It isn’t a low down fence or wall just standard but there are gaps between every piece of the fence. I am also sick of her yapping and am ashamed. I know she’s an annoying dog and that she affects everyone and I’m not surprised if anyone is at their wits end.
She is 6 now but she didn’t get much social interaction in the first few years of her life and she certainly doesn’t now as no one can go near her. She will nip and bite if she can I know because she’s done it to me if I try and prevent her from getting to anyone. She also has trauma because of a man that tried to physically harm her two years ago so that doesn’t help. I did train her and she does have recall but she doesn’t listen to anything when she’s afraid. She will try and wiggle out of my arms and claw at me. I don’t think she would let even a trainer near her she can just bark for hours and she’s extremely loud. I sometimes think about having her put down but I’d never hear the end of it.
she can’t go near anyone ever. I will try the pet protector/bark repellent.

She’s a reactive dog and you need a behaviourist. Reactive dogs are usually reactive out of fear - you need to lead her and show her you’re confident and not afraid.

SirChenjins · 07/10/2024 16:23

@Flossflower the use of any form of shock collar really isn’t recommended - there are more effective and non-aversive ways to treat barking that have longer lasting success rates. Anima welfare organisations don’t support them for obvious reasons.

MWNA · 07/10/2024 16:29

TheCultureHusks · 07/10/2024 10:28

Train your horrid irritating little dog?

Bingo.

alwaysmovingforwards · 07/10/2024 16:31

Shyfrog · 07/10/2024 13:23

I don’t let her out the front I let her out the back but there’s a path that runs along it.It isn’t a low down fence or wall just standard but there are gaps between every piece of the fence. I am also sick of her yapping and am ashamed. I know she’s an annoying dog and that she affects everyone and I’m not surprised if anyone is at their wits end.
She is 6 now but she didn’t get much social interaction in the first few years of her life and she certainly doesn’t now as no one can go near her. She will nip and bite if she can I know because she’s done it to me if I try and prevent her from getting to anyone. She also has trauma because of a man that tried to physically harm her two years ago so that doesn’t help. I did train her and she does have recall but she doesn’t listen to anything when she’s afraid. She will try and wiggle out of my arms and claw at me. I don’t think she would let even a trainer near her she can just bark for hours and she’s extremely loud. I sometimes think about having her put down but I’d never hear the end of it.
she can’t go near anyone ever. I will try the pet protector/bark repellent.

You need to take more responsibility of your dog, it’s behaviour is a reflection of your skill and will as an owner.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 07/10/2024 16:35

You need to keep the dog inside.

How much does a Chihuahua go for on Gumtree? And you're leaving it unattended where people can walk by and pick it up?

That and if she bites again, you lose the dog altogether.

Mischance · 07/10/2024 16:36

Oh lord - there are 2 of these yappy things as I walk up the lane in my village. They are a total pain - up and down the fence, yap, yap yap! And, to add insult to injury, the owner yells at them to stop, so adding to the general racket! It would be great to have a neutralising spray!

coffeesaveslives · 07/10/2024 16:58

You need to speak to a behaviourist - they won't be put off by a bit of barking, believe me - but by doing nothing and letting her repeat the behaviour, you're failing her and it's not fair.

Ultimately if you can't handle her behaviour, she should be re-homed via a breed rescue.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 07/10/2024 17:07

I'm a chihuahua owner and as pp said its best not to have your dog loose if prone to barking a lot.Its not fair on your neighbours if nothing else.

Original poster
Shyfrog · 07/10/2024 17:21

I’m not sure a trainer could work with her because she’s that bad. No chance she could be rehomed she’s really cute but she will bite hard and she will go for anyone

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 07/10/2024 17:27

Shyfrog · 07/10/2024 17:21

I’m not sure a trainer could work with her because she’s that bad. No chance she could be rehomed she’s really cute but she will bite hard and she will go for anyone

I hope you live alone and don't ever have visitors then.
And shes not cute

ClydeBank · 07/10/2024 17:27

Have you watched that TV programme “dogs behaving really badly?” It’s really good – if you want to change your dogs behaviour you’re going to have to be consistent and work hard at it. Praise your dog when it is quiet. Distract it when it is thinking about being noisy. The pet corrector spray can be really effective. You do not have to let the situation persist. Gaps in fences can be filled. This is not about someone spraying your dog in the face – this is about fundamental behavioural issues that your dog has and you finding the energy and motivation to address them. Good luck.

CandidaAlbicans2 · 07/10/2024 17:27

@Shyfrog as others have said, a long line for use when you let her out to toilet is your friend. That means you'll have some control and you won't need to grab her and risk getting bitten. It's also worth keeping a leash on her indoors too (with the loop handle cut off so it doesn't get jammed under doors!) for the same reason.
Have you spoken to a vet about her behaviour to rule out anything medical? They should also be able to signpost you to a behaviourist who can diagnose the root of the problem and give you ways of improving her. Is she muzzle trained?

Maddy70 · 07/10/2024 17:31

A water spray is a very good dog training aid

Get one yourself and do the same thing. Its really effective

Flossflower · 07/10/2024 17:31

SirChenjins · 07/10/2024 16:23

@Flossflower the use of any form of shock collar really isn’t recommended - there are more effective and non-aversive ways to treat barking that have longer lasting success rates. Anima welfare organisations don’t support them for obvious reasons.

Edited

OK, I really do not know anything about dogs but I do know that it worked very very quickly and the dog was so much happier.

coffeesaveslives · 07/10/2024 17:32

Shyfrog · 07/10/2024 17:21

I’m not sure a trainer could work with her because she’s that bad. No chance she could be rehomed she’s really cute but she will bite hard and she will go for anyone

Surely you owe it to your dog to try absolutely everything to make her life better?

wickerlady · 07/10/2024 17:37

Hope it wasn't pepper spray 😆

Fluufer · 07/10/2024 17:42

Shyfrog · 07/10/2024 17:21

I’m not sure a trainer could work with her because she’s that bad. No chance she could be rehomed she’s really cute but she will bite hard and she will go for anyone

You'll need to put her to sleep then. You cannot have a nuisance, aggressive pet.
Why haven't you even tried a trainer before? Utterly useless - this is why not everyone should be allowed pets.

Procrastinates · 07/10/2024 17:43

Shyfrog · 07/10/2024 17:21

I’m not sure a trainer could work with her because she’s that bad. No chance she could be rehomed she’s really cute but she will bite hard and she will go for anyone

I think this is a very defeatist attitude to be honest. You need to find a behaviourist and at least try otherwise I'd honestly consider putting her to sleep her life doesn't sound very enjoyable.

Floralnomad · 07/10/2024 17:44

Block off the back garden so she cannot get round the front to annoy people

DanielaDressen · 07/10/2024 17:50

Can you not keep her in the back garden so she’s not barking at passers by? She will be incredibly stressed by this guarding behaviour and will be constantly in a state of anxiety and stress by the current set up so it’s not doing her any good. She’s potentially also at risk from being stolen? Though guess maybe nobody would want to steal her! But they might take her for a bait dog?

Training would definitely help but would take time and effort, you can be outside with her and as soon as there’s a hint of a person approaching you treat her, so her attention is on you and the treat. You’d need her on a short lead at first and increase the line length. At the moment the thought of a person going past for her is negative, you need to make it positive. You can also work on a command where she is sent to a spot, so her bed, the front door, etc. you treat her for going where she’s sent, she will soon do it without treats. You might need professional help.

Mrsttcno1 · 07/10/2024 17:58

If you can’t totally block her from getting through then she will have to only be allowed outside when on a lead so that you can prevent this. Inconvenient, but a consequence of not training your dog.

NiftyKoala · 07/10/2024 18:01

I think you should train your dog before someone does something worse. I know someone who's dog was given poison disguised in meat.

RockAndRollerskate · 07/10/2024 18:04

Shyfrog · 07/10/2024 17:21

I’m not sure a trainer could work with her because she’s that bad. No chance she could be rehomed she’s really cute but she will bite hard and she will go for anyone

Bullshit, you just can’t be bothered.

21ZIGGY · 07/10/2024 18:44

Get the control unleashed book