Dog in 1st floor flat - barking on stairs and landing/foyer - WWYD?

[IWillAlwaysBeinaClubWithYouin1973]

Had to move into temporary accommodation, first floor flat, with DDog. Been here 3 months got at least another 3 to go and I'm worried sick. I didnt realise that dogs think of the corridors, stairs etc as all part of "their home". We've got 10 flats here and only one entrance in and out, I take him out for a wee etc 4 times a day - so we do sometimes meet people on the stairs, there's not really any way round it, and particularly if it's a man, dog is barking hysterically. It only lasts a few seconds but it makes people jump and its not acceptable. I am worried someone might complain.

Because of the layout, I can't alway see people coming in good time to pull the dog in the opposite direction and once he's seen them - way before I see them - he's going to bark. I have limited mobility and issues with balance so the stairs aren't a great place to be wrangling a 17kg cockerpoo. I'm trying to dish out treats, pull him away, hold the bannisters and the lead and to be honest, I am not sure the best treat in the world would cut it in any case.

I am thinking I need a behaviourist? I've read something about keeping the dog's focus on me with high value treats but I think this might be too intense for him. Also its not really something we can practice is it, I can't ask a neighbour to stand still whilst the dog barks at him so I can try out my technique.

What would you do?

Hi OP,

Hopefully someone will be along soon with better advise than me. I think there is a technique with a clicker/noise which acts as a distraction for them.

You can also get bark collars which vibrate and put them off (not the electrocute ones). I don’t think they are really recommended as positive reinforcement is better but would probably work.

I think cheese/ nice smelling stuff is a good idea. I don’t think your idea is a bad one though. Is there anyone with a dog who might be understanding and would be prepared to practice with you? Or have you got a WhatsApp group you could ask for volunteers on. Or just ask a friend (who doesn’t know the dog) to come and practice.

behaviourist would be ideal if you can afford it.

Please don’t use any kind of bark collar. If the dog is barking through fear or anxiety (very likely) then you’re only going to make the situation worse and it could even lead to a bite.

You need to teach the dog that other people on the stairs etc. is a good thing, not a scary thing, and you can’t really do that without using someone (a neighbour or friend) as a stooge.

It sounds like you’re not particularly confident in dealing with the situation (and that’s absolutely not a criticism) so I would ask around for an accredited behaviourist who could come and help you. It’s not an uncommon behaviour and shouldn’t take long to fix with the right support ☺️

No not confident at all and I think with good reason - I suspect one of the neighbours might make a malicious complaint but really, I suppose they are entitled to as you shouldn't be confronted with dogs barking on the stairs/in the exit.

I think behaviourist would be best, and although I dont have many friends here yes a stooge might be a really good plan. Thank you both.

1st thing i would do is muzzle your dog. Absolutely cannot risk your dog biting someone else. Its not fair on you, your dog or the general public if he is having angry reactions to other people. Get a muzzle today.

That at least makes him safe. Then you need to work on his training.

You can’t just get a muzzle and stick it on - you need to muzzle train which can take weeks.

I’m also not a sure a muzzle is necessary - OP hasn’t mentioned any signs of aggression - all it’s doing is barking which is a pretty normal reaction to what the dog perceives as a person in their space/home.

We've had very similar. DDog grew up in a very quiet, detached house with little noise. We are clearing a flat and stay there about 1 night a fortnight. Initially, our dog was on edge, barely slept etc with the noise. Not only from people on the stairs but also car/train noises. We know the neighbours so tried to let her sniff/introduce her to them. If she is startled by a loud noise on the stairs, she will still bark though but is getting better. I only reward if she is calm and doesn't bark.

Can you keep the dog in the lounge or a room that isn't next to the exit door? This is what we've had to do. The layout means she is in the lounge area with us- I don't mean in a separate, locked room, but its further away from the hall and stairs.

No real advice but a behaviorist for a few visits would likely give you tips that you can carry on with. I must say, 17kg sounds like a solid cockapoo. My friends is only 8kg 😊

It's tricky if your dog sees them first, but can you hear people coming if it's quiet? What worked for my dog and his fear of window cleaners was to make sure I knew when they were coming and then sit and feed him chicken while they were doing the windows. It took several months as they weren't coming that frequently. But depending on the layout of your landing and stairs, you could try sitting in your open doorway with the dog at first, listening out for people on the stairs and then give him the treats and talk to him reassuringly the whole time they're approaching/going past. Then eventually when he seems more comfortable with this, you could find another spot with plenty of space to pass (near the main entrance? on a big landing?) and do practice sessions there, i.e. 'oh look there's someone coming, here's a biscuit', so you're not trying to distract him from the person, more trying to point out that person coming = biscuit. The difficulty I think is that you may not have somewhere with enough space to start at what feels like a 'safe' distance for him, but maybe you could start outside the building but with a view of the door?

Sorry I think we're at cross purposes, the issue is when the dog is on the stairs - coming and going - not when he is inside the flat.

@BarnacleBeasley you have guessed correctly, the stairs, foyer and corridors are all very narrow so you can't get away, you are literally forced into a confrontation.

@Tessasanderson as @warmapplepies says you need to muzzle train first, and I think a muzzle would introduce the idea that the dog is "dangerous" - barking is a normal reaction and the neighbours thinking bloody hell what's up with that dog is also a normal reaction.

Honestly i think it is just a bark going up and down the stairs is just normal for your dog because it doesn't know what is coming up. I just think a sorry and quickly move on,is fine id try squeezey cheese before you leave your flat and then some as you go out the door may distract your dog so it might switch focus, or try some dog pate but just for going in and out,

A behaviourist is maybe a good idea but it can take a while to find and get an appointment

It sounds stressful and you might be stressy so it travels to the dog,

I don't think the dog is aggressive by the sounds of it just barky. Dogs bark.

Apologies, I did wrongly think you meant the dog is barking at people on the stairs from INSIDE you flat.

I'm sick with stress @Coffeeishot but only since one particular neighbour encounter - the others I did just say sorry and dragged the dog away - but this neighbour has form for complaining, and I think as I feel he is justified (because its not ok) I feel worse? Also as I don't like it here and am desperate to move but can't find anywhere - it's a vicious circle I suppose. I like the squeeze cheese idea.

I think what is coming out of this is that people have broadly the same ideas as me - treats, trial and error (its the error I am worried about) and a behaviourist, so that's really answered my "WWYD" post, really appreciate the chance to talk about it on here though.

A barely-controlled 17kg dog barking in your face in an enclosed area with a terrified-looking owner IS aggressive.

I think if neighbours complain then I think they might be complainers anyway, being in temp accommodation is horrible I.was in it years ago and the uncertainty is just awful. Try the treat do it slowly so open the door treat then back in etc I know you will be worried every time you open the door for the dog but if you have time try a bit of training when the dog doesn't need the toilet it might desensitise . Good luck it doesn't sound easy.

I am reading these knowledgeable replies about you cant muzzle a dog etc etc. Trust me, if a dog is barking, it is pulling (This has been stated) and the owner is nervous......its a danger.

I am a dog lover. I have 2 dogs who are my world. If they acted in ANY way aggressive towards a member of the public they wouldnt see the light of day again without a muzzle on them. I appreciate it takes time etc etc to get a dog comfortable in a muzzle. BUT it takes seconds for your dog to bite someone in a incident and not much longer for them to PTS a dangerous dog.

Get it muzzled.

Except that’s not what’s actually happening 🫣

I'm sick with stress ^ but only since one particular neighbour encounter - the others I did just say sorry and dragged the dog away^

so we do sometimes meet people on the stairs, there's not really any way round it, and particularly if it's a man, dog is barking hysterically

he's going to bark. I have limited mobility and issues with balance so the stairs aren't a great place to be wrangling a 17kg cockerpoo.

17kg dog - yes
Barking hysterically - yes
Having to be dragged away - yes
Owner who has limited ability to control such a dog - Yes

17kg dog
Enclosed space
Barking
Owner who feels like she's barely in control
If I'm coming up the stairs and they're coming down - it's in my or my child's face.

Where's the inaccuracy?

The fact that you seem to think barking is aggression and that the dog is barking in people’s faces when OP has said no such thing. What she has said is that her dog is barking at strangers in the hallway and on the stairs - there’s absolutely no mention of aggression.

This forum is awful for putting dog owners down and criticising them rather than showing empathy and kindness. It reminds me why I would never post for advice here.

And yet absolutely none of those things means the dog is aggressive or a bite risk, which you and a PP seem to have decided between you for some reason, nor does it mean the dog needs to be muzzled - and even if it did, the OP would need to several weeks worth of training before putting a muzzle on her dog.

The fact you seem to think a dog who is barking and NEEDING to be dragged away isnt being aggressive says more about you.

A dog who is just barking doesnt need to be dragged away.

What do you mean by temporary accommodation- like emergency housing from the council with other people in similar predicaments? If so, and you’re moving to a house in the next few months, I wouldn’t bother trying to retrain your dog.

However if it’s say a flat you are privately renting for a few months and you will continue to live in similar properties in the future where you’ll regularly run into others, then yes invest in training.

I agree with this. The best approach is to desensitise your dog from a distance, and start to build the connection between stair noises and people, and incoming high value treats. The you can gradually decrease the distance between your dog and the people coming along the corridor. Remember that living in accommodation with communal areas does mean you will hear other people - kids playing, people coming in late after nights out, dogs barking. Providing it's not going on for hours at a time and you're making an effort to minimise the noise, it's part and parcel of living next to others.

And fgs, don't just stick a muzzle on your dog unless you want to see an escalation in his behaviour.