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?

Or maybe they're sick to death of random barking and aggressive behaviour when they just want to live in their property undisturbed.

OP doesn’t say the dog “needs to be dragged away” though - it’s more that she drags the dog away because she’s worried about what people will think, not because she’s worried the dog is about to launch an attack 🙄

Barking at people randomly, even in flats/staircases, is not 'normal.' Do not minimise this behaviour.

And, at 17kg, your dog is almost certainly obese - and significantly so.

Either re-home your dog to someone who can take the appropriate care of him and give him the necessary exercise and training he needs, or commit to taking better care of him including exercise and training.

The thing is, it doesn’t matter if others on this thread think barking is aggressive or not. The perspective of the people being subjected to the barking is more important, as they may complain about OP. If they feel the barking was aggressive or intimidating or otherwise against some sort of housing regulations in that building, the OP might rightfully be worried about being able to remain in that property with the dog.

under circumstances, the housing provider might not ask OP to leave, but they might not tolerate the dog. If its temporary accommodation due to homelessness for example, I’m not sure councils have a duty to home pets that are being complained about. It would obviously be easier to navigate if no complaint was made, as opposed to arguing that “barking is not aggressive”.

Totally agree with @BarnacleBeasley and @SirChenjins advice. Also agree with the poster who suggested getting something like squeezy cheese - or one of those pate pastes in a tube. These will be easy to offer your dog with one hand and has the advantage of being 'continuous' - i.e. you don't have to keep reaching into a pocket for another treat - so you can just keep it down at your side near DD and hopefully keep him focused on you.

Could you time your walks when you are less likely to bump into people in the hall e.g. early morning until you can see a behaviourist? I can see from the residents point of view being confronted by a largish dog barking at them in a confined space is quite intimidating especially if you are struggling to hold onto the lead / keep the dog under control. Someone is bound to complain sooner or later.

Op I can't advise on the dog behaviour as I am not a dog owner. But I wonder if a note through neighbours' doors would help.

Hi, my name is 1973 and you may have met me and my dog Bubbles. We are living in Flat 2. Bubbles hasn't lived in a flat before and she is currently showing a tendency to bark when we meet people on the stairs. I just wanted to apologise for this and reassure you that she isn't aggressive. I am working with her to eliminate this behaviour and I hope you will bear with us in the meantime.

Op can you afford a dog walker it might eliminate a trip or 2 outside with the dog ?

Absolutely not - if someone does complain about OP, that would actually be good evidence to use against OP. It makes it easier to complain about OP given all the required personal details are there. It clearly indicates awareness of an issue, when there’s likely a zero tolerance policy to the issue in the first place (as opposed to an assessment of whether OP was reasonable in dealing with the issue).

Again if it’s temporary accommodation in the sense of homelessness, there’s no duty for the dog to be housed. So issues with the dog could lead to OP being asked to leave or the dog being put in a kennel, as opposed to the dog remaining there. This is because there’s no duty for the dog to be housed in temporary accommodation, it’s like a goodwill gesture to OP.

It doesnt matter what I or any other posters feel. If the person being barked at at close quarters feels the dog is aggressive or a bite risk then that's the problem.

You’re right, but again that’s not what has happened.

Oh dear, some people seem to be making things up so much so its almost like they're having their own thread ...!!

As I said earlier, thank you to every one who has ideas. I posted on here to talk to dog owners, I do wonder if you get the odd poster come over and hunt around for opps to start an argument but I wont be giving them one. I need to walk my uncontrollable obese dog.

There are ways to get things across to people without being unkind.

I’m so sorry you’ve had so many unpleasant and judgemental answers. Unfortunately this forum is known for it and it’s the reason I would never, ever post on here for advice.

If you didn’t care about your dog you wouldn’t be posting and it’s so unnecessary for people to stick the boot in the way they have.

I hope you manage to get things sorted for your dog.

Just before I drag him away, slavering, (me not the dog) its not homeless accommodation its an expensive rental and I am trying to buy something else ASAP but I agree I should have explained that a bit better in OP. I suppose I was trying to say I know its not ideal to be here, but at the time I was stuck to find anywhere else.

And thank you @warmapplepies

You're welcome! I’ve seen how these threads can go and it’s not necessary.

I hope you can get it sorted OP. I have a cockapoo too, and he can lunge and bark at people and other dogs - he'll be fine 9 times out of 10, and then for some reason he'll take a turn. I know who to avoid now and how to help him disengage, but it puts you on edge - the behaviourist I spoke to said that dogs see everything as a threat (to their safety, resources, space etc) or an opportunity (food, play, affection etc), and once the triggers are stacked they just build. That helped me to understand how he's preceiving the world - he's not just being an a-hole! I do know how you feel, you have my sympathy.

If you can get a few sessions with a good trainer/behaviourist. I found just having a few sessions so helpful.
I felt so much more confident about the right time to give a treat etc and to make sure I wasn’t re enforcing the wrong behaviour.
She gave me really practical advice and things I could practice at home too to reinforce good behaviour.
Good luck

It’s never too late to teach your dog the command no barking. It’s going to be useful even after you relocate. Go somewhere your dog is likely to bark. When he barks tell him no barking. Say it only once, with an authoritative voice not in a single song voice, then wait as long as you need until they stop barking. Immediately treat and praise. Repeat every time he barks. Also, when you meet someone in the hall, as soon as the dog barks stop walking, shorten the lead, if possible put a leg between the dog and the person and say no barking. Let the person go past, don’t move till the dog stops barking, treat and praise, continue your walk. Do this for the rest of your dogs life.

I have literally never heard a small dog owner tell their dog no barking regardless of the amount of annoying yapping that’s going on. I have two labs and if I let them bark every time there’s a squirrel in the garden none of my neighbours would be speaking to me. When the window cleaner comes they would go berserk if left to their own devices, so I crack out the treats and they know what to do to get one.

It wasn't unkind.

Unkind would be calling OP a negligent owner for minimising her dogs, likely intimidating, behaviour towards people.

No one has been judgmental, in the way you have suggested. Ultimately, a dog that has to be 'wrangled' (OPs words) and 'is barking hysterically' is not under it's owners control and that is a serious issue. We have simply stated facts: that OP needs to train her dog and not minimise the issue.

You are literally the only poster on this thread making light of what is a serious issue for other people - which says more about you, than about us.

I agree that the OP needs to work on her dogs behaviour which is why I suggested she contacted a behaviourist up thread. I haven’t minimised it in the slightest.

What I have done is try and stand up for her against a slew of people who have put their own twist on things (as always on these threads) and used that as a way to beat the OP into feeling horrendous about her situation when she’s just come on here asking for help.

Dogs barking to guard their territory is very much within the realms of normal - OP’s dog has never lived in a flat and so doesn’t understand that their “boundary” ends at flat door rather than at the outside door. She doesn’t need a muzzle and to be told her dog is aggressive for barking - she needs support and a behaviourist, which is what I’ve recommended (along with several others).

The bullying mentality on here really needs to stop - it’s not necessary. People go on about kindness to dogs and positive reinforcement but don’t seem to be able to show the same empathy towards humans.

I am extremely sympathetic towards the OP. She's in a horrendous situation. I want her to be able to keep her dog and her accommodation ... which means not minimising the situation or potential outcome.

In life, sometimes you have to love someone enough to tell them the truth, not offer platitudes such as 'be kind'.

You can tell someone the truth without being unpleasant, though, and these threads always descend into people being unpleasant towards the OP.

There's a reason this sub-forum has the reputation it does, and it's just not necessary.

Everyone with dogs should train them NOT to bark at other people in normal situations, but of course the majority can't be arsed. Please do get some training, the other residents should not have to put up with this.