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?

When does straight talking cross the line into unpleasantness though? Perhaps people have different tolerances for the truth.

There have been unkind comments, they are here to see. I know some on MN pride themselve on calling a spade a fucking spade, but unless you have constructive advice (your dog is obese and muzzle it today helps no-one, for example) then it's better to keep quiet.

@SirChenjins but I did give constructive advice: for OP not to minimise it, which she has done. And telling someone that, by breed standards, their dog is quite overweight is also constructive. Not only do overweight dogs tend to have more extreme negative behaviours (usually because they are insufficiently exercised), but it won't be good for the dogs joints.

I was honest and fair. I could - and have in the past on similar threads - been a lot franker.

The fact is, if OP does not fix this she could end up having to rehome her dog or, in a worst case scenario, the dog warden could remove it forcefully if someone claims it is aggressive. And we all know how that story ends in a worst case scenario.

@LandSharksAnonymous and it's been clear that the OP hasn't minimised it, despite what you and a couple of other posters have claimed. People who minimise this type of behaviour don't come on here looking for (constructive) advice as I'm sure you're aware.

As for the 'your dog is obese' comment - the OP's vet will make that judgement, not some random on the internet who's never met the dog. There was nothing constructive in that comment as it didn't relate to the issue - but we all know some posters just can't help themselves and love a snide dig that has nothing to do with the OP.

Oh - and being frank isn't a badge of honour. Try and aim for constructive and helpful instead. We all know what a spade is.

Her dog might be a big cockapoo though my inlaws cockpoo is huge doesn't mean the dog is obese,

Honestly, the entitlement in this post. Dogs barking may be normal but I don't understand why you think neighbours should have to put up with it. They don't, and I suspect there are quite a few posters on here who think Ops dogs behaviour should not be impacting them in their homes. That's the angle I take because I don't want to hear it. If she can't improve the dogs behaviour in a few weeks, she shouldn't have a dog. I'm not even convinced it's appropriate for a dog to be in a flat with no garden.

Honestly. My daughter is terrified of dogs and if she was met on the stairs to our block by a barking dogs it would also raise a complaint from me.

Is your dog allowed to be in the flat - as in do you have permission, as that will be the first thing they ask.

If you can’t stop your dog from barking at people on the stairs you need to find an alternative - muzzle, bark collar etc. or move.

@SirChenjins - she has minimised it, 'barking is a normal reaction' 'one of the neighbour may make a malicious complaint'. Barking is not a normal reaction for a well-balanced, well-trained dog and it would not be a malicious complaint (particularly after three months of dealing with this). Many would certainly complain if I lived in a flat and encounter a dog being 'wrangled' on the lead 'barking hysterically' at them - I certainly would.

Frank and constructive are often the same. Being kind does no one any favours. In a worst case scenario, as I have said, OP could find her dog being removed - so she needs to the truth from us. But we will have to agree to disagree.

@Coffeeishot perhaps you are right, but based on what OP has said elsewhere in her posts, overweight is more than likely. 17kg would be pretty big for a dog bred from a cocker (13-15kg) and minature poodle (no more than 10kg). Unless, of course, it's also the product of less than ethical breeding...which is entirely possible, but a completely separate point...although of course we all know badly bred dogs are more disposed to severe behavioural issues as a result of poor upbringing in the first 8 weeks.

From the sound of her OP, this has been going on for 3 months - the fact OP is only seeking advice now is pretty awful for her neighbours who do have my full sympathy as no one wants to have a dog 'barking hysterically' at them, whilst their owner 'wrangles the lead' and 'holds onto the bannister.'

Either way, I made my points and I stand by them. Happy, well-balanced dogs do not react this way in new environments (despite what OP says in her OP about 'dogs think of the corridors, stairs etc as all part of "their home"').

@PrincessofWells The op doesn't want her neighbours to put up with it she literally posted because she was worried about her neighbours being bothered by barking.

No, some of us just don't agree with being outright nasty to people. The comments are quite clear to see on the thread.

Where on earth did I say the neighbours should have to put up with it?

Stop putting words in people's mouths to try and cause an argument

Exactly! OP wouldn't have posted if she didn't want help. Some people just can't help themselves, though.

She's waited three months to seek advice. It's in her OP. Painting OP as someone trying to do the right thing only works when she hasn't waited three months to solve an issue...

If there are abusive comments they can be reported. Otherwise it's just the rough and tumble of discourse.

Oh that old chestnut - it crops up from time to time when some poster's can't help themselves. There's a vast middle group between abusive and nasty - some posters know just how to aim to ensure their posts aren't deleted while giving the OP a good doing.

OP - there will always be the posters who couldn't type a constructive, productive comment if their lives depended on it. Ignore them - you soon learn who they are and you can filter them out. Dogs bark, it's one of the ways they communicate. You've had some good constructive advice on here (others less so obviously) so give it a go and if you're able to speak to a behaviourist who deals with positive reinforcement or gentle training methods then I'm sure they'll be able to give you good advice too.

The "rough and tumble of discourse" doesn't need to include grown adults being outright unpleasant to others.

But there are always people on here who think being "honest" means you can be rude. And as @SirChenjins says, they manage to skirt around the rules while doing so.

This popped up in active conversations.

I'm absolutely not a dog lover. I would hate to be barked at by a dog as I was entering or leaving my home, and might well react badly if it got to a point of feeling scared or intimidated.

Can you rope in a couple of friends to walk up/down stairs as you go the opposite way, priming yourself with whatever method you decide to show doggo that people on stairs are not requiring barking? basically give yourself the knowledge thst soneone is comming rather than relying on your hearing being better than dogs?

(Sorry wrong thread!)

Reading carefully though with no suggestions because I have a barker myself.

Please point to where I've been unpleasant? I stated a dog that appeared to be out of control and barking in a closed environment could be perceived as agressive to a passer-by.

OP I feel for you, my dog is quite reactive, especially when he would have no choice but to pass someone at close quarters. Also once it scared him once he would be on edge, expecting it to happen again. I hope you find somewhere lovely soon.
I did exercises at home, have high value treats (cheese, ham the good stuff) and every time your dog looks you in the eye give him a treat. Then say ‘watch’ or ‘look’ or something so in the end my dog would look me in the eye every time I said it. I did a variation where he had to touch my hand for a treat too ‘touch’. It honestly didn’t take long. Then when you are going out you say it and give the lovely treats. If you see someone coming keep your back to the person and face your dog so you are in between and say ‘watch’ and stay very calm and upbeat and treat and treat again. Be calm and confident, no baby talk, no dragging if you can help it. Maybe get him to ‘wait’ for a treat in the thresholds in your house (doorways etc) and do the same at the front door so he is calm before you leave the flat. You’ll be fine. Honestly it sounds complicated but it didn’t take long and it has made a HUGE difference with my dog, even my most miserable neighbours are impressed 🤣

I’m aware I’m now about to sound like a school teacher, but there’s a way of saying things without being (or coming across as) unkind.

Maybe it was misinterpreted because it’s through a screen (if that’s the case I apologise) but you only need to read this thread to see how upsetting some of these answers must have been to the OP who only came to get some help.

In the flat tie the dog to your waist. That will train the dog it has to focus on you no matter what.
You can treat but you may end up with a dog that won't comply without treats.

Treats shouldn't be given constantly. You start off with really high value treats every time your dog gives the behaviour you want, then you gradually mix it up. Give a variety of higher and lower value treats, and give every other time, then at random times. That way, your dog doesn't get treats every time, but looks to you in anticipation of them and gives the behaviour in the hope of getting them.

This is such a good idea.

It's not unusual for a dog to bark when encountering surprise people in an enclosed space - especially when it's a new space for him too. You're doing fine, it's not your fault, you're doing the best you can.

If you ask your vet, they can give you a referral to a good behaviourist, and it should be covered by your insurance. Other than that, you might just want to try to take the dog out at the quietest possible times and yell down the stairs before you do!