Teenager hates our dog

[WeetabixForDinner]

We have a 7 year old dog we've had since she was a puppy. The problem is her barking when she's home; she barks at people walking by, if she hears the word hello, a knock, if we're dancing around or playing, she is very hostile towards anyone she doesn't know, or sometimes just people not in the family, she even barks when we're out for a walk and I stop to talk to someone (at me this time). The barking is very loud and can go on for sometime. I took her to training when she was young but the barking was so bad I was getting bad looks and it got too much and I left. I have lived quite isolated since. We can't really have anyone round, it was horrendous when I bought a house and had people in to do work on it.

My 15yo hates her. I tells me everyday that she has ruined his childhood and he can't have friends round. He gets angry with her and will push her bum.

Apart from the above, she has been a lovely day and I absolutely love her, she is great off lead, incredibly affectionate, she's incredibly clever (which may be a contributing factor). Also, my 11yo disabled son adores her, he would be distraught if we needed to rehome her.

For one reason or another (never due to even considering puppies) time has passed and I never got her neutered. I am next month. Will this help?

She gets a lot of exercise, although there are some days during the week she needs more, I just struggle due to work and commuting and school, she never really has less than an hour a day off lead. She has a dog walker a few times a week. I WFH mostly so she's never left alone for long.

I am struggling to meet the needs of everyone in my household, and so everyone is unhappy.

Any child of mine who “got angry” with any of my dogs or worse “pushed their bum” would get a rocket so firmly planted up their own backside, they wouldn’t know what had hit them.
Get a decent trainer op. A dog that is barking all day is NOT a happy dog.

Thank you, I'm going to put a post up now to ask for any recommendations, I will also call the vet tomorrow and see if they can suggest anything.

I agree. Just to add, she's not barking all day, its just triggers, ie other people. She does settle. Although if someone was in the house she wouldn't settle, for example, when I had workmen in doing some renovations, I had to go between being out with home, popping home and keeping her in the car, then going back out or asking the dog walker to take her. It was horrendous.

That does sound pretty awful - your 15 year old has never been able to have friends over, since the age of 8, because of the dog!

You need to invest significant time and money on a behaviourist and get this sorted. It IS entirely possible to minimise the amount a dog barks. I appreciate you have a lot on your plate with a disabled child, but this is seriously reducing your older child's quality of life - you HAVE to sort it, and if you are determined you can.

By default he is a young carer as sibling to a disabled younger brother (even if he doesn't do any independent caring explicitly) and unavoidably siblings of a disabled child take second place and often feel less lived even though it isn't the case, it's just the sibling's need is greater - the dog really has added to this sense of his brother's wishes being prioritised to his very significant detriment by the sound of what you've written!

I imagine her barking has escalated because you and other people respond to it naturally with a raised voice to try and shut her up. This doesn't work because she thinks you're joining in. Ignoring her when she's barking or distraction with a treat or toy would help, just make sure you distract her first and teach her a quiet command.

@WeetabixForDinner the dog training industry is totally unregulated and many who purport to be trainers have no qualifications.

Look for someone registered with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council:
https://abtc.org.uk/

Trainers and behaviourists listed there.

I reckon your neighbours also hate your dog

The dog NEVER settles when someone other than family is at the house and barks relentlessly

your poor teen… has had no friends over for years

The dog would be gone

I could not cope with a barking dog in my home, I wouldn’t be able for it. That’s absolutely awful.

My sisters dog barks a bit and I can’t even be on the phone with her with the barking dog , it’s so stressful I don’t know how she puts up with it.

I do have a dog myself so I understand how much you love the dog but no way could I live like that.

The dog sounds annoying but this is a problem that could be worked on.

What type of dog is it? If it’s a beagle there is no hope.

That’s awful that your DS can’t have a normal teenage life. He won’t be able to form proper friendships if he can’t have friends over. And next year is his GCSE year. I think the dog has to go.

Nonsense. My beagle is 8 and doesn't behave like this.

A scent hound was a pretty silly choice for someone who hasn't had dogs before. You clearly didn't any research.

She is bored, walks are not enough. They need brain drain games too as well as varying the type pf walk you do.

If you can't face training then get on some of the apps that are out there. You need to distract her when she barks. Not punish. Reward when her attention breaks from whatever she is barking at. Every single time.

It will take work but ahe can be changed.

That said you have already made your son's life a misery by the sound of it. Does he genuinely hate the dog or does he hate her behaviour and the limitations on his life? Maybe raise rehousing and see how he reacts.

No I’m just saying at age 7 there is little hope of training a beagle. They are gorgeous but they want their way.

The dog sounds incredibly annoying to be fair.

I feel sorry for the son who doesn't like her because it's been a lot for him to have to put up with for years.

But they can be trained - just not in the same way you'd train a lab or a spaniel. Age is irrelevant.

Your teenager is old enough to know that pushing the dog is completely unacceptable - regardless of whether the barking needs sorting or not! If anyone of my children treated any animal like that I would be horrified

You need to either sort this out or the dog needs to go, I can't believe your child hasn't been able to have a friend over for 7 years.

@catslovehairties Well rather you than me, anyone I know with a beagle it was a full time job, and they got more stubborn with age. You sound like you have loads of experience with them so fair
play to you but I would not have the time to devote to that.
I do love rubbing them though and they are SO clever. I met a woman out walking with one last week and she said they had to change all their door handles to knobs because of the beagle. Honestly they are in a league of their own 😂

anyway back to the thread. Ask your son what he would like to happen now and listen to him. I hope you can figure it out x x

Thank you for this, I have found a registered trainer nearby.

Surely your neighbours have complained?

Honestly no, not tons of experience - he was our first dog (and only dog so far), lol. Maybe we've just been lucky but honestly he's been no bother - his main problems are recall (so we just use a long line in certain places) and not liking being left alone.

Your poor son and any neighbours why didn’t you sort this before.

oh he pushes the dog on the bum… big deal. We have an adored dog and of she gets underfoot in the kitchen when I’ve asked her to get out… I’ll push her out!

fact is your poor boy has had a very restricted social life because of this dog. He’s not been able to ever have friends over.

and…. What the heck must your poor neighbours have to endure