Ask Me Help Desk - My boyfriend told me it's him or the ever barking dog

I have a 3 year old Malti Poo (a maltese mixed with a poodle). He's very cute and affectionate... but LOUD and naughty.

He sometimes goes to the bathroom on the floor or carpet when his housebreaking pads are in a different room.

He barks at EVERYONE and EVERYTHING!! I can't shut him up. The neighbors say he is quiet when I'm not home, but barks incessantly when I am (even in the middle of the night). I understand (sort of) when he hears another dog bark in the distance, but he barks at cars going by, the kids playing next door, bunnies in the yard... EVERYTHING!! My boyfriend HATES my dog and has pretty much told me that it is going to one day come down to a choice between him and my puppy.

This past weekend, even my father (who was visiting for the weekend) commented on how loud and noisy Kokopelli was and how he (my elderly father) needed to use earplugs to be able to sleep.

WHAT DO I DO AND HOW?? I work full time and I'm out all day. How do I remain consistent?

Thanks!

Many people don't like this option but my choice was this or get rid of my dogs (there were some threats that my dogs would disappear when I wasn't around also and the term "pit bull bait" was used). A bark control collar. I only put the collar on when my dogs are going outside which is where they bark and irritate my neighbors. As soon as they come in the door I remove it. If you try one just use it when the problem is the most serious. If your dog doesn't bark when you aren't home then you wouldn't need to leave it on him at that time. Many people will tell you this is cruel but my dogs learned very quickly that if they don't bark they don't get shocked. The shocks are low grade and cause discomfort but not pain. I know because I tried it on myself before I put it on my dogs. But, brace yourself for those who think you are terrible and cruel because they will tell you so.

You and the boyfriend both need to work with your dog on training. He has to respect everyone in the house. Get up early and play with him for a few minutes before you leave in the day. Before bedtime play with him and take him for a nice walk. Maybe he will sleep better.If boyfriend forced the dog issue I would have to wonder what else he would force later on. He may have to find a new dog house himself! If you are going to let him use the pads keep them where he knows where to find them. (same place all of the time)

Grrrrrrrrrrr, bushg! More hints are available by Googling. The vet will know of tricks and techniques too.

Wondergirl, I paid 50 dollars an hour for a private dog trainer. I believe he was well worth it. But I have also seen some of his information/tips and techniques on the web and in some of the books that I have read. So, I think that good information can be found in various places. Of course you do have to weed out the bad advice, esp. when advocating choke chains, pinch collars,shock collars, cattle prongs.breaking a dogs spirit etc... Some items if not used proplerly can harm a dog physically or physiologically. Some items regradless of how they are used can make a dog distrust you forever.

Sorry about the Google advice. We librarians know how to sort the good stuff from the bad. I should have advised to go to the library and get stuff by the Monks of New Skete or other reputable dog trainers in book/tape/CD format.

The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts. Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at Raising Your Dog with the Monks of New Skete For more on being top dog, see Establishing and Keeping Alpha Position, Letting your dog know you are the boss

The above are fundamental techniques I suggest for almost all behavior problems and should help with barking too. The truth is, Labs usually don't bark that much and I don't have methods of controlling barking that I have been successful using. It isn't even in the manual for them. The manual does have a suggested reading list which I put in the sticky at the top of the dog forum. One I have read is The Other End of the Leash by Patrica McConnell.

She suggests the first step is not to yell at the dog. After all, usually if one dog starts to bark, any others around will to. So yell at your dog when it barks and it is happy to have you bark with it. Quietly tell it enough and walk over to it with a treat, doesn't need to be very big. Let him know you have it and use it to lure him away from what he is barking at if anything, and praise him as he shifts his attention to the treat and away from barking. Once away from where he was barking, give him the treat.

Unlike much of my other advice, this is not something I have tried and found works. It does come from a reliable source and I would trust it more than something I found on a website I know little about. I just hope she isn't smart enough to figure out if she barks, she gets a treat plus your attention.

Quote:

Originally Posted by alimah1223

I have a 3 year old Malti Poo (a maltese mixed with a poodle). He's very cute and affectionate...but LOUD and naughty.

He sometimes goes to the bathroom on the floor or carpet when his housebreaking pads are in a different room.

He barks at EVERYONE and EVERYTHING!!! I can't shut him up. The neighbors say he is quiet when I'm not home, but barks incessantly when I am (even in the middle of the night). I understand (sort of) when he hears another dog bark in the distance, but he barks at cars going by, the kids playing next door, bunnies in the yard...EVERYTHING!!! My boyfriend HATES my dog and has pretty much told me that it is going to one day come down to a choice between him and my puppy.

This past weekend, even my father (who was visiting for the weekend) commented on how loud and noisy Kokopelli was and how he (my elderly father) needed to use earplugs to be able to sleep.

WHAT DO I DO AND HOW???? I work full time and I'm out all day. How do I remain consistent?

Thanks!

Can't be much of a boyfriend if he wants you to get rid of your beloved dog! What's next? "Lose weight or I'm gone"? "Your kid or me"? I say shut the real dog up- out with the man!