Casey barks too much at the dog park

[caseysmom]

Casey has gone to this dog park off and on for 3 years. The problem is they are moving the dog park and upgrading and it will be closer to homes so the woman that runs it says we need to work on all the dogs barking.

It is pretty obnoxious when she just barks non stop.

[Husky15]

Casey has gone to this dog park off and on for 3 years. The problem is they are moving the dog park and upgrading and it will be closer to homes so the woman that runs it says we need to work on all the dogs barking.

It is pretty obnoxious when she just barks non stop.

I agree. But the people at the dog park and the lady have to realize this is a park for dogs. Dogs bark. It's what they do. If she has a problem with that she shouldn't put a dog park so close to homes. Sure it's only out of respect to keep your dogs from barking but people are supposed to be the smarter ones, so personally I don't think this lady shoulda moved the dog park so close that the people in their homes would hear them.

[Alasse]

A constantly barking dog is an annoyance and here all dogs are not permitted to bark excessively. They can be trained to not do it.

My dog barks if strangers are around but if he goes on and on, i repremand him, he stops. I don't like excessive barking and i do not believe anyone else should have to listen to my dog (or any dog) going on and on

[VTJess03]

I've been working with Belle and her constant barking too. While it's not a dog park issue (we don't actually have one close ), it's a nuisance anyway. She mostly just barks out the front door at anything that moves (mostly people on the sidewalk going past or squirrels). If it's more than just a soft 'whfff', I make her come to wherever I am and lie down (at least briefly), and if she's right up again to go to the door, I tell her 'no'. It seems to work, as long as I'm home anyway. I don't know if she acts like that while I'm gone...good thing I don't have any close neighbors right now.

Also, we've been going to 'school'...our current course is on footwork (for the people) and attention (for the dogs). The first lesson on 'attention' involves (1) sit-stay, (2) getting a treat in your hand, (3) getting the dog's attention on the treat, then bringing the treat up close to your eyes, (4) saying 'look' or 'watch', (5) sliding your hand slowly down against your body, which makes the dog focus on your hand, (6) then working up the time so that the dog's attention is focused on you for longer and longer, all while in sit-stay. You also then teach a release command, so that they know that they can go play. The idea is that when you use the command 'look' or 'watch', the dog will turn and look you in the face to see what's coming next. For me, the problem isn't necessarily that she's barking, it's that she's not paying attention to me when I ask her to. It's a more chronic issue than the barking alone in our case.

[caseysmom]

Alasse,

What exactly do you do? I am thinking maybe I should get a squirt bottle?

[Alasse]

I have used a spray bottle...but i mainly just use my voice...he knows when i mean business...when he is doing something he shouldn't be or his attention is , say on another dog.. I make a load deep gutteral 'ahhhhhh' and tell him to 'come' or 'leave it' depending on the situation..and he knows to continue on that path means trouble

I can't say enough about obedience schooling, basic commands are a must, specially as i have a large not overly friendly to strangers dog that without it would be a menace to people and difficult to live with, i personally never have or will use food treats for training...

I am boss and he knows it.