Insane barking... Update: Problem solved..NOW disscussing feedings/crating/etc on pg4

[borzoimom]

When I lived in town in a townhouse row, the dog on the end would bark all day as well.. Suddenly it stopped- .. One day I was out walking Hottie when I saw the dog in the window- realized the dog was barking but I could not hear it. I found out later the dog was "debarked".. ( NOW PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE A STROKE YET..).. Later I was talking to the owner, and at first I was outraged for such a procedure, until I heard the owners words. They were faced with getting rid of their dog- even moving before they dog still had problems when alone- after all failed attempts, but loving their dog, and wishing to keep the dog in their family, their vet debarked the dog.
I had a dog that was debarked before- that way when I bought the dog- and it makes a raspy/almost whisper type bark- enough for some noise, but its silent. I am only tossing this out for one reason- training takes time- and I am not sure how much time you have. Also remember- this is a surgery and its permanent. Vets will do it if it means without it, the dog would loose their family. Its only done to save the " relationship" between the owner and dog. Most vets WILL NOT do this for someone that has 'a kennel' of dogs and want quiet- this is done to save the relationship to allow you to keep your dog and continue to work on the problem with seperation anxiety training- toys to keep busy and radios on for noise etc..
I expect to get slammed for this idea- and only state it because the title " before the cops come"... etc.. You obviously love your dog very much- and I am trying to throw out another idea ..
Other options such as dog day care etc are the first ideas that came to my mind- I am tossing out the last option.
My daughter adopted a papillion- my daughter was getting complaints and although we were working on it, she got a final notice on her apartment. We looked into this. Luckily her schedule changed so basically the dog is never left, meanwhile training continued, and now he is a lovely little companion with no complaints- but it came awfully close. He was actually going to come to my house during the week...
It is a surgical procedure. You will have to be home - or someone for 3 days with the dog to prevent barking while they heal. And needs to be done by a vet that has done this before so there is no scar tissue. And remember- barking is a form of communication so you need to consider this as well...
( now I am ducking behind under my table for the down fall to this post- but I refuse to delete it- its an option seldom done- seldom discussed- but assures that the dog owner relationship can continue as I have noooo idea how much you really mean the cops are coming...)

[king2005]

When I lived in town in a townhouse row, the dog on the end would bark all day as well.. Suddenly it stopped- .. One day I was out walking Hottie when I saw the dog in the window- realized the dog was barking but I could not hear it. I found out later the dog was "debarked".. ( NOW PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE A STROKE YET..).. Later I was talking to the owner, and at first I was outraged for such a procedure, until I heard the owners words. They were faced with getting rid of their dog- even moving before they dog still had problems when alone- after all failed attempts, but loving their dog, and wishing to keep the dog in their family, their vet debarked the dog.
I had a dog that was debarked before- that way when I bought the dog- and it makes a raspy/almost whisper type bark- enough for some noise, but its silent. I am only tossing this out for one reason- training takes time- and I am not sure how much time you have. Also remember- this is a surgery and its permanent. Vets will do it if it means without it, the dog would loose their family. Its only done to save the " relationship" between the owner and dog. Most vets WILL NOT do this for someone that has 'a kennel' of dogs and want quiet- this is done to save the relationship to allow you to keep your dog and continue to work on the problem with seperation anxiety training- toys to keep busy and radios on for noise etc..
I expect to get slammed for this idea- and only state it because the title " before the cops come"... etc.. You obviously love your dog very much- and I am trying to throw out another idea ..
Other options such as dog day care etc are the first ideas that came to my mind- I am tossing out the last option.
My daughter adopted a papillion- my daughter was getting complaints and although we were working on it, she got a final notice on her apartment. We looked into this. Luckily her schedule changed so basically the dog is never left, meanwhile training continued, and now he is a lovely little companion with no complaints- but it came awfully close. He was actually going to come to my house during the week...
It is a surgical procedure. You will have to be home - or someone for 3 days with the dog to prevent barking while they heal. And needs to be done by a vet that has done this before so there is no scar tissue. And remember- barking is a form of communication so you need to consider this as well...
( now I am ducking behind under my table for the down fall to this post- but I refuse to delete it- its an option seldom done- seldom discussed- but assures that the dog owner relationship can continue as I have noooo idea how much you really mean the cops are coming...)

This idea was going to be our absolute last resort (if we got a final notice kind of thing).

We honestly have no idea how serious the neighbours are about calling the cops (we don't know them)... We have only lived in this townhouse complex for 2 weeks & we've had the dogs 1 week.

We refuse to put the dogs through the shelter BS again. People have adopted these 2 in the past & returned them (so we were told). BUT we also can't loose our home, as we cannot afford to pick up & move again & saddly we have to come first, but will fight hard to correct the dogs & keep them in our family.

We're just all really stressed out because of this, but we're trying.

[borzoimom]

Honey- you have the right to keep your dogs.. Complexes are hard, and I know it can get serious real fast. It is a option..
Now remember- this doesnt SOLVE the inward problem. The dog is still anxious when you leave but it does solve the problems with the neighbors. YOu will still need to work with things so the dog learns to relax when you are gone- but it does allow you to keep the relationship.
I know you love your dogs-..

[king2005]

Honey- you have the right to keep your dogs.. Complexes are hard, and I know it can get serious real fast. It is a option..
Now remember- this doesnt SOLVE the inward problem. The dog is still anxious when you leave but it does solve the problems with the neighbors. YOu will still need to work with things so the dog learns to relax when you are gone- but it does allow you to keep the relationship.
I know you love your dogs-..

I know its not going to solve Mr. Biggles problem, but it'll give us time to work on that (only if things get that bad, I hope they don't) in a proper manor... I still vote no to the procedure, as we like when they bark at the door, as we live in a not so nice Getto (6 murders last year, 5 were gang member shoot outs), so they'll keep creeps away from our home (even though the dogs are harmless, creeps don't know that).

At lunch time I'm going to petsmart to buy some of that rescue remedy.. Both dogs will get it, so Bear will be relaxed too, as when Mr. Biggles gets worked up, she gets stressed & poops on the floor (but not nearly as bad as Mr. Biggles, she'll try to hold it & will only poop a little at a time).

I just need to call a vet to see if the rescue remedy can be mixed with Bears Hypothyroid medication.. Can never be too safe, I don't want there to be a toxic mix or something.

[cyber-sibes]

There will probably be people here who will get on me for it, but I DID use a shock collar with my rottie/aussie, Rosie. She barked a lot, especially at night. She was fine as a puppy, but started barking as an adult. We worked really hard at trying to train her out of it, but still found myself getting up at 1 am or 2 am and spending an hour quieting her down. This went on for months. So we did resort to a shock collar. I used it on me first, and it did surprise you with a shock, but it didn't "hurt". You have to train them with the collar. Ours came with a video on how to train. Using it solved the barking problem quickly. The one we used had a progressive shock, so it started out very mild. if the dog kept barking, it got stronger. The most I ever heard her bark in a row was twice. After a while, all I had to do was strap it on her (which I did every night) without turning it on, and she knew to be quiet. She also got to know that "Quiet, no bark" meant no barking. I always rewarded her being quiet with lavish attention & treats.

I would certainly invest in a shock collar (ours was about $75.00) before I'd consider de-barking a dog- that seems "shocking" to me.

[borzoimom]

King- get those plug ins used for a dog that is nervous.. I know the procedure is the last resort- ...

[king2005]

King- get those plug ins used for a dog that is nervous.. I know the procedure is the last resort- ...

Plug-ins??

[Freedom]

I had another thought, and I'm glad I got back on the PC after reading all this!

If the cookies and neighborly chat don't work, maybe contact a behaviourist. Then, if things escalate and the police get involved, being able to show you got someone official involved and he / she estimates it will take "this long" to fix, may help. The place where you adopted may be able to recommend someone.

Once upon a time, a new young mother had a baby with colic. The baby cried and screamed and basically drove everyone crazy around her. The neighbors complained to the police, worried that maybe the baby was being hurt. Fortunately, the mom and dad had already taken the baby in to the doctor, had the diagnosis of colic, and were in the process of switching foods. They could say it would take XXX amount of time - just a few days. The police DID contact the pediatrician, just to make sure this was all true.

I was that baby.

Good luck!
Sandra

[king2005]

There will probably be people here who will get on me for it, but I DID use a shock collar with my rottie/aussie, Rosie. She barked a lot, especially at night. She was fine as a puppy, but started barking as an adult. We worked really hard at trying to train her out of it, but still found myself getting up at 1 am or 2 am and spending an hour quieting her down. This went on for months. So we did resort to a shock collar. I used it on me first, and it did surprise you with a shock, but it didn't "hurt". You have to train them with the collar. Ours came with a video on how to train. Using it solved the barking problem quickly. The one we used had a progressive shock, so it started out very mild. if the dog kept barking, it got stronger. The most I ever heard her bark in a row was twice. After a while, all I had to do was strap it on her (which I did every night) without turning it on, and she knew to be quiet. She also got to know that "Quiet, no bark" meant no barking. I always rewarded her being quiet with lavish attention & treats.

I would certainly invest in a shock collar (ours was about $75.00) before I'd consider de-barking a dog- that seems "shocking" to me.

This will be tried before we go the de-barking rout by far!!! The debarking was only a last resort idea...

Please don't get me wrong, I want to try to solve this properly first.. But having a plan B & a plan C never hurts incase Plan A doesn't work in time. I don't want to be panicking on what options I have last min, so planning a head is a smart route.

[Kfamr]

I personally would rehome my dog before mutilating them, I can't imagine anyone even suggesting that. That totally shocked me.

Other than the debarking, you have gotten some excellent advice. Yes, the shock collar is as bad as it sounds. He has seperation anxiety and a shock collar would only make it worse.

[borzoimom]

If you loved the dog- and a medical fix would work- I would.. They love the dog- and rehoming is NOT an option... " just get rid of the dog"- is that the mentality you are endorsing?????

[Kfamr]

If you loved the dog- and a medical fix would work- I would.. They love the dog- and rehoming is NOT an option... " just get rid of the dog"- is that the mentality you are endorsing?????

EXCUSE ME? You are not putting those words in my mouth lady.

Mutilating the dog is NOT loving the dog. I have never and will never endorse getting rid of an animal without a valid reason. If my "last option" were to mutilate my dog, I would rather find someone who would be able to train and care for him/her properly - or someone out in the country where barking would not be a problem.

However, Jess's problem with Mr. Biggles sounds like a minute one and should easily be fixed with time. No inhumane mutilating or rehoming should be needed.

[Karen]

If you loved the dog- and a medical fix would work- I would.. They love the dog- and rehoming is NOT an option... " just get rid of the dog"- is that the mentality you are endorsing?????

Nobody said they were endorsing that.

And Jess has gotten a lot of information here, which was her intent - to find out what the options and solutions might be.

I hope her neighbors accept the apology and allow a little time to work on the separation anxiety. Poor pup is 8 years old, and a recent pound rescue - anyone might have "separation anxiety" too if they were him!

[pitc9]

If you loved the dog- and a medical fix would work- I would.. They love the dog- and rehoming is NOT an option... " just get rid of the dog"- is that the mentality you are endorsing?????

"If you loved the dog..."
The thought of mutilating the dog would never enter one's mind.

What if a dog thought it's owner talked too much??
Should it have their voice box removed??

What do you think the shelter you adopted him from would this of this?