any suggestions for Marley
Most people here on the blog know that I show Marley, therefore he must remain intact. He hasn’t shown any behaviors associated with an intact male, and we’ve all heard the horror stories. He is the sweetest tempered boy, and very loving, but when he first meets someone he act like a vicous beast. My problem is when I take him outside to take care of business. He is fine unless he sees someone, and then he becomes insane, he barks, pulls against the leash, chokes himself, whines repeatedly, and totally forgets why we’re outside. Now I have tried squirt bottles, nose makers, treats for not barking when he sees someone, and have even taken him out of the yard to face whoever it is he is barking so vicously at, hoping this will help the next time he sees this person, it doesn’t. I don’t know if this behavior is because he’s intact, or if it’s just his personality. I hate to blame every undesirable behavior on him being intact, I’m sure some of it is his personality? Now when we go to dog shows he will bark when we pull into the parking lot, but once outside of the car, he stops? Now I know many of you don’t agree with Cesar Milan’s philosphy on dogs, and this is fine, but I happen to really like him. What I’m seeing is at the dog shows, the majority of dogs are calm, so Marley is calm. He will get his undies in a bunch if another dog is acting up though. In my yard the kids are on skateboards, people yelling, kids running, and of course I’m not in a very calm state because of his behavior, and I’m sure he can sense this? Many people have told me to try a shock collar or bark collar. Has anyone ever used one? I just don’t like the thought of shocking my boy, it just seems so barbaric to me, and I don’t want to hear him yelp out because I had to shock him, it just doesn’t seem right? My husband thinks we really need one, but I just can’t bring myself to do this to him? Does anyone have any thoughts? I know they make those collars that spray some mist in their nose when they bark, supposedly it’s safe? I’m torn because on one end I’m getting extremely frustrated with his barking, but then again I can’t phathom doing something to him that would cause him to feel pain? Maybe I’m just being oversensitive or something. If anyone has any suggestions feel free to let me know, I’m willing to try anything:) I just ask that nobody suggest getting him neutered because this is not a cure all. Just nice friendly suggestions would be helpful, maybe some of you have experienced the same type of behavior and something worked? The squirt bottle worked for about 3 days, then he just let me squirt him to my hearts content, all the while continuing to bark, I admit this made me laugh:)) None of my other boys bark like this, they bark every once in awhile, but not all the time like Marley. Thanks everyone, Bobbi
July 26, 2007 @ 6:07 am
I tried the collar that beeps on Rhuari,all it did was drive me bonkers and he ignored it right from the start,it was suppose to have 2 setting,one of which only the dog should hear,well I could hear it which ever setting it was on.
I am thinking of getting a wall mouted gadget which will control more than just Rhuari,most times I can get them to stop within the first outburst but there are times when they really let rip.
I have also toyed with the citronella ones but as Rhuari comes to me to get sprayed with body spray when I am getting dressed in the mornings I can’t see the squirt of citronella smell is going to deter him.
Good Luck finding a solution. I take it he isn’t like this at the shows so it is a guarding instinct which is coming to the fore.
Rhona
July 26, 2007 @ 6:56 am
Bobbi before you resort to a shock collar or the like, remember that you are extremely bonded to Marley and he of all your doggies senses your stress and tension. You probably tense up without even knowing it as soon as you even THINK someone might be going past your house that he will bark at.
I agree with Rhona that he is probably just doing his best to keep his MOMMA safe!!! Good LUCK with trying to curb that behavior.
Unless your neighbors are complaining about the noise, I wouldn’t be so worried about his barking.
Laura
July 26, 2007 @ 8:08 am
I am going through this with Toby and he is 1 1/2 yrs old. I had all 3 of mine in their ex pen recently outside…and a neighbor that Toby doesn’t seem to fond of came over and the dogs went nuts with the barking. As I tried to calm them and quiet them, the neighbor put his arm down into the pen and Toby made a mark on is arm!! I have had other people come over into the yard, and after the dogs do their initial barking, they usually will calm down and go back to playing. At the same time, anyone walking by, walking up, they start the grumbling all over again. I have tried the pennies in the can, works most of the time. I also considered the citronella collars. I have decided to start Toby with a trainer starting next week. I want to really get a grip on this ASAP!!! I do not want anyone getting hurt, and I am not sure he meant to bite, and he is already neutered. I did take all 3 to the Milwaukee Doxie meet up, and he got along with everyone!!! It could be he just felt intimidated by this neighbor? Anything you find out please share!!!
Thanks
July 26, 2007 @ 8:36 am
Dear Clan & Everyone else:
Let me introduce myself a little: I’m An trainer/instructor/behaviorlist, have had Doxies for weel over 25 years, along with Dobes and Coonhounds>
First, since the squirt “gun” (not bottle) didn’t work, you missed a step. For those of you who would like to try to decrease your dogs barking, here it is…please, please don’t vary from it.
Use…small “SQUIRT GUNS”, bottles do not work.
Have them lie in dishes all over the house.
Have dog cookies lieing with the guns.
You MUST practice/train this IN SIDE the home for a month. Can only use it outside AFTER trained inside.
Decide how much barking you’ll allow…I have multiple dogs, so 4 barks is enough.
1) When ever the dog barks it’s limit of barks, squirt the dog a few times WHILE saying QUIET, this is to DISRUPT the barking.
2) At the SPLIT SECOND the dog stops, it’s your job to praise and quickly STICK A DOG BISCUIT (treat) in the dogs mouth.
You MUST do this every time the dog barks within the house.
Result: Within a few weeks or days (if lucky) the dog will bark the four times an COME LOOKING FOR YOU FOR THE TREAT.
You’ve taught the dog, it’s okay to protect the house by alerting the owners something is going on, you’ve done your job, so come find me and i’ll give you a reward !
Again…..do NOT use the “Quiet” command or squirt guns outside, UNTIL you see the dog come looking for YOU for the reward.
Eventually you will not have to use the squirt GUNS….just say or yell “Quiet” & the dog will come looking for it’s reward…..You can then start varying the number of times you give a cookie. Picture this….I live in the City, with a Coonhound…..now what can be more distribing to my neighbors who live 5 ft. from me, than a Coonhound baying…..only thing I need to do is say QUIET & she obeys. So do all four of my Dachshunds.
OKAY: electric shock collars…..I can’t go there to much….hate them, cruel, inhumane….I’d like to turn them all the way up & place them on the OWNERS and shock THEM.
Cytranella Collars: Not sure the spelling is correct. My friends with labs and Vizulas have used them will great success. Not cruel what so ever. The liquid in them is actually pleasant to US, kind of smells like oranges, but dogs HATE the smell. So if you want quick results and willing to spend the $$, that’s the way to go. Only thing I’ve witnessed, the dogs DO know when those collars are on them, when off, dogs DO bark.
Good Luck
Karen & McTavish
July 26, 2007 @ 8:51 am
Moira
Just had to drop you a note:
Your Neighbor: okay, was it smart to put a arm down into a pack of barking, jumping dogs ? NO
Who’s fault was it that the neighbor got bite?
The NEIGHBOR……..as humans, we are supposet to have better reasoning and BE SMARTER THAN THE DOGS we care for.
Think about this, ALL dogs WILL guard their territory….. ALL speciies do, even humans.
So, saying that, think about this…… you’ve got them ALL confined within a “small” area, the X-pen, of course they are going to bark when anyone approches. What do you expect, them to lie quietly, belly up? The are not spaniels, Dachshunds are NOT a submissive breed….geez !
Toby has decided that HE must (since you aren’t doing a pack leaders job)protect the pack. It’s your job to let Toby know that everything is okay and YOU’LL handle it, not Toby. Toby did not bite the neighbor because he was intimidated by your neighbor, Toby is trying to tell YOU something. I always tell my clients and students…..when your dog doesn’t like someone or something, there IS a reason, you just have to figure it out. LISTEN to Toby, he obviously knows more about the neighbor than you do. You ask, why then don’t the rest of the dogs react like Toby to the neighbor ? Because THEY know Toby will handle it & obviously Toby is the pack leader.
I’m goad your going to a trainer, I pray this trainer uses Positive Reinforcement. The old jerk, pull, push and hit will only increase aggression in a territorial dog. This person your going to should be educating YOU on how dogs function first.
Actually I’d recommend a BEHAVIORLIST, not a trainer for your situation. Not every trainer knows how dogs function, they just know what style of training works for THEIR breed of dogs.
Ask this trainer what dogs they OWN, if it’s solely large, dogs like Goldens, Labs or German Shepherds……go find someone else. Small dogs are NOT trained like large dogs.
Believe me, I have all sizes and personalities.
Good Luck Toby
Karen & McTavish (Wirehair Dachshund, Agility titled, tracking titled, obedience titled and loving pet )
July 26, 2007 @ 8:56 am
For Marley’s owner
Ooops, forgot it….No suggesetion for neutering, your issue is nothing to do with that. Besides, dogs have to be neutered by age of 6 months, or younger for it to be any beneif in this type of situation.
People wait to long for neutering, once the actions become part of the dogs personality, you’d need to seek a behaviorlist.
I’m sure that would help more.
July 26, 2007 @ 9:34 am
First off Bobbi, please don’t use the electric shock collars! My MIL used one that she had control of (the kind that has a handheld gadget with button to administer the shock) on her JRT and the poor thing lost his marbles completely! What a nut case he was by the time he was 10 months old. As for the kind that automatically shock when they bark, I have seen one of those on wire haired fox terrier (a large one at that) and it was almost as bad as in the movie Fun With Dick and Jane! Yipes!
Now, as to your problem, first it isn’t an intact issue at all. My worst barkers here are two spayed females! LOL! So no need for anyone to even suggest that! I agree that he is most likely keying in on your agitation and protecting his home front and you. At the shows you are in a different mood and so, therefore, is he! Relax and don’t sweat it! It will be better for you both.
That said, there is one trick that I read a while back and I thought it was a most excellent way to go. What the article said was in order to make your dog stop barking you need to first teach him to bark.
It went on to explain that you teach the dog to bark on command, i.e. “speak” as your key word to get them to bark. So every time he barks you say “speak” until he starts to associate “speak” with barking (make sure you reinforce with a special treat and praise too). Once he is barking on command fairly regularly start teaching “quiet” to silence the barking. Hope that helps!
July 26, 2007 @ 2:07 pm
I like the idea of teaching him to speak, and then teaching quiet, it makes perfect sense:)) Louie and Leo both know how to speak, so why not teach Marley:)) I just can’t bring myself to use a shock collar, it just seems so cruel to shock my baby, but just wanted to see what others thought:)Laura you had a good point too, since I’ve worked so closely with Marley, I’m sure he’s in tune to my emotions more than I even think, and I do anticipate whenever we go outside that he is going to act up. I remember once in class, the instructor told me to relax when getting Marley set up on the table. She told me that before I even set him on the table I anticipate that he will not stand still for the judge, and this is what he picks up on. They never act like anything is on their mind, but they are always in tune to our emotions:)Rhona he does not act like this at a show, just when we pull into the parking lot:) He’s not even barking in the yard out of anger, when I do get him to settle down, he starts whinning. Sometimes I think he just wants to play, he does love people of all ages, and he wouldn’t hurt anybody, this I’m not worried about. The neighbors don’t say anything, never has any one of them complained. Thanks everyone, and I will just work on changing how I am before we even step foot outside:)))) Bobbi
July 26, 2007 @ 3:52 pm
Just a comment. In my opinion…when he is at home he is in HIS TERRITORY. When he is at dog shows, he is in strange territory….not his own, no need to protect or defend it.
July 26, 2007 @ 4:36 pm
Hi Bobbi…you will find a solution to this problem. It sounds like all of your doxies have a great personality. Marley is still young, I think he will be just fine. I think what Cesar Milan says is right…I think they can feel our emotions! They know when we are happy, sad, or scared. I understand you frustration, Wilbur does the same thing. He is the sweetest dog, but he can sound so terrible when he barks at someone! Good Luck Bobbi….you are a great doxie mom….you will be just fine with whatever decision you make!
July 26, 2007 @ 6:30 pm
I agree especially with Aunty D and with Frosty. Would Obedience lessons in a group setting possibly be an option for you? If he were reminded to heel for instance and of his basic manners perhaps this would carry over for outtings. If he is already solid on basic obedience, perhaps try a more advanced class. A couple other suggestions; work on YOU to really relax. Maybe get those kids on skateboards to help by coming by slowly with treats, if he’s too excitable for them to hand him a treat they can jackpot him by tossing him a few treats on the ground. Another option may be to try and interrupt his focus on barking with a harmless, light, no-contact startle, like tap your leg with a newspaper or something–just to make him look at you and interrupt him for a second. Then give him a treat and keep trying things like this, if you persist I think its curable. It just might take some time. Hope this helps; just my thoughts.