My dogs bark too much! Help!

[twinboysmom]

We are moving to an apartment in a few months and I have two dogs that really like to bark. It's not a big deal now as we live in a large home on a huge lot but moving to an apartment changes things. My dogs are stubborn and everything's have tried to do to stop this behavior has failed. It is mostly a concern of mine that they will bark when thy are unattended in the apartment. It was difficult to find a place that was willing to accept us because of the animals so I do not want behaviors to risk having our lease terminated. I see items on the Internet that supposedly stop barking. Anybody have any experience with these? Anything work for anybody for nuisance barking?

Disclosure because I know some will ask or suggest. Yes, we have to move to an apartment. We are moving out of state for medical reasons for my children and will have a house that has not sold. No, I can't give the dogs away if I wish to stay married (and nobody can watch them for us either).

Suggestions are appreciated as this problem seriously adds to the overall stress of an already very stressful situation. Thanks.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

What kind of dogs are they? How old Are they? And what's their history?

 

[JessB320]

Have you tried a certified animal behaviorist? That's where I would start

 

[twinboysmom]

What kind of dogs are they? How old Are they? And what's their history?

Both female, one basset hound, one Heinz 57 mutt. The basset genrally starts it all, she is the most problematic. Really no history. They have lived with us since they were puppies (age 4 and 3 now). Inside dogs, no abuse issues, a little spoiled. I do have an older basset hound (11) but have no barking issues with her.

 

[twinboysmom]

Have you tried a certified animal behaviorist? That's where I would start

Looked at that. We have one in our area and the fees are out of our league. Apparently I am in the wrong business. Talked to our vet about this and she wasn't overly impressed with this particular service provider.

 

[Maryr1]

I have heard that the easiest way to cure nuisence barking is to teach the dog to bark on command. When the dog barks, give it a treat with the command "speak" keep that up for a bit until they associate the bark with the treat and the command. Then start giving the command when they are quiet-when they respond with a bark-give them the reward. DO NOT reward barking that occurs when they are not given the command at this point. I have dogs, but they aren't really barkers so I haven't had to do this, but my dog trainer swears by it. Good luck!

 

[Tinijocaro]

Our two bichons used to sit on our couch barking as people walked by or came to our door. It was constant.

We moved to a dead end street where there are hardly any walkers on our street and I rarely hear them bark any more.

What do your dogs bark at? Is it possible that they won't have as much to bark at living in an apartment?

 

[WDSearcher]

Check with one of the dog trainers at either a nearby PetSmart or PetCo. Barking is the most common problem they work with. They should have resources you can go to for help.

Is there a trigger for the barking? Bassetts are barkers, so getting them to stop completely may be asking a lot! But if you can narrow it down to triggers, you may be able to limit their vocalizing.

 

[IheartMickey]

I got something from the Doctors Foster and Smith catalog that was about $30 and when it recognizes the sound of a bark it emits a slightly uncomfortable sound that only dogs can hear. It also has a button that you can use as well. When my dog was a puppy she would start barking as soon as I woke up (around 4am) and I had upstairs neighbors. All it took was a few uses and she stopped.

 

[sunshinehighway]

Bassets are just loud dogs. Its just who they are and I don't think there's much you can do about it. I think it's a hound thing.

There are websites and message boards for basset hound owners. Basset.net is one. Maybe you can find some advice there.

 

[LJRJR]

I dont have a dog, but my sisters dog barks constantly at outside noise. She bought some type of "white noise" machine, just like having a machine or vacuum running. She runs it in the house when no one is home. The noise is low enough that her neighbor attached to her cant hear it, but the noise blocks outside noises that the dog would bark at.

 

[padams]

I got something from the Doctors Foster and Smith catalog that was about $30 and when it recognizes the sound of a bark it emits a slightly uncomfortable sound that only dogs can hear. It also has a button that you can use as well. When my dog was a puppy she would start barking as soon as I woke up (around 4am) and I had upstairs neighbors. All it took was a few uses and she stopped.

I bought that sound thing for my barky terrier and it didn't work on my dog. i am now trying one of those citronella collars. My dog generally doesn't like wearing a collar or harness so just the sight of the collar seems to quiet him. I work from home so when he barks, the citronella colar goes on. I don't know if this will work long term.

Looking forward to others' suggestions.

Good luck OP!

 

[minkydog]

Both female, one basset hound, one Heinz 57 mutt. The basset genrally starts it all, she is the most problematic. Really no history. They have lived with us since they were puppies (age 4 and 3 now). Inside dogs, no abuse issues, a little spoiled. I do have an older basset hound (11) but have no barking issues with her.

Ugh. We had a neighbor one time who had a Basset hound. That dog barked from the time she left for work, until she came back at the end of the day. And by barked, I mean HOWLED without end. Nothing they tried helped. I guess a lot of neighbors complained and they nearly got kicked out of th complex. They finally had tojust rehome the dog.

Good luck

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

No advice, just wishing you good luck OP. some dogs are bred to be vocal and I've heard it can be h@ll trying to break them of their natural instinct.

 

[mad madam mim78]

I'm sure I'll get completely flamed but we use a remote control shock collar. It seems bad until it fixes your problem. We never used it for barking. We put it on him to go outside to potty because we don't have a fenced in yard. We rarely have to use the shock because the vibrate seems to get his attention enough.

A friend of ours had a similiar problem. They lived in an apartment and the dog barked at EVERYTHING. They got the shock collar and it only took a couple of zaps before the dog realized barking was a no-no. It has changed their lives. He rarely barks now and if he does they only have to give him the warning vibrate and he calms down.

 

[crz4mm2]

How about bark collars?

 

[hsmamato2]

I got something from the Doctors Foster and Smith catalog that was about $30 and when it recognizes the sound of a bark it emits a slightly uncomfortable sound that only dogs can hear. It also has a button that you can use as well. When my dog was a puppy she would start barking as soon as I woke up (around 4am) and I had upstairs neighbors. All it took was a few uses and she stopped.

this would be bad, one dogs barking would set off the others collar

 

[2goofycampers]

We did group dog training. The trainer kept a squirt bottle full of water with her at all times. If a dog barked, she squirted it. Each class had less barking.

 

[twinboysmom]

Thanks for everybody's help. It is so frustrating. We do have a shock collar for her (and she is stubborn enough to ignore it at times) but I am not comfortable with the ones that you leave on and they shock automatically when they bark. I am scared it could malfunction, etc. I am starting the spray bottle and I might try the citronella collar too. I was hoping some had had luck with the expensive anti bark machines that always get bad reviews but I see not one poster did.

 

[sunshinehighway]

Thanks for everybody's help. It is so frustrating. We do have a shock collar for her (and she is stubborn enough to ignore it at times) but I am not comfortable with the ones that you leave on and they shock automatically when they bark. I am scared it could malfunction, etc. I am starting the spray bottle and I might try the citronella collar too. I was hoping some had had luck with the expensive anti bark machines that always get bad reviews but I see not one poster did.

Does there seem to be something she is trying to tell you by barking? Maybe if you can figure out why she's barking you can find a way to stop it. My basset usually barks when he feels he is being ignored and he wants attention. He won't stop until he gets attention.

I don't know if traditional methods to stop barking would work for you. Bassets just seem to have a mind of their own and don't respond like other dogs. They are really wonderful dogs, even with their quirks. I hope you did a solution.