How to stop dogs from barking

[sam_gordon]

DS and his fiancee are asking for tips. I've never owned a dog, so reaching out here.

They have two beagle pups, just over a year old. They got fixed in December. They,'ve gotten 3 noise complaints in the last couple months, so they're looking for solutions to keep more from happening.

One dog does have a barking collar.

The dogs are barking when they (DS and Fiancee) are gone. Dogs are in a crate together, covered, and music is playing.

Any other suggestions they can try?

TIA

 

[Turn the Page]

Perhaps thundershirts?

Unfortunately beagles are just a loud breed. There may not be much of anything they can do.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

Do they live in an apartment?

Because if not and the dogs are indoors then I don't see how they can be that loud that there are noise complaints.

Again if its not an apartment then the only time someone should be complaining is if its super late or super early and they are barking loudly.

Personally I don't like dogs being in a crate all day.
That's probably part of the reason they are barking so much.
Nothing to look at, not being able to walk around etc.

Perhaps something like doggie daycare would be more appropriate especially if its happening when they are not home so they can't exactly control it.

 

[sam_gordon]

Yes, they are in an apartment.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Don't really have any advice but I wanted to concur with another poster about beagles being loud dogs. I had a beagle lab mix growing up and that girl would bark and howl all. the time. Tried everything to get her to stop but eventually gave up.

 

[fla4fun]

One of my coworkers got a beagle that was extremely noisy when they were at work, and also destructive as well. The vet said the dog was suffering from separation anxiety and that it was common with beagles. They tried several things but ultimately ended up rehoming the dog with a couple where someone was home during the day to be with the dog. She said the dog was much happier in their new home.

 

[evilmommie]

Are they getting exercise in the morning before the owners are out to work? Get some playtime in with stimulating toys, etc.
Can they have a dog walker come over and check on them, even just a few days during the week?
Or a doggie day care that they can go to?
Do they have toys in the crate that can help keep them entertained?
CBD Treats work well with one of my dogs that has anxiety.

 

[soccerdad72]

No clue - give them up for adoption?

Seriously, our 12 year old dachshund still barks and pretty much everything that moves outside. The vet keeps telling us that his eyes and starting to get cloudy looking but I swear, the dog can see a gnat flying 3 blocks away and bark at it.

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

Beagles are notoriously barkers and howlers. I know this isn't helpful now, but probably not the best breed for apartment living. Perhaps separating them in two crates could help. DH and I had a beagle and I swear it's the only beagle anyone ever had that hardly barked. She was a very quiet dog, but she was also a bit older when we adopted her (we are pretty sure she was a failed hunting dog that someone just dumped) and the shelter we adopted her from made it very clear that she wasn't a barker even in the shelter when the other dogs would get riled up.

Unfortunately if in an apartment, then people can definitely hear the barking and it's disruptive. We live in an attached row house and we can hear the neighbors' dogs when they bark quite easily. They only bark for short spurts when someone comes to the door or drops a package etc. so it's not a big deal. But I could see it being a real problem if it was ongoing and we are dog people.

 

[LoveDaisy]

Have they considered doggy day care? Do they get enough exercise? Have they tried not using the crate? Unfortunately this is a trait for this breed so there is only so much you can do.

 

[sam_gordon]

Are they getting exercise in the morning before the owners are out to work? Get some playtime in with stimulating toys, etc.
Can they have a dog walker come over and check on them, even just a few days during the week?
Or a doggie day care that they can go to?
Do they have toys in the crate that can help keep them entertained?
CBD Treats work well with one of my dogs that has anxiety.

I know they take them out before going to school/work. Don't know if there's toys in the crate.

I do know the dogs were in separate crates while they recovered from getting fixed, and that wasn't good either.

DW is suggesting some training.

I think it is separation anxiety.

They got the dogs before they moved into the apartment and fiancee kept them in her mom's apartment. They've had them since the dogs were just a couple weeks old, so I'm hoping they don't have to rehome them, but may be the best solution.

 

[evilmommie]

I know they take them out before going to school/work. Don't know if there's toys in the crate.

I do know the dogs were in separate crates while they recovered from getting fixed, and that wasn't good either.

DW is suggesting some training.

I think it is separation anxiety.

They got the dogs before they moved into the apartment and fiancee kept them in her mom's apartment. They've had them since the dogs were just a couple weeks old, so I'm hoping they don't have to rehome them, but may be the best solution.

They definitely need training and a good trainer will address solutions to help the separation anxiety. Young dogs need a lot of exercise and purpose. Hoping the best outcome for all, as rehoming is tough on both owners and pups.

 

[tvguy]

Kind of a booming business around here is Doggie Daycare. Drop your dog off on the way to work, pick them up on the way home. They hang out with their friends all day, and the neighbors in the apartment complex don't have to listen to them barking.

 

[jdb in AZ]

i wish there was an easy solution. Our neighbors are dog-sitting for the guy's bro and the dog sounds like a blood hound being tortured. My DH finally mentioned it (tactfully) and the neighbor had no idea it was happening because the dog only barks when no one is home. They'll do what they can but they have another week before the bro/owner comes home.

 

[barkley]

just want to say that your son/fiance are fortunate to have what must be compasionate landlords-here on the 2nd complaint the tenant would have received notice of eviction (housing demand outweighs the upwards of $200 PER PET PER MONTH 'pet rent' in addition to standard rent landlords can be locally charging).

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

When I was a kid, our neighbors had a beagle. It was an outdoor dog and it spent many nights under my window howling and barking.

 

[slo]

This is a tough one, because you can’t train your dog to not do something if you’re not there to correct the negative behavior.

I’m a big believer in crate training, but I question if the dogs should be in the same crate. I’ve never had 2 dogs at the same time, but if I did, they’d be in their own crates - their own private spaces.

I wonder…..have these dogs ever been put in the crate as a punishment? The crate needs to be a happy safe place. My dogs always loved their crates, but I also never used them as a punishment. My dogs, including my current 9 month old, go lay in their crates (they have a one for night and one for when we leave the house) on their own - the door is left open when we are home - it’s their bedroom.

Your son definitely needs to seek out a good dog training facility to do some training classes where he can ask questions about this. All my dogs have done obedience training and not only does it help train the dog, but it helps train me even more.

I hope your son and his fiancé can get some help with this. I’m sure this is very stressful for them. Good luck to them both.

 

[Darcy03231]

Beagles are very loud dogs. We had a neighbor that had one and it barked/howled pretty much all day.

I'd say doggie day care in the short term so the dogs aren't there when they're not home and work with a trainer for a long term soultion.

 

[TippyThomas]

I kinda agree with some of the others. Beagles are just loud and very talkative by instincts and nature. Hate to say it, but the separation anxiety and stopping the reaction to it will more than likely be an unwinnable, uphill battle. Not saying it's not possible, but I think it will take more time, energy and work than most are willing to commit.

 

[Moliphino]

My dogs LOVE daycare. It can get expensive, though. Mine usually go 2 days a week, when we both have to go into the office.

But yeah, as everyone else has said, Beagles are just LOUD. Their barks are very loud and piercing compared to other breeds. I have a GSD/pyr mix and there's really no stopping the barking - she's a natural guard dog, it's in her genes.