Dog training: Controlling barking  |
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|  My English springer spaniel, Max, has a thing about shadows. I've had him for three years now and he is approximately six years old. Until January we lived with my dad, but now we live in our own council flat, and spend a lot of time at my mom's house.
When the sun is shining, and creating shadows everywhere, Max barks his head off. It doesn't matter if we're in the house, sitting on a bench in the park, or standing at the bus stop; if there's a shadow, he will bark at it.
We're currently attending Canine Good Citizen classes and he's doing really well. Our trainer, Kay, says he's a very intelligent dog. She also said, however, that there is nothing she can do to help with the barking. She said that if he were a puppy she might be able to work with him, but since he's now, we just have to try to distract hjim with toys and thing whenever he starts to get upset.
It doesn't work. The only thing that works is closing the curtains when we're in the house, and obviously we don't want to have to do that all the time when they weather is so lovely.
I can't believe that nothing can be done to stop this habit of attacking shadows. He is a lovely dog and this is really the only thing I have to complain about with him. Does anybody have any ideas of how I can make this stop?
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 heleni0 (293)
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4 years ago
| | Thanks for the suggestion, fnf. I have seen those spray collars in online pet stores but I didn't want to buy one without knowing for sure that they work because they are quite expensive and I did try using a spray bottle of just plain water last year and it worked for a short time before he just got used to it. I also bought a D.A.P diffuser which was a complete waste of money.
I'll have another look at the collars though if you think it would help. | | | |
 fluffnflowers (1360)
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4 years ago
| |  I really think the DAP diffuser stuff is a bit of a gimmick. I wish you luck with what you try. You can get the collars more inexpensively than at Petsmart or Petco online or from a mail order catalogue like Care-a-lot, Drs Foster and Smith, or Petedge. Petedge's handling fee is a bit of a pain, unless you're doing a big order.
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| heleni0 (293)
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4 years ago
| | I only just saw that you replied again, since I didn't get an email alert for it. Thanks for the information. I meant to mention the collars to the woman who runs our Canine Good Citizen classes but since the test is coming up there wasn't really any time for chatting. I'll try and get there early next week and pick her brains about it. | | | |
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2.  laglen (7665)
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4 years ago
| |  Try using a small water gun. when your dog starts barking for no reason, give a quick squirt. Eventually your dog should stop. You must stay consistent.
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| heleni0 (293)
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4 years ago
| | Thanks for the suggestion, laglen. We did try the spray method last year, and it worked for a short time, but after a while he seemed to get used to it and it became completely ineffective. I really thought that it would work because he hates getting wet. | | | |
| laglen (7665)
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4 years ago
| | I see. Have you tried clickers? Sounds like your dog is going to do what he wants! lol Sorry | | | |
| heleni0 (293)
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4 years ago
| | *Sigh* I didn't know you'd responded to this again, and I only just saw it :\ I have tried clicker training, but the clicker broke and I got annoyed so I didn't buy another one! Just my luck really! It does seem like he's gonna do whatever he wants regardless! | | | |
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