Barks constantly!

[TeddysMom08]

So glad I found this thread! My Teddy barks constantly all day while we are at work. We live in a condo and I have recently gotten some pretty nasty notes on my door about his barking and threats to call animal control for animal cruelty. I've tried everything to get Teddy to stop barking. I've tried the no bark command, just telling him no, the high frequency bark off devices, and I'm ashamed to say I even brought a shock collar as a last resort. It didn't even affect Teddy, for which I'm very happy because I felt absolutely horrible putting it on him. But he just continued to bark while the light on the collar blinked red to show that it was emitting the static. If anyone finds a spary collar that will fit a 10lb Yorkie please let me know. I'm at my wits end on what to do and really would rather not be forced to give up my baby because the neighbors complained!

[Islandcanine]

I am not sure what a spary collar is although a search on eBay may prove to be helpful. It is rather amazing what one can find there.

I just wanted to share my opinion, regarding Teddy barking when you are out. I can understand the urgency to solve this problem.

My Roxy was doing awesome until someone came in, unauthorized one day when I was out.. Back to the separation anxiety training. She is getting better now. She will be really good upon leaving, laying on her pillow on the couch but as soon as I am out the door and turn the key in the dead bolt, she is there barking.

Apparently she is quiet or rather not barking her head off when I am out and she is left at home but .. I know that if she hears someone outside she will bark.

I tend to leave a talk radio station on the radio for her so to drown out any outside noises. I believe that this helps and have read others recommending this tactic.
I also leave her with her favorite toys and some treats, even though she doesn't eat them when I am gone, it is for comfort. When we are out of town and I have to go out, I leave one of my fuzzy warm jackets on her favorite mat that she lays on, by the door until I get back.

There are some neat looking CD's on Amazon.com that are for dogs for when their Mom and or Dad are away and they have to stay at home by themselves.

I hope this helps. Obviously a "shock collar" isn't working.
Filling the void, I feel is part of the solution.. A talk show or even your own voice recorded..

When I first started working with Roxy's separation anxiety, I would leave a dictator recorder on,m that records on sound. This way, when I got home, I could review what she was doing when I was out. If she was crying or barking.
Helped tremendously to understand her anxiety and try to help her through it.

Maybe working with Teddy when you are home by going through the motions of separation anxiety may help. Giving him a lot of praise when he 'no bark'(s).
Have you tried to teach him 'no bark'? This may also lend a hand in solving this problem.

Just ideas. Good Luck.

Originally Posted by TeddysMom08

So glad I found this thread! My Teddy barks constantly all day while we are at work. We live in a condo and I have recently gotten some pretty nasty notes on my door about his barking and threats to call animal control for animal cruelty. I've tried everything to get Teddy to stop barking. I've tried the no bark command, just telling him no, the high frequency bark off devices, and I'm ashamed to say I even brought a shock collar as a last resort. It didn't even affect Teddy, for which I'm very happy because I felt absolutely horrible putting it on him. But he just continued to bark while the light on the collar blinked red to show that it was emitting the static. If anyone finds a spary collar that will fit a 10lb Yorkie please let me know. I'm at my wits end on what to do and really would rather not be forced to give up my baby because the neighbors complained!

[Islandcanine]

Hi Teddy's Mom; Please pardon this consecutive post.

I overlooked the fact that you have been using the no bark command..

May I mention that I too am still working on this with Roxy.
Not all tactics work. What works for one dog may not work for another.

I can honestly say that the no bark command has to be the hardest one yet to instill in her. She is very smart and picks up on things immediately but can be rather stubborn.
Barking is her only way of 'talking' so when she has something to say .. woof woof.

I find that teaching her the no bark is an ongoing thing.
Leaves me to conclude I must seek out other techniques in teaching her this command, to find one that will 'work' for her. No shock collars here though.

Persistence pays.

I hope that you both can get this worked out a.s.a.p.

[TeddysMom08]

Thanks for the advice! I know Teddy has some degree of separation anxiety but I've been working with him on it and I think he's gotten a little better. I believe his main problem stems from the crate. I've tried crate training him since I got him at 8 weeks. He has never liked it. Today I tried leaving him out and came home at lunch and all was well. He hadn't destroyed anything like I feared and there were no accidents to clean up. I left the radio on since I had read that on another thread. He wasn't barking when I pulled up and didn't even bark when I came in the front door. He was just sitting there patiently waiting for me to greet him. I've noticed an immediate difference in him just from one day of being out of his crate. He's calmmer and not as anxious. I'm going to try the video recorder tomorrow to see exactly how much he does bark when he's not in the cage. I'm hoping it's now minimal and nothing like before.

[Roccosmommy]

Originally Posted by TeddysMom08

Thanks for the advice! I know Teddy has some degree of separation anxiety but I've been working with him on it and I think he's gotten a little better. I believe his main problem stems from the crate. I've tried crate training him since I got him at 8 weeks. He has never liked it. Today I tried leaving him out and came home at lunch and all was well. He hadn't destroyed anything like I feared and there were no accidents to clean up. I left the radio on since I had read that on another thread. He wasn't barking when I pulled up and didn't even bark when I came in the front door. He was just sitting there patiently waiting for me to greet him. I've noticed an immediate difference in him just from one day of being out of his crate. He's calmmer and not as anxious. I'm going to try the video recorder tomorrow to see exactly how much he does bark when he's not in the cage. I'm hoping it's now minimal and nothing like before.

I'm sure that being out of the crate is helping. There's less anxiety and pent-up energy, and he may feel more in control by having his run of the house. Just be careful that everything is puppy-proofed, including the lid down on the toilet in the bathroom, and no dangling blind strings, etc. I do a "knee check" before I leave...I get on my hands and knees, and look for little dangers that may be hidden. Lol, the things we do for our little furbutts. Good luck with Teddy.

[TeddysMom08]

Thanks Roccosmommy! I came home from work and all was still well. We close off the bedroom and bathroom doors so all he has access to is the kitchen and living room. He definitely seems much happier now and isn't as hyper as he was before.

[Islandcanine]

Happy to read that Teddy appears to be doing better! Sweet.
Our precious babies.

When Roxy was left alone today she got a bit upset that I was leaving. Upon arriving home, she came out of the bedroom (oposite of the front door) with her head down, looking up and he tail down. Not her normal Happy Self when I come home.
I sensed that she was afraid, unsure, still IE: From whoever was in unauthorized that time.. Who knows what they did or said to her but it did change her secure feeling when Moma is gone.
She barked when I left. I don't think she continues to bark as no one has said anything.

When I first got Roxy, people told me to crate train her.
Roxy was a rescue so she had some issues. Mainly with confidence.
I was using the dictator recorder when I'd go out. She'd cry.
I tried the crate and she cried and cried. I even left toys, treats and fresh water with one of my sweat shirts but using the crate was definitely worse.
She has never been destructive to furniture, shoes or cords but loves paper. There was shredded paper on occasion when I'd come home but learned to not leave things on the coffee table that I don't need shredded. She loves to steal socks! lol.
Once I got rid of the crate and let her stay on her pillow and blanket on her end of the couch, she was totally fine. No more crying. For that year anyway, until the unauthorized access last year and now we have an issue again. Not too bad though but something we are continually working on though.
The radio works great. I have read that a talk show is better than music for whatever reason.
Hoping Teddy gets all better once he understands it is his job to watch over the place until you get home.

I know Roxy wants to come everywhere with me, I want her to too but she just can't always. It is hard sometimes when her sad little face drops down when she knows she has to stay home and then barks, on the other side of the door as I am walking away. Sometimes it is so high pitched as if to say No, don't leave me.

When we are out of town and I leave her alone, she doesn't do this routine of barking. She has her favorite spots and just goes and lays down. I give her a kiss till later and tell her that I will be back in a few hours. She is good.
I honestly feel that she is afraid at home that a stranger is going to come in again when I am not home.
Not sure how to fix this one, short of moving. She obviously doesn't feel safe in her own home, alone.
Best to you and Teddy, the cutie pie!

Originally Posted by TeddysMom08

Thanks for the advice! I know Teddy has some degree of separation anxiety but I've been working with him on it and I think he's gotten a little better. I believe his main problem stems from the crate. I've tried crate training him since I got him at 8 weeks. He has never liked it. Today I tried leaving him out and came home at lunch and all was well. He hadn't destroyed anything like I feared and there were no accidents to clean up. I left the radio on since I had read that on another thread. He wasn't barking when I pulled up and didn't even bark when I came in the front door. He was just sitting there patiently waiting for me to greet him. I've noticed an immediate difference in him just from one day of being out of his crate. He's calmmer and not as anxious. I'm going to try the video recorder tomorrow to see exactly how much he does bark when he's not in the cage. I'm hoping it's now minimal and nothing like before.

[TeddysMom08]

I hope Roxy feels better about being alone soon. Having an uninvited and strange person in the house can be scary. And like you said who knows what they said to Roxy. Poor baby!

I have seen that same look (head and tail down) on Teddy and it's so sad! He used to do it when I would get ready to leave, it broke my heart to see him so upset. Like Roxy he wants to go everywhere with me and the fact that he was left behind and put in his crate was unbearable for him. He never barked when I put him in the crate or after I left. I had no idea the barking was going on until I got the letter on my door.

But regardless it's been three days now and the change in him is remarkable. When I go to leave in the morning he now lays down on the floor and chews on his toy. I don't hear a peep out of him. When I come home he's at the door waiting for me when he hears the key in the lock. Aside from some shredded paper off a clementine box and a few teeth marks in my work shoes I haven't had any problems.

[Islandcanine]

That is so adorable, little Teddy being a Good Boy. Much happier now. Sounds like he's got it.
Great news.
Maybe to curtail the potential shoe chewing, leave one of your sweat shirts or something, with your scent on it, on the floor for him to curl up on, while he patiently awaits your return.
Happy for you that Teddy is doing better now.
I have a hunch that the only way I am going to solve Roxy's new problem is to move. She doesn't feel confident in her own home when I am gone. That is evident.
She was fine until ..

[mommacarrie02]

Bless your heart. I hope that Tucker doesn't start barking all the time! Are you in the room when he barks?

Good Luck !

Carrie & Tucker

[bchgirl]

Originally Posted by Krickett

My little guy barks constantly, all day long. He sits on the back of the couch and watches out the window, barking at every falling leaf, squirrel, bird, or whatever, then charges to the door, and won't stop barking until you let him out.
I've purchased 2 bark offs, and they worked for about a week now he ignores that.
Any suggestions before I loose my mind???LOL
Kathy

Buy blinds.

[viviansnickers]

For those of you who use the spray bottle, where do you spray your pup?? I hope not in the face as that seems mean, but maybe by their neck area?? My Reesie will not stop barking when in his xpen if I am home and I can't get anything done. Sometimes he tires himself out, but I need him to be content in his pen, mind you it's only been 6 days since he has been home, but I want to correct his barking soon.

Thanks for the help-
Viv

[stanziog]

Originally Posted by Roccosmommy

I'm sure that being out of the crate is helping. There's less anxiety and pent-up energy, and he may feel more in control by having his run of the house. Just be careful that everything is puppy-proofed, including the lid down on the toilet in the bathroom, and no dangling blind strings, etc. I do a "knee check" before I leave...I get on my hands and knees, and look for little dangers that may be hidden. Lol, the things we do for our little furbutts. Good luck with Teddy.

So funny, for my Rocco i also do the Knee check, blinds string check-(he loves to jump on the chair by the window and watch the birds) and the toilet cover check. So true the things we do for those furbutts!!

[Breny]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

Buy blinds.

......

[kjcmsw]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

Buy blinds.

Exactly! Gracie has felt it's her job to let us know if one of the neighbor cats comes in our yard (she learned unfortunately from us they need shewing away as they think my flower beds are their litter box)...now she sits at the window and goes crazy whenever a cat passes by. I dropped the blinds and that took care of that barking issue. Now if we could just get her to quit that shrill barking at the dinner table. ----> Yes, our fault 100%