I Cant Take it Anymore!!!!
 

I am so frustrated with Izzy, I dont know what to do. Overall he is very sweet and will listen to me. My biggest problem with him...which is turning into a HUGE problem is his barking. When we go on walks he gets agressive and will bark so loud and out of control when he sees other dogs, squirrels, cats or birds, that I cant take it. I hate to take him on walks!!! I know he needs them and I like going too. His bark is so bad that people probably think I am hurting him. He almost screams and squeals like he is hurt. I try to tell him "quiet" or "no" but he is so beside himself that he doesnt listen. I have to pick him up and hold him and walk away. He's also out of control at home when animals pass by the house. He will sit in the window nice an quite until...a squirrel or cat passes by!! At home I tried the pennies in a can and water, neither works. He will stop when I squirt the water or shake the can but he will start right back up again. This is so frustrating. What do I do? Please help!!!:mad:

I don't know what else you can do. Is their some way you can cover your windows, so he can't see out.

Have you tried a citronella collar? I've heard these work really well at stopping your dog from barking. My co-worker has one for her dog and now all she has to do it put it on (even tho the batteries are dead) and it shuts him up. the collar sprays a mist of citronella in front of the dogs nose every time it barks. its unpleasant, not painful, and the dog will learn to stop barking or else it will get sprayed.

A citronella collar is a good idea. I have to warn you though. Ellie does things like that and she attacks the broom and vacuum. I put it on her and she barked at the broom. It sprayed. She barked worse. I think she thought the broom was spraying her and she should get more aggressive. I have heard success stories and it can be effective. Just please make sure you can take it back if it doesn't work out.

I had a real big problem with my Sassy being so aggressive and barking furiously, totally out of control. Whenever the dorbell rings, she goes off and tries to attack whomever might be there. I had a lawn and garden crew and every time they showed up outside, she would lose her mind. I tried holding her, she fought really hard and continued losing her mind.

Now....she is a good girl. She has learned "NO BARKING". I accomplished this by placing her on her back until she submitted to me. I would say "No Barking, Be a good girl" over and over again. No matter how long it took or how hard she fought. I would never release her until she became calm. At that point, I would loosen my hold a bit. If she began her tirade again, I would go back to the firm hold. She finally gave in. Then I praised her tremendously. I am thankful it is pretty much over. The process wore me out!

How long did you keep her upside down ? I am trying this with my Benji - he attacks other dogs !!! Big or small !!!
I think he just doesnt understand how to be social ......

The dog whisper says it all starts with when you walk them. They learn who is the boss by not letting them lead the way when you walk him/her. You lead the way let the dog walk along side of you...it works, really. They then begin to become more obedient in the house also as you train them to not do certain really annoying things like baking uncontrollably at the door when some is there. To bark is ok but if they are like my 2 used to be the closer i got to the door the more wild they became. I started controlling their walking and it changed. Read more from the dog whisper he knows his stuff.


Tina

It really depended upon how quickly she would give in. I never let go until she was completely submitted. When I loosened my grip (I hold her on her chest between her front legs), if she still wanted to rumble, I just retightened my hold. It took a few times before she got the message. She is pretty good now, but I did it EVERYTIME. Sometimes, it was a bit embarrassing....when my guest came in, there I was on the floor holding the dog down. I just explained what I was doing. If it was too weird for them...too bad.

Oh okay, now I have done that before but I guess I need to make sure I dont let go until he calms down. Plus I dont do it often, so I guess being consistent with it is key. Thanks!

He is pretty good walking beside me, but sometimes he will tug away. How do you keep them from doing that. How do you keep them in control?

Don't give him too much leash.....he will get used to it. i only give them more leash when they are ready to poop or tinky...you can usually tell. But when we are out for a stroll (and do that also just to train) I keep the leash comfortably short...just enough so they can walk freely but not run ahead. Be consistant...it won't take long. If it does look at some of the clips on the youtube for the whisperer you will get a better idea how it should look.

Tina

,,,,the only way I know is a firm "no" and as soon as they stop even for a millisecond I praise them w treats, then eventually just praise.....you want them to be a good watch dog and to let you know it's ok to bark if they see something suspicious but that they don't have to go on and on....now if mine bark when they shouldn't I just look at them and go "excuse me, what's that about"....

I can't help you with the window thing, because Teddy will do that but only for a little while. But I can tell you that Teddy exhibited the same behavior when I would take him out for walks... right down to the tee. He was just like Izzy. I was in your position as well, and I would be so afraid to take him outside because it was so frustrating when we would see another dog, and he would bark like crazy. He does still in fact bark at dogs that are right next to him. I don't have any suggestions on how to remedy your situation, but I will say this: sometimes dogs can sense when their owner is nervous, frustrated, and upset. Whenever I would see a dog, I would tense up and grab his lease to the point where I would be so afraid of him barking that I think my nervousness added to his own anxiety. However, when I calmed down, and would quietly say, "Come on teddy," trying my hardest to appear calm and collected, he sensed that there was no real danger and would walk away with his pulling at his lease. He would maybe growl but it would be no where near the shrieks he would emit when I would be nervous as well as he. Try it. If you act like its a normal situation, I really believe that your baby will calm down. I know mine did.

Also, as a tip, because I know he gets anxious around other dogs, I try to avoid them by crossing the street before he can see them. Trust me, it works. Scan the area when you walk, and if you see another dog, then turn the corner. It really does help. With these two improvements, I walk teddy for hours and not fear he will bark, and scream to the point where i would have regretted doing it in the first place.

LOL your Izzy sounds exactly like my Stedman - and I do mean EXACT. Literally, when I was reading your post I felt like someone was writing about my Sted, lol.

Stedman will also go nuts when we are on a walk and he see's another dog. Not SO MUCH if the dog is far, far away...but if we are close to one, he FREAKS OUT!! Bark, bark, bark, bark, bark! :eek: He even rears up on his leash trying to get to them.

Also, just like your Izzy - my Stedman sits at home on the arm of the over stuffed chair and stares out our front living room windows. If there is a dog, cat, squirrel, or even PEOPLE that are outside - HE FREAKS. Again, bark, bark, bark, bark, bark LOL.

I am just so used to it though. It really doesn't bother me too much (I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing LOL) as these are the ONLY times he barks. And it's so funny because my Tatum just stands there and looks at him like he is on crack :D

Thanks, I will try this tomorrow. I do get tense and Im sure he senses it when we are walking. Its funny you say try to avoid them because I spend most of the walk trying to do that! :p I think my nervousness comes from me watching and praying that I dont see a dog on this walk. LOL