Barking German Shepherd

Hi,

A colleague has to leave her German shepherd alone at home while at work, can check on him at lunch times, but he is barking, driving neighbours spare. Have had to put him indoors to at least muffle him. He is an old dog. Typical nervous German Shepherd temperament.

I threw in the idea of a electric bark collar, but hesitant to use this on the dear mutt though not close minded.

Any of you got some quick pointers how best to train him to desist from this barking? (She still wants him to bark when someone's at the door).

I'm told that bark collars also include types that spray a jet of water at the pooch as a deterrent. A kinder option, I think.

Is he getting much exercise? Get her to take him for a decent walk in the morning.

The bark collars work. Nothing like someone else's dog to really fuck neighbourhood relations too btw

Some spray citrus as well

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Originally Posted by Chur Bay

Is he getting much exercise? Get her to take him for a decent walk in the morning.

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Not sure what she does, sensible girl, I know the dog is arthritic so it raises a question, if it CAN get sufficient exercise to benefit in that regard.

We have used bark collars to great effect on our two Great Danes. They were both barking at movement out of boredom and annoying the hell out of the neighbours. The dogs would stop as soon as we got home but that wasn’t helping the neighbours during the day. Introduced bark collars and set to a mild level and that stopped the problem in a day. Now they wear them whenever we are out but we haven’t charged the collars in over a year.

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Originally Posted by Tommy

The bark collars work. Nothing like someone else's dog to really fuck neighbourhood relations too btw

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Yes, my wife and I are dog lovers, had a barking dog in neighbourhood several times over past years. Really upsets my wife because she tunes in to it and worries about the poor creature. Does not help when owners get agressive and take exception, so now we just phone dog control and let them handle it.

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Originally Posted by Rushy

We have used bark collars to great effect on our two Great Danes. They were both barking at movement out of boredom and annoying the hell out of the neighbours. The dogs would stop as soon as we got home but that wasn’t helping the neighbours during the day. Introduced bark collars and set to a mild level and that stopped the problem in a day. Now they wear them whenever we are out but we haven’t charged the collars in over a year.

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That's reassuring. You imagine the poor mutt:... bark bark, shock, whine, .... bark bark, shock, whine....bark bark, shock, whine....bark bark, shock, whine....bark bark, shock, whine....bark bark, shock, whine.... but obviously they learn pretty quick. (-:

Like disciplining kids (in the old days) the slap over the back of the hand does not have to actually hurt, just has to communicate displeasure to work.

If its a older dog what has changed?? or has it always barked?

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Originally Posted by Cordite

That's reassuring. You imagine the poor mutt:... bark bark, shock, whine, .... bark bark, shock, whine....bark bark, shock, whine....bark bark, shock, whine....bark bark, shock, whine....bark bark, shock, whine.... but obviously they learn pretty quick. (-:

Like disciplining kids (in the old days) the slap over the back of the hand does not have to actually hurt, just has to communicate displeasure to work.

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Thats to much wine it will get pissed and fall over

Nout wrong with a small electric tickle... it is hardly a Taser type shock and all the farm animals live with electric fences constantly...

Which reminds me of a story about a mates kelpie dog many years ago... in the country. Dog was also a family pet as well as a work dog who went out around the farm when there was work to be done. One day, blasting stumps... the dog got excited at the sizzling fuse and found itself standing on the stump barking at the fuse, at the wrong time.
The dog survived if somewhat hearing impaired... In its kennel at night, the now deaf dog would run to the end of the chain and bark at the lights of a car as it went by... my mate would shout at the dog to shut up... but not having the best hearing, the verbal abuse went unheeded.

Then he got an idea...hook up an electric fence zapper via a switch on the veranda, to the dogs chain. Worked a treat....
Car goes by dog runs to the dog runs to the end of the lead... bark... zap... whimper.. back to the kennel tail between legs.
Another car goes by... dog runs to the end of the lead... bark... zap... whimper..back to the kennel tail between legs.
He says the third time was the funniest...car goes by... dog runs to the end of the lead... opens its mouth just as it dawns on him ... mouth open, no sound, turned and slinked back to the kennel

bark collar.
I used to not like the idea but thought about it one day and reckon it is the fairest way. They get told off (zapped) instantly when playing up.
The other option is they get told off after they have finished playing up and will wonder why.

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Originally Posted by Cordite

That's reassuring. You imagine the poor mutt:... bark bark, shock, whine, .... bark bark, shock, whine....bark bark, shock, whine....bark bark, shock, whine....bark bark, shock, whine....bark bark, shock, whine.... but obviously they learn pretty quick. (-:

Like disciplining kids (in the old days) the slap over the back of the hand does not have to actually hurt, just has to communicate displeasure to work.

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The collars are great fun for drinking games too

tie it outside and give neighbours permission to poke hose over the fence when it barks.
you solve the issue AND give neighbours the reasurance that you appreciate thier concerns and you are commited to dealing with it.
you can run a hose with nylex connections to a washing machine tap so you dont even need to go outside if you place a sprinkler on the other end in strategic positions.

@Cordite, we used a citronella spray collar on our mental chihuahua/corgi cross thing. worked really well

leaving them with toys and something to gnaw on is a good idea as well.

When I lived in JHB we foolishly agreed to take on a sister-in-laws spaniel while she worked a contract overseas. Fark me that dog was neurotic. Also quite old, spoilt, entitled, lazy, useless, smelly, fuckwitted. You can probably tell I didn't like it much.

It started "separation anxiety" barking immediately - a yapping kind of strangled bark - would kick off the minute we left for work in the morning, and not stop all day despite the fact it had my two dogs as mates (the spaniel hated them). As per comments above, neighbourhood relationships deteriorated very fast.

I got a bark collar from the people that bred Rottweilers for the prison service. That sorted out the retard spaniel in a weekend. Dog would think about it... pause... whine a bit (which sometimes set off the collar)... but overall it shut up pretty much for good.

I've told that story countless times because that collar was one of the best things I ever bought, super effective. Was subsequently lent out a couple of times with great success, and then used again by us on a young Rottweiler bitch who would bark at our older dogs to try and get them rarked up.

It won't hurt the old boy. Top tip, like other training collars, it pays to have the dog wear an exact same look & feel dummy collar for a week or so before you go "live". Or just have him wear it inactive. That way the dog shouldn't twig that its the collar that's whacking him. I know we didn't do that with the spaniel and he despised that collar because of it, worked it out immediately. But we did with the Rottie and she never worked it out and wasn't worried about taking the collar on and off at all.

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Originally Posted by muzza

there are ultrasonic bark stoppers that emit a sound frequency rather than a shock. Cheap and cheerful from Tard Me . They have a reasonable range and apparently work well.

I am about to trial one with my old lab who has started yodelling in the middle of the night ......

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That is how my wife cured my snoring problem.... have not snored ...... or had a moments sleep for months.

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Originally Posted by bigbear

If its a older dog what has changed?? or has it always barked?

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New house.

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Originally Posted by Flyblown

When I lived in JHB we foolishly agreed to take on a sister-in-laws spaniel while she worked a contract overseas. Fark me that dog was neurotic. Also quite old, spoilt, entitled, lazy, useless, smelly, fuckwitted.

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I think I know the type. Nose that looked like boot leather that hadn't been polished, cloudy semi-buggy out eyes, oily smelly coat. For some reason that's been my enduring memory of spaniels...

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Originally Posted by Cordite

Hi,

A colleague has to leave her German shepherd alone at home while at work, can check on him at lunch times, but he is barking, driving neighbours spare. Have had to put him indoors to at least muffle him. He is an old dog. Typical nervous German Shepherd temperament.

I threw in the idea of a electric bark collar, but hesitant to use this on the dear mutt though not close minded.

Any of you got some quick pointers how best to train him to desist from this barking? (She still wants him to bark when someone's at the door).

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How do you come by "typical German Shepherd temperament" is nervous?

Since it's in a new house, it Sounds like the dog is letting everyone know where it's territory is. distraction techniques will help, such as giving a frozen brisket bone so it takes him a long time to eat it ( brisket bones are good since they don't splinter). You can also get those hollow toys you can stuff with yum yums so he takes a while to get it out of the inside.
There are of course many other ways, but I would try this before resorting to shock collars.

Shock collar with remote. No need to turn it up. Lowest setting (tingle) generally will work just fine.
On a weekend, put the dog in the back yard. Drive off like a work day. Leave the car down the street and walk back.
Watch the dog without letting him know you're there - maybe from inside the house...
Or let a trustworthy neighbor do it when you're at work...

Dogs usually show interest behavior just before barking. Every time the dog looks like he's about to bark, give him a short hit of the shocker. You're not trying to punish the barking as much as disrupt the dog's interest-response thought process. Do it enough times and the dog will still show interest, but will no longer bark. Works pretty quickly if you time the shocks right. May fail on beagles and other baying hunters. Too many triggers I guess or baying is just too deep a behavior to disrupt. This method also works well against car-chasing and garbage diving.

A regular vocal chord-triggered shocker will also work, but will stop all barking. Get a good one. The cheap ones can be triggered by movement, like scratching or banging it on steps, etc... Not good.

Just my experience. Probably depends on the dog and the situation as to what will work best.

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Originally Posted by 257weatherby

How do you come by "typical German Shepherd temperament" is nervous?

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Maybe shorthand for very alert, bright, mind always on the button, requires distraction. Just experience based on a couple shepherds. Truly nervous other breeds do exist, yes.

Sounds like the dog is stressed at being left alone. Before you try the collar thing get the owner to record there voice. Usually at a dinner party or on the phone. Then get the owner to shut the dog in it’s space and play this recording while they are at home.
Go in and out, gradually leaving for longer and longer periods of time. Usually over a long weekend.
They also need a safe space a wire crate with a blanket over the top and three sides to make a cave. Leave the dog in here. Obviously if it’s hot it needs access to water. Play the recording from the next room.
Try this. You must tell the owner to be strong and not go in when ever it barks. But just move near the door and back away again. If it still barks the the spray collars in line with the recording should show results. A video recording of the room while the owner is out will also be educational to the owner on what the dog is up to while there away. You could then maybe set up a phone call to talk to the dog through a speaker.
I’ve seen this done here in the UK with very good results. Worth a try.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WzlMjORQoKA @Cordite have a look at this and anybody else that is interested. Some interesting stuff.
Could not find the whole program but some one smarter maybe able to.
UK Channel 4 “Dogs Alone”

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Originally Posted by Cordite

Maybe shorthand for very alert, bright, mind always on the button, requires distraction. Just experience based on a couple shepherds. Truly nervous other breeds do exist, yes.

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Attachment 110676

Home security detail crew, on duty, calm and laid back, untill..............

whats black/brown and hairy and looks good hanging off a burglers arse??????

Training collars on the way off the forum for this one. 7 months and 40kgs, well behaved until he sees another dog, then has a mind of his own. Extremely intelligent. Also kiwi trained so he can come for the odd bush walk once hes older and more predictable Attachment 110686

Once hes comfortable with dogs such a this one hes friendly as, just pulls and barks on lead