Dog advice

[Serious_Susan]

Hi,

Long story short - we rescued our lab two years ago when she was 6 months old. We weren’t given a lot of background information but knew she had come from a family with three young children and was locked away when visitors came. She is very large for her age - not so much weight but in build, and was very exciteable.

This was August 2019 - we had 6 months before lockdown where it was impossible to have anyone round to the house. She jumps, barks and tries to climb onto any visitor who comes. We assumed this was because she was young and still adapting so we held back having visitors to allow her to settle in.

Then of course Covid happened, we found that we cannot all sit down without her barking (mainly at my partner) and when we all sit at the table to eat dinner. She reacts badly to video calls or when she can hear other voices in the house which has been a nightmare WFH. The only way to placate her is to feed her, and this feels counter productive.

Now we’re obviously able to have people round again we have tried, but it’s unbareable with her. She barks persititantly at any guest who comes into our home or garden - to the extent we no longer have people round or get her looked after if we do.

She’s also started to bark at us constantly in the house, what ever we are doing - we recently purchased a hot tub and we cannot all sit in this without her barking.

I’m not really sure the best option - she is walked every day amply and has plenty of toys and engaging things to play with.

I don’t know if it’s really awful of me to be considering re-homing her but at the moment I can’t tolerate the restrictions on our lives within our own home.

Thank you.

 

[Welshgal]

My dog is similar in a way, he barks a lot at visitors, sometimes us or the tv but he eventually stops and calms down. Does she calm down at all? Not just with food but with some cuddles? Strict no maybe?

I’m not sure what’s the best thing to do with your dog, as she’s obviously traumatized and mine is just a dick who get’s kicked out into the hall until he’s calmed down. Have you tired this sort of punishment? Sometimes dogs can test their limits just like small kids, and if you only ever given her food in return for the barking it might be a habit now?
Can you reach out to a professional dog trainer?

Sorry I don’t have the best of advise to give but please do not re-home her This is a dog that has already suffered a lot and re-homing would only cause her more pain and issues.

 

[Barbie2020]

Can’t you consider getting a behavioural trainer before thinking of rehoming?

People really need to start thinking of these things when they get dogs and that they aren’t always going to be a well behaved cute dog. Mine is a pain in the arse sometimes, doesn’t like people she doesn’t know or any dogs but I couldn’t think of rehoming her.

If she’s already been rehomed imagine the upset for her going through that again. I’m sorry to be harsh but it doesn’t really sound like you’ve done the best for her. I had a specialist trainer come out when I had issues.

Also to add you say she has walks and toys. Does she get enough attention and love? It’s good she has walks and toys but I get the impression she’s palmed off a lot or shut away.

 

[Serious_Susan]

Thanks for your replies - sorry my thinking of rehoming her wasn’t meant as in I’m going to rehome her - more that my mind is in a ‘i can’t tolerate this every day for the rest of her life‘ place. We would of course consider all our options.

She get’s more attention and love than you can imagine, it just never seems to be enough for her. She’s never palmed off nor shut away - I think I’ve given a really bad impression of what our life with her is like.

I do think something has traumatised her, what exctly I’m not sure - I guess I was just looking for examples of where people have been in a similar position and the outcome has been positive.

 

[Barbie2020]

Thanks for your replies - sorry my thinking of rehoming her wasn’t meant as in I’m going to rehome her - more that my mind is in a ‘i can’t tolerate this every day for the rest of her life‘ place. We would of course consider all our options.

She get’s more attention and love than you can imagine, it just never seems to be enough for her. She’s never palmed off nor shut away - I think I’ve given a really bad impression of what our life with her is like.

I do think something has traumatised her, what exctly I’m not sure - I guess I was just looking for examples of where people have been in a similar position and the outcome has been positive.

Sorry for judging your situation wrong I’m glad she’s loved and you aren’t actually considering rehoming.

I would definitely look into a behavioural trainer for her. Some can be expensive but it will be worth it to have a better home life. I imagine her first home wasn’t a very happy one and she probably wasn’t trained at all hence the issues now.

 

[Serious_Susan]

Yeah - she’s very loved here, she seems to be super needy (my partner Jokes she’s me in dog form!)

It’s really strange because in terms of training she’s ‘perfect’ and obediant. It’s just the constant barking and unrest. I’ve emailed a local behaviourit’s to arrange a visit.

Thank you.

 

[GossipMongoose]

Yeah - she’s very loved here, she seems to be super needy (my partner Jokes she’s me in dog form!)

It’s really strange because in terms of training she’s ‘perfect’ and obediant. It’s just the constant barking and unrest. I’ve emailed a local behaviourit’s to arrange a visit.

Thank you.

My dog (also a lab) can be reactive to visitors in the house. He barks and gets silly (no aggression) but is muscular and loud so can be intimidating. Great when you get cold caller door knockers, not so great when the cleaner comes and he’s going apeshit behind the baby gate . He is well socialised and I’ve had him from 8wks and he came from a wonderful breeder, I met his mother, grandmother and great grandmother as the breeder keeps her girls once they’ve finished their breeding years. So I know his history and the line he comes from, all very calm and lovely. As is he apart from this one thing. So I feel your pain and it isn’t just rescue dogs that have this issue. Like all things dog training, it’s baby steps to train them out of it and into the wanted behaviours. Best of luck with your behaviourist appointment

 

[Rocknrolla]

I’d stop giving her food as a distraction, this is a reward she will begin to think if she keeps barking she’ll get a treat. Dogs behaving badly on channel5 is a really good programme for tips if you can get it on catch up x

 

[Kim Mild]

I have dog who is a barker too.
My dog usually is barking at us , to communicate something. Is she barking to communicate excitement/ a want or need / aggression? Or a mix of emotions?

 

[Magwitch]

I’d stop giving her food as a distraction, this is a reward she will begin to think if she keeps barking she’ll get a treat. Dogs behaving badly on channel5 is a really good programme for tips if you can get it on catch up x

This, 100%.

The origins of this behaviour is obviously something else and I would strongly suggest a session with a dog behaviourist who can help you get to the bottom of it and come up with strategies to cope with it. BUT in the meantime stop placating her with food. I know it's hard, but remember that by doing that you are just reinforcing the barking. You say she's really obedient and good with training, and what you are doing is basically training her to bark more, in the same way that you taught her to sit, stay etc with treats. It's not a solution and is just making her behaviour worse.

 

[standupsitdown]

I agree that you need a professional dog behaviourist. This is why they exist. Ask for local recommendations.
They will observe and point things out that seem obvious that you won’t believe haven’t occurred to you, and things you are doing that make things worse without realising. It a whole family effort and everyone need to be on board.
Good ones are worth every penny and with hard work on everyone’s part you can have a lovely well behaved dog.

 

[Captainmouse]

Graham hall of dogs behaving badly apparently does podcasts etc, might be worth a google?

 

[Ottilie]

If you feed a dog when they are doing something they shouldn't such as barking you are effectively rewarding the behaviour and she will think you want her to continue.

What happens if you ignore her? Any type of communication when she is behaving like that weather is it talking to her, stroking her is only going to reinforce the behaviour because she is trying to get your attention and you are giving it to her. If your sitting on the sofa try getting up, walking away and completely ignoring her. If your all in the hot tub and she starts barking, get out and ignore her. Repeat the process and see how she responds. She might just be attention seeking!

You need to reward her positive behaviour when she is calm and relaxed and ignore her when she is barking, which sounds really hard I know!

Think of it this way. If a child was deliberately doing something they shouldn't be in order to get your attention would you respond to it? Or would you ignore it and walk away? Its often the same with dogs. You don't react to negative behaviour or your firm and you reward positive.

If someone calls you and she starts barking go into another room or put the phone down. Again you can practice this by getting a friend to call or maybe your partner from a different room. She needs to learn to stop responding to things by barking!

It sounds like she needs training. When people come around she needs to learn how to respond in a calm way. Do you have a good friend who could help you by coming around and trying to work on your dogs obedience. If she starts jumping up at people they need to turn around and ignore her. You need to teach your dog to be calm by 'sitting', 'laying' down or just calmly approaching visitors when they come around. Only then should your dog be rewarded with lots of praise and cuddles!

If this is down to trauma from her previous home then perhaps you could speak to your vet? They may be able to offer some advice or recommend a trainer.

This is going to be hard but you can do it, you clearly love your dog very much! We have a rescue dog and it's not easy!

 

[Very traditional]

Love graham on his Chanel 5 show, didn't realise he had a podcast but have just subscribed, thanks for that!

Graham hall of dogs behaving badly apparently does podcasts etc, might be worth a google?

 

[Saddlesoap]

Talk to your vet. Find a behaviourist.

Good luck.

 

[Facehugger]

As well as the advice others have given, I would also say speak to your vet because they might be able to recommend something to calm her down a bit. I know people use plug ins and things when it's firework night.

My friend has Dobermanns and they are always on the alert and noisy. She was trying some electronic anti barking devices out last time I saw her pre Covid, not sure how she's got on with them. Good luck, I hope you can find a way forward for you all

 

[Former_Antelopee]

The plug ins people have mentioned to help with stress - adaptil or pet remedy as the two I know. You can also get collar versions and sprays as well.

 

[KathDayKnight]

Just thought I'd offer my good luck - let us know how you get on! I have a dog with issues (also a Lab - seems to be a theme!!) and some days it really gets you down doesn't it? We've tried a Behaviourist but unfortunately it hasn't really worked for us - they usually encourage positive re-enforcement which involved giving treats which is counter-productive. Labs are too clever and ours realises they can behave badly then looks at us for treats

 

[Merpedy]

We used to use pet corrector for unwanted barking and tbf it worked rather well. We got to the point where we just needed to pick the spray bottle up for them to stop

Of course, always reward wanted behaviour

 

[glitter tits]

I’m not sure if you’ve already tried but when my puppy used to go crazy and not settle id shake a bottle filled with stones and he’d stop or at least calm down significantly. It definitely sounds like you need a trainer/behaviourist long term but short term that might help?