Grumpy Old Lurcher

[jaq]

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Hi there

We have a beautiful old lurcher (Oscar) that we have had for about the past nine years (he is about 10 or 11 years old). Oscar was a rescue dog from the pound and when my partner chose him he could not get over how quiet he was compared to all of the other dogs. Found out a couple of weeks later that he had infact barked so much when he was in the pound that the had lost his 'bark' and after some love and attention, his bark returned and then some.

I have always known that he does not like me talking to men if I am without my boyfriend and that he is not really a fan of other dogs. He will not bite another dog but he will bark and bark and bark to show who is boss.

We got a whippet puppy about a year and a half ago to keep him company and they pair of them get on great. Always by each others sides and are as thick as thieves.

The problem we have is with Oscars barking. I swear it is geeting worse the older he gets. If come one comes into the house he is barking, if he spots someone he knows across the road he starts barking, if he sees another dog he's at it, if you stop petting him he barks.

We have tried lots of ways to curb his barking, ignoring techniques, treats if he passes another dog with out showing interest - everything.

I have a friend who has a female lurcher about one or two years younger than Oscar and I don't think that I have every heard one bark out of her at all. We take the dogs for a big walk every day and other dog owners look at us in horror. We walk both of our dogs off the lead when there are no cars around and he is fine at every other command except "please stop barking".

Please if anyone can offer any advice it would be greatly appreciated.

Jaq x

 

[FeeFee]

I sympathise, my little whippet x is very vocal. In her case it's excitement, she loves everybody and everything, but feels the need to remind the world that she is there! :- "

The best success I've had with her is to train a 'look at me' command so she'll walk past something 'exciting' concentrating on me rather than anything she might bark at. I have to catch her early before she gets excited and starts barking at something, though, as once she's 'lost it' there's no getting her attention back!

I trained her using a clicker + treats and trained away from any triggers or distractions (so just around the house and garden) and built it up from clicking/treating her stopping what she was doing and glancing at me to extending it until she would walk along looking at me for a few paces. Once that was solid we started doing it outside.

It has definitely helped, but as I say only if I catch her before she starts barking - and if we go past another exciteable dog who barks at her then forget it!

 

[jaq]

Has anyone every used one of the anti-bark collars that use sounds or sprays before?

 

[~Helen~]

try this thread: demoting digit

 

[FeeFee]

I actually wonder as you say it is getting worse as he gets older if he might be going slightly deaf? Deaf dogs often bark more/louder as they are simply unaware of how much noise they are making.

 

[TOMTHUMB]

I actually wonder as you say it is getting worse as he gets older if he might be going slightly deaf?  Deaf dogs often bark more/louder as they are simply unaware of how much noise they are making.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

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My mum says your absolutely right

 

[jools]

I agree with the theory that age/deafness/volume makes things worse. Whiz my 14 year old foster dog is very loud especially in the middle of the night because someone else is on the bed he wants!!

The anti bark collars are very helpful and in my opinion they are kind. The dogs soon learn that if they don't bark they don't get a spray of citronella !! My local training club (run by one of the girls from our rescue) hires them out and puts the money into the rescue fund. People rarely need them for more than a couple of weeks. Very rarely they don't work on the odd dog, but I think they are worth a try.

Fee Fee's "watch me" is also another excellent way - I'd give them both a try (not at the same time though!!)

Goog luck :luck: :luck:

 

[FeeFee]

I'm also going to order a TTouch Calming band for Meg, I've heard good reports that they can help relax the dog and make him/her less vocal.

Calming Band Picture

TTouch Calming Band

(and I want the dog in the picture :wub: )

 

[oakmoorehill]

Has anyone every used one of the anti-bark collars that use sounds or sprays before?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

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Hi

We tried using anti barking collarson my greyhound William who barks when he is left alone.

The ultra sonic one didn't work as his bark is so loud he couldn't hear it go of and the spray ones he liked the smell of all the sprays so barked even more to set the smells of on purpose. We tried the odourless one but he still barked to try to get a smell. He smelt very nice though we did perstist with the collars for about 2 months but had no luck.

This is just my experience with them and Wiliam is a very persistant barker and is not the most intelligent dog in the world infact to be honest I would say he's thick