Dog question.....animal people help!

chance_encounters

We just moved into a new house about 1 1/2 months ago. I have two dogs ages 3 (border collie/german shepard mix) and 2 (queensland heeler/beagle mix). Our dogs have NEVER been barkers before. The neighbors dogs were barkers and my dogs would sit there and stare at the fence. Well now all the sudden they have decided to become barkers. We got a letter from the county yesterday of barking complaints. Aparently they are barking during the day while we are at work (they are in a 12x14 kennel during the day, proior they had free run of the back yard). They sleep indoors at night. I would like to know what I can do to make them stop! I have heard the electronic collars do not work that well. I have seen the citronilla collars and I know they do not work (maybe a week they do), any suggestions? Why do you think they have started barking all the sudden?

munkii

They're barking because they're in an unfamiliar place with new restrictions which is probably giving them a bit of anxiety.  They're barking for attention because of that anxiety.  Maybe they would do better if you hired a walker or sitter?

chance_encounters

We most deffinately do not have the money for that right now.  Our old back yard was all dirt so it was not a big deal to let them run free....the new one, landscaped so pretty!  I will not let the dogs dig it up.  I would say I am part of the problem too.  I am NOT a dog person.  DH had one of the dogs when I met him and got the other to keep the other dog company.  I was and am still scared to death of dogs (been bitten 3x by "friendly" dogs).  If they are going to be walked it will be by him.  They are HIS responsibility I do not and did not want them.  I am not mean to them, I pet them, I feed them.  My kids love them......  I know I suck.  I have been told this by several of my friends who are dog owners and lovers.  They just don't understand why I don't love them like my own children......oh wait I am straying from my answer.  We can not afford a walker or a sitter.  My dogs are not leash trained (we tried training for that too but they can't seem to grasp the whole concept).  We tried several training leashes (even one that pulls their head to the side if they are trying to pull away and they don't care.....they will walk sideways).

EMNI

Were they in the 12x14 kennel at the old house or did they have free range of the yard?  It could be boredom if they had a whole yard before, but are now restricted. I agree with munkii, it's just not a familiar place and they have a bit of anxiety.

Tomorrow try putting them outside in the kennel; the moment they start barking go outside, clap your hands, and give a good firm NO.  Go back inside, wait a minute, go back outside and reward them for being quiet.  Increase the time you go out and reward them for good behavior.

Before work, try taking them for a good long walk (an hour at least) or play some ball in the yard, this help release the nervous energy. 

What about crating them inside or blocking them off in the kitchen when you are gone?

EMNI

chance_encounters:

We most deffinately do not have the money for that right now.  Our old back yard was all dirt so it was not a big deal to let them run free....the new one, landscaped so pretty!  I will not let the dogs dig it up.  I would say I am part of the problem too.  I am NOT a dog person.  DH had one of the dogs when I met him and got the other to keep the other dog company.  I was and am still scared to death of dogs (been bitten 3x by "friendly" dogs).  If they are going to be walked it will be by him.  They are HIS responsibility I do not and did not want them.  I am not mean to them, I pet them, I feed them.  My kids love them......  I know I suck.  I have been told this by several of my friends who are dog owners and lovers.  They just don't understand why I don't love them like my own children......oh wait I am straying from my answer.  We can not afford a walker or a sitter.  My dogs are not leash trained (we tried training for that too but they can't seem to grasp the whole concept).  We tried several training leashes (even one that pulls their head to the side if they are trying to pull away and they don't care.....they will walk sideways).

You don't suck, not at all.  I think you are trying your best for the dogs.

Have you seen them try to dig up the new yard?  Did they do that in the old yard?  Observe them this weekend to see what they do. When you see them start digging, shake a can of pennies at them or spray them with a squirt bottle.  Again, this behavior could come from boredom.  So find some brain toys for them to play with.

juangela

When we first got our dog we crated him while we were at work (as required by our adoption agreement.) Our neighbor left us a note (worthy of passiveagressivenotes.com) and we decided to just let him run loose in the apartment and see what happened...he didn't bark and everything was great. Since then, we never crate him, even when we moved to our new place.

Munkii is right, it is an unfamiliar place to them and, in addition, a change in routine. Are you sure they would dig up the backyard? Do you or DH work close enough to home to come back during lunch and check on them/take them out of their crates if you decide to keep them in there? 

chance_encounters

EMNI:

Were they in the 12x14 kennel at the old house or did they have free range of the yard?  It could be boredom if they had a whole yard before, but are now restricted. I agree with munkii, it's just not a familiar place and they have a bit of anxiety.

Tomorrow try putting them outside in the kennel; the moment they start barking go outside, clap your hands, and give a good firm NO.  Go back inside, wait a minute, go back outside and reward them for being quiet.  Increase the time you go out and reward them for good behavior.

Before work, try taking them for a good long walk (an hour at least) or play some ball in the yard, this help release the nervous energy. 

What about crating them inside or blocking them off in the kitchen when you are gone?

They were not in a kennel before.  Our last back yard was very large and all dirt.  One of the dogs is a digger.  The new back yard is grass, rock, well pretty landscape and I will not let her destroy it with her digging (we have tried everything from burrying poop in the holes, mittens on her paws....nothing works she is a digger).  I leave for work at 5:30am so everyone is still asleep.  DH leaves at 7:30.  So there is no option of putting them out while we are home.

 As far as crating them in the kitchen, we simply do not have the room for 2 large crates.  They are in the kennel from 7:30 - 3:30. 

munkii

First, you do not suck just because you're not a dog person.  You've had a bad experience, and that's that. 

I think it's funny your H got a companion dog for his dog.  I know it's normal, just reading it is amusing, though. 

The long walk EMNI suggested is good but since they're not leash-trained, maybe your H can run wild with them in the backyard--that way he can also supervise and prevent your nicely manicured lawn from getting ripped to shreds. 

Also, give them Kong's stuffed with frozen peanut butter or yogurt.  Those should keep them busy for a while.

juangela

munkii:

First, you do not suck just because you're not a dog person.  You've had a bad experience, and that's that. 

I just want to second this. You definitely do not suck and dogs are complex creatures. Our little guy is far from perfect, and we are far from perfect dog parents. We just do the best we can...but man, if Cesar Milan wanted to come over and deal with him I would not say no!

chance_encounters

#1- Toys lol.  My dogs destroy EVERYTHING.  Even Kongs.  The bigger Kongs they do not like because they are heavy.

 #2- Yes, I have seen the other dog dig in the yard.  Kind of a funny story on that.  I got to meet one of our neighbors last night.  At first I thought it was going to be a bad thing.  She came over to show us she got a bark complaint letter on her dog from the county and she was pretty sure who ever called it in had mistaken our dog for hers (hers wears a bark collar).  I felt terrible because I know she is right.  Well then lilly ran up to her and she said Hi lillly (dog)!  I said oh how do you know lilly.  She said because she is in our yard every afternoon.  My eyes got big and I was like OMG I am so sorry!  She kind of giggled and said no its ok!  Lilly plays with her dog and she loves it.  AND her two year old son is in love with our dog.  I told her we would fix the hole and we were so sorry!  She said no, don't worry about it because lilly is a great play friend to her dog......so I met the neighbor.

DH has never paid enough attn to the dogs.  The poop waits 1+ weeks (usually 2) before he picks it up....again I refuse.

munkii

chance_encounters:

DH has never paid enough attn to the dogs.  The poop waits 1+ weeks (usually 2) before he picks it up....again I refuse.

  Based on this, I think it's time he realizes he's put the burden on you and the kids and that it needs to end.  If he doesn't want to take responsibility, especially knowing that you're afraid of them, he needs to find them a new home.

chance_encounters

munkii:

chance_encounters:

DH has never paid enough attn to the dogs.  The poop waits 1+ weeks (usually 2) before he picks it up....again I refuse.

  Based on this, I think it's time he realizes he's put the burden on you and the kids and that it needs to end.  If he doesn't want to take responsibility, especially knowing that you're afraid of them, he needs to find them a new home.

I have threatened this for a year.  He knows how much it frustrates me.  I am not sure what to do to show him I am serious.  As many of you know from my previous posts my DH is a doll but does have issues with responsiblities (ie, paying bills etc).  So this is nothing new.  They are very sweet and loving dogs.  They would never harm anyone just (one of them) would lick you to death and the other would keep your feet warm.  I am sure it would be better if I kicked in but I have been very stubborn to this point....

mikesboo23

Are your dogs pretty smart?  The only reason bark collars don't work is because a lot of dogs get smart to how many times they can bark before getting zapped.  They'll go the max time, stop, and wait for it to reset then start again.  If your dog doesn't realize that then it works.

2dBride

mikesboo23:

Are your dogs pretty smart?  The only reason bark collars don't work is because a lot of dogs get smart to how many times they can bark before getting zapped.  They'll go the max time, stop, and wait for it to reset then start again.  If your dog doesn't realize that then it works.

Actually, we had a bark collar not work for the opposite reason.  The dog continued to bark with the bark collar on.  So instead of "bark, bark, bark," it was "bark, yelp, bark, yelp, bark, yelp."  It went off so many times that she actually ended up with a bleeding spot on her neck, so we removed it.