Woof! Woof! Woof! - Too much barking!

[Karin, Kaya & Django]

Has anyone had trouble with excess barking and/or what I've come to think of as "recreational barking?" If so, any advice as to how to deal with it? Make it stop? Django barks at normal stuff, which is ok, but he also seems to bark (a lot!) for the fun of it. We have barking dogs next door and when they're not barking Django will go over by the fence, pause, listen, then do a "test bark" to see if there is any response. Maybe a few test barks. If the neighbor dogs hear him, they rush over to the fence and they all bark their heads off! Django also barks at trees when the wind is blowing, birds, and sometimes at nothing at all, as far as I can tell. I've tried "No!" and putting him in his crate, but nothing has worked. When I stay outside with him I can distract him and keep him quieter, but I can't be with him every minute. He's very noisy! Any suggestions?

[Linda and "Toby"]

I've had good luck using the Premier SpraySense AntiBark Collar: http://www.amazon.com/Premier-SpraySense-Anti-Bark-Dog-Collar/dp/B0... (The one with Citronella spray works better than the unscented one.) Here's a video I made last year, showing how well it worked on Toby when he heard a sound in a neighbor's yard and barked at it: http://youtu.be/7opnqR5Fmcg As you can see, it's very humane (unlike the shock collars - whatever you do, don't get one of those!!! My friend's malfunctioned. It was awful!)

[Karin, Kaya & Django]

I ordered the collar from Amazon. Can't wait for it to arrive - 3-5 days and counting!

[Karin, Kaya & Django]

Thank you, Linda! I'm getting one right away. A friend suggested a shock-type bark collar but I was hoping to avoid that. This sounds perfect!

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

Linda, you already responded:) I was going to suggest Karin talk to you!!!

[Kerri B. & Zoey]

Oh gosh Karin...no words of wisdom here, but this is one of my biggest fears.  I live in a townhome (share a wall with one other neighbor).  My GR hardly ever barked and this is a big fear of mine with a new dog.  It's too close of quarters to have a barker on my hands.  Thanks for the tip Linda.  I will have to remember this one...just in case!

[Karin, Kaya & Django]

I understand, my GR has never barked much either. I've been at my wits end! I'm taking Linda's advice today! It's been a long time since I've had a puppy and this site is such wonderful support and a wealth of experience and info.

[Linda Ferguson]

Do you remember that first puppy bark and how cute we though it was?

[Karin, Kaya & Django]

Hi Linda, I just barely remember! ---- Thanks for reminding me. It kinda gets lost in all the adolescent woofing!

[Diane and Alma]

Our neighbor has a dog that never barks but when Alma is outside and hears his tags jingle she will bark and race towards the fence.  For a few weeks when she did this I would go get her (never say "come" and then punish a dog) and short leash her to the patio table.  After a few minutes and when she was calm I would praise her and let her off.  Now when she starts to bark I just open the door or go out and she comes to me with her head down like she knows better but can't help herself.

 

She will also be lying in the foyer and bark for no apparent reason - or maybe she hears something that I don't.  Anyway, she's soooo lazy because she doesn't even get up!  She cracks us up.

[Kashmir and Joanie]

We also purchased the collar Linda suggested. Kashmir was about the same age. And to this day, all we need to do

is show the collar to her and say "stop or shhhh" and she does. We have  barking neighbors also!!!!! Lots!!!!

I sometimes let her bark if it is during the day but not excessively to be annoying. We only had to put it on her

once, she was really taken back with its spray, noise,action and smell. It worked great!

[Karin, Kaya & Django]

Thanks, Joanie, that's so good to hear. I'm checking my mail box every day hoping the collar is here from Amazon. Can't wait to try it on my noisy boy! I'll report back with the results. Maybe I'll try to get a video!