Note through the door about barking dog

Wavey

Morning all.

Got an anonymous note in the door yesterday complaining that our six month old german shepard was barking all day while we were in work.
We also have a tiny little collie/terrier cross.

There is a park behind our back wall that alot of kids walkthrough to&from school so i suspect she just barks when people walk by.

I also know that some kids purposely walk along the back of the gardens whistleing and calling over any walls that have dogs behind them.

I do sympathise that it must me quite disturbing if the dog is indeed barking all day but what can be done about it?

We have left all kinds of toys out the back to keep the dog ammused but it obviously isnt working.

Anybody got any experience of this?

Thanks

Wavey

Arcadian

Easy solution is to keep the dogs inside when your at work and to leave them with their toys and also a stuffed kong, which will keep them occupied for a while.

Sifo

A guy who lives behind my house has a couple of dogs and they bark constantly, I'm not the type to complain but you should keep your dogs inside when your not there, if you don't have an ideal home for dogs you shouldnt have dogs... simple as

astec123

Have you tried setting up a webcam to see what is spurring the dog to bark? Try recording for a few weeks and if a not comes see if it truely is all day or just a few moments every so often.

the_syco

I think its only at night that they can complain about the noise. During the day, alot of dogs bark. And if one dog barks, the rest will join in.

disillusioned

As a dog owner I totally empathise.

There's a collar available that gives them a shock if they bark. It should only be worn by the dog when you're there but you could use it each evening for a period of time as a training resource. I know it sounds severe but I used it to appease an irritated neighbour and it worked - I tried it out on myself first too to make sure I didn't abuse the dog.

My parents had the ISPCA call to their house once because of complaints about their dog's barking. The ISPCA checked the dog's health, house etc and as there was no neglect, abuse etc they left happy. The dog's still there and still barks!

By the way, in my opinion an anonymous note is a coward's approach and if I was you I'd ignore it.

Wavey

Thanks for all the replies folks.

It does look like we will have to keep them in to avoid any conflicts. Its a pity cos I think its much healthier if they can be outside in the fresh air.

@Arcadian, The kong is the rubber toy that u stuff with peanut butter or similar? If so they have one of those.

Will probably leave them in for a week or so, then leave them out and try and record whats going on.


Cheers
Wavey

Raiser

Hmmn don't quit so soon, have two terriers - went through a phase of barking quite loudly at night - solution was to open bathroom window and slosh a half-glass of water in their general direction......after a few times they realised they were being anti-social and shut up.

Obviously only works if you're there - but if you were available to pester them with the odd splash at weekends and evenings then they should begin to shut up over time.....Part of prob. is that dogs can think they're being really good by defending the property and making a big show of bravado - if its discouraged for a while they'll be more inclined to stay quiet even if theres kids passing or other dogs etc.

Be a shame to have to lock them in all day.....Hope you get it sorted.....

doctor evil

Disillusioned I don`t think an anonymous note through the door is the cowards way at all and you would be a bit petty to ignore it. With neighbours you always have to be careful how you tread as you live beside them.

Wavey

@dissallusioned


Thats collar sounds a bit severe? Does it make the dog nervous or have any other adverse affect that you know of? Where did you buy it?
Also can you adjust the strength of the shock>

Thanks again

Wavey

positron

There is another type of collar, it will spray something to dogs face as soon as he/she barks - which is less cruel, but donno if its available in shops!

My own dog barks now and then, but we consistently ignore her when she is barking or whining, now she does that only if we leave her alone during weekends - weekdays, she just looks at us and sighs before we leave for work, and no barking all day!

GSDs can be very loud, but they are lovely dogs - good luck with yours!

Nala

I agree that a note isn't always a coward's way out. The person who wrote it could just have wanted to avoid a confrontation with you, a lot of people would not be as responsible as to try and solve the problem and would just deny that it's their dog that's being a nuisance or whatever.

LegacyUser

There are dogs that bark continuously in my estate. ALL bloomin night!! It wakes up any guests I have staying and I have to sleep in the spare room with ear plugs whenever someone stays over.

In general, I don't give a toss during the day if neighbours want to have a hooley but at night it is unaceptable to have a dog barking its head off in the back garden to the extent that people are woken up every time a bird as much as farts.

Don't get me wrong, I love animals! I have 2 cats.
On another note :
I do not think it is fair of you to own a dog and leave it all day cooped in the garden. It is probably bored out of its mind. Why did you get a dog if you just intend to leave it all day when your at work?? Dogs need human company and attention

peasant

bubby wrote:

I do not think it is fair of you to own a dog and leave it all day cooped in the garden. It is probably bored out of its mind. Why did you get a dog if you just intend to leave it all day when your at work?? Dogs need human company and attention

I agree ...not only is it not fair, it is actually downright cruel.

What gets me even more, is people who add another cruelty ...a bark collar, be it electric shock, water spray or scent. THEY DO NOT WORK !! Other noises can set them off, punishing your dog for something it didn't do.

The owner should train and control the dog, not some stupid gizmo. The dog will not learn from this. At best it will ignore the apparatus and bark anyway, at worst it will become seriously disturbed.

There seems to be a perception out there, that there is something like the God given right to dog ownership. Doesn't matter, if you're never at home, doesn't matter, if you haven't got the first clue about dogs and their welfare or training. Who cares about the dogs' needs ...let's just get one.

And when the problems get too big or the neighbours complain too massively, let's just get rid of it. Give it to the pound (where it will be killed after 5 days ...but hey, it had a chance someone else might have wanted it...)

Ohh ...and if, after a while, we find that something's missing ...lets just get another one...sure the neighbours will have calmed down by then...and this time we'll get a different breed ...that'll fix it!

Wake up, people!

FranknFurter

peasant wrote:

I agree ...not only is it not fair, it is actually downright cruel.

What gets me even more, is people who add another cruelty ...a bark collar, be it electric shock, water spray or scent. THEY DO NOT WORK !! Other noises can set them off, punishing your dog for something it didn't do.

The owner should train and control the dog, not some stupid gizmo. The dog will not learn from this. At best it will ignore the apparatus and bark anyway, at worst it will become seriously disturbed.

There seems to be a perception out there, that there is something like the God given right to dog ownership. Doesn't matter, if you're never at home, doesn't matter, if you haven't got the first clue about dogs and their welfare or training. Who cares about the dogs' needs ...let's just get one.

And when the problems get too big or the neighbours complain too massively, let's just get rid of it. Give it to the pound (where it will be killed after 5 days ...but hey, it had a chance someone else might have wanted it...)

Ohh ...and if, after a while, we find that something's missing ...lets just get another one...sure the neighbours will have calmed down by then...and this time we'll get a different breed ...that'll fix it!

Wake up, people!

EXACTLY!, thanks for saving me from having to type all that

b

disillusioned

peasant wrote:

What gets me even more, is people who add another cruelty ...a bark collar, be it electric shock, water spray or scent. THEY DO NOT WORK !!

Actually the collar DID work for me, perhaps when you used it you used it incorrectly?!

peasant wrote:

At best it will ignore the apparatus and bark anyway, at worst it will become seriously disturbed.

That certainly didn't happen to me but it's interesting that it happened to you


I love my dogs and they are happy dogs. They are outside while I work and inside when I'm home. They enjoy their space, their walks, their grooming, their meals etc and I'm not gonna change the way we live as long as they are content.

peasant

disillusioned wrote:

Actually the collar DID work for me, perhaps when you used it you used it incorrectly?!

The issue is not, if the collar did work for you or not, it goes far deeper than that.

Any soulless mechanical device will not TRAIN your dog, it will at best CONDITION it.
Dogs are very eager to learn, to pick up rules and regulations that allow them to fit into their environment and their "pack". By letting a mechanical apparatus set the rules, you are removing yourself out of the loop. The dog will not learn, that not to bark is one of your rules. All it will get conditioned to is that when it barks it gets hurt. While the end result may (and I say MAY) be the same ...a non barking dog ... the dog hasn't learned anything at all.
The collar doesn't make any graduations. Its either shock or no shock. So the dog gets conditioned not to bark at all ...ever. Whereas you might actually be quite happy, if your dog alerts you to somebody climbing into your garden, trying to nick your lawnmower. If you TRAIN your dog, you can give it a job. "Bark at intruders, don't bark at birds or leaves rustling in the wind" and the dog will understand and be happy (dogs need a job).

Its a matter of attitude as well. By handing over the "training" of your dog to a mechanical device, you're basically reducing the dog itself to a mechanical level. "I want you to work the same way as my TV. Play and entertain me, when it suits me, otherwise sit quietly in the corner"
That is simply WRONG. Dogs are living, breathing sensient beings ...not white goods. They are for living with, not for using or consuming.

As for the collars themselves:
They get triggered by a microphone. These pick up all sorts of sounds. Coughing, sneezing, other dogs barking, or even loud cars going by. What is your dog supposed to "learn" when it gets punished for all those things? It'll "learn" to hate other dogs or lorries for example as it gets zapped everytime one of them goes by.
Sprays aren't any better, they stick to the fur of the dog and it get's perma-punishment from a scent that it can't stand and get rid of any more.
CRUEL, soulless and wrong ...that's what these collars are.

There is a reason why dogs don't come with a remote control. You need to understand them, respect them and get involved with them.

If you don't have the space or time to give them understanding and involvement ...at least give them some respect and DON'T GET ONE !

disillusioned

Thankfully we are all entitled to our own opinions.

peasant

disillusioned wrote:

Thankfully we are all entitled to our own opinions.

It's not just an "opinion".
Simple thruths and facts ...no more, no less.

I'm not trying to condemn you, because you used one of them collars. Everybody makes mistakes, especially when they don't know any better.

Wouldn't you rather learn how to successfully interact with your dog? Recognize its strengths and limits, build a relationship, understand it?
Make it understand you?

Can be done ....not with a collar though ...and not with your attitude.

Think about it.


Please !

dudara

peasant wrote:

It's not just an "opinion".
Simple thruths and facts ...no more, no less.

I'm not trying to condemn you, because you used one of them collars. Everybody makes mistakes, especially when they don't know any better.

Wouldn't you rather learn how to successfully interact with your dog?Recognize its strengths and limits, build a relationship, understand it?
Make it understand you?

Can be done ....not with a collar though ...and not with your attitude.

Think about it.


Please !

Please don't sound so condescending.

What you're posting here are your opinions, as your posts are not backed up by hard indisputable facts. You do talk a lot of sense, but people won't listen unless you improve your style.

disillusioned

I've a friend who runs a kennel, she's also a breeder and heavily involved with the Irish Kennel Club. She has advised that in her opinion the collar is ok and has used them herself when necessary.

@ Wavey:
I bought my collar at the pet store in Kinsealy (northside of Dublin). Have you made any headway with your dog or your neighbour?

amerden

dudara wrote:

Please don't sound so condescending.

What you're posting here are your opinions, as your posts are not backed up by hard indisputable facts. You do talk a lot of sense, but people won't listen unless you improve your style.

I don't think "peasant" was being condescending, he/she is just being passionate about animals and their well being, if more of the population of this country was as caring we wouldn't have such cruelty to any animal.

disillusioned wrote:

I've a friend who runs a kennel, she's also a breeder and heavily involved with the Irish Kennel Club. She has advised that in her opinion the collar is ok and has used them herself when necessary.

In my experience some kennels/breeders can be the cruelest places off all for dogs. Profit takes priority over animal welfare.

peasant

I would love to post hard, indisputable facts about the "right or wrong" handling, training, etc of dogs in general.

Problem is, there aren't any ...or thousands of them ...whichever way you look at it.

Anyone can call themselves a dog trainer. Anyone can invent "THE METHOD" and go out there and sell it. And produce reports and statistics about how wonderfully it works. Same goes for dog "training" products. Bark collars, Haltis, choke chains and the like. Any research will bring up pages upon pages praising whatever it is into the high heavens. Equally you will also find pages upon pages condemning that particular product or method to hell.
People being people, that's just the way it is ...everyone thinks that THEY have got it right and everybody else is wrong.

But it is very simple really:

There is NO universal method to train your dog. Every single dog is an individual and will react differently to its environement. Every single dog has good days and bad days, talents and limits.
That is why a "one size fits all" approach will not work. It MAY (if you're lucky) but there is no guarantee.
Every dog needs to be assessed individually and treated individually.

Factor into that that every owner is an individual as well, reacting individually to any given situation, putting their own personal spin on any traing method, and you will realize that there can be no hard, indesputable facts, as every dog- owner -team is different, producing different results.

As a beginner, looking for advice, the multitude of contradictory information out there is really baffling. And everybody you turn to totally rubbishes whatever you thought you had already learnt and understood and tells you something completely different is the only proper way.

No wonder people are confused and try everything and anything, making things worse in the progress.

But actually, it IS really simple:

Dogs are unequalled in adapting to their environement, their group, their pack. That's what they do best. Check out how a certain "pack" (ie. your family) works, what makes it tick, what the do's and dont's are and then exploit that knowledge to their best advantage. Who is a soft target, who is not to be messed with. When does it pay to follow the rules and when can I get away with doing what I like.

To get the best possible relationship with your dog, you only need to follow a few simple rules:

Respect your dog for the individual it is.
Learn to trust your dog, as it learns to trust you.
Observe your dog, as it observes you.
Set up clear and precise rules and stick to them. Consistently and consequently.
Don't punish your dog, correct it.
Be the reliable, consistent and consequent leader it is looking for.
Give it some freedom to make its own decisions, as a good leader would.

Learn to apply these rules to all and any situation, work at yourself to be consistent and predictable and your dog will follow you ...happily. Given some time you will create an understanding between each other. The kind of understanding that makes dog ownership such a wonderful experience.

Unfortunately these days, many people look at a dog like an item. Something that is there for their amusement. That provides entertainment for a few hours a day and get's put away in a corner when it's not wanted. The dog is expected to function "like it says on the tin" or in that case, some bogous breed "desription" written up by a breeder keen on selling puppies.
As a result, the dog gets treated disrespectfully. I gets bought, used, fixed, adjusted. Dogs being the truly incredible animals they are, a lot of times the owner still gets what he wants from a seemingly "happy" dog.

But try the other way and you will be amazed!

fightin snr

Fair play peasant,probably the most concise post I`ve ever read on boards.......
It`s simple methodology put the time and effort in and you should reap the rewards,I don`t care what anyone says there`s no quick fix

LegacyUser

peasant wrote:

Unfortunately these days, many people look at a dog like an item. Something that is there for their amusement. That provides entertainment for a few hours a day and get's put away in a corner when it's not wanted.

peasant, some very well phrased posts. Thanks! Just to re-iterate! Don't buy a dog, leave it all day in the garden while your at work and wonder why it has behavioural problems.

delly

This may help, not a coller, but works in a similar method i think.

For the record i don't think its right to have a dog and not be home during the day. I've longed to own a couple of golden retrievers for the last number of years, but i won't get them until myself or my wife can be at home for the full day.

Raiser

I've longed to own a couple of golden retrievers for the last number of years, but i won't get them until myself or my wife can be at home for the full day.

One dog at home during the day is not good news at all.

I REALLY REALLY think that two dogs at home in a reasonable sized garden - with a bit of room to get up to stuff and a few toys is feckin grand.

- My two chase each other, play-fight, chew their toys, snooze, dig random holes (?) sunbathe, play-fight, chew things I forgot to put in the shed, snooze some more.

They have a better quality of life than I do Mon. to Fri.

Why shouldn't you get a couple of retrievers? Do you need to retire from your job first so you can wipe their bums afterwards..... :eek:

How did dogs ever survive before we domesticated them and gave them silly names.....?

I would say to anyone that has one dog out the back to PLEASE consider buying a companion dog - Its not harder to care for an extra dog - its as easy to fill two bowls as one - all dog associated tasks are just done X2 if that makes any sense.....

peasant

Raiser wrote:

One dog at home during the day is not good news at all.

I REALLY REALLY think that two dogs at home in a reasonable sized garden - with a bit of room to get up to stuff and a few toys is feckin grand.

I would agree that having two dogs is a huge improvement, from the dogs' point of view. They are social animals and need and enjoy company. (Check first, that they DO get along, though ...some dogs just can't stand one another)

As far as your relationship to the dogs is concerned, it doesn't really make any difference whether you leave one, two ore more dogs home alone all day.

(Don't get me wrong ...you don't have to watch your dogs every minute of the day ..actually they quite enjoy some "time out" every now and then.)

Fact is, they are still left leaderless all day. To some dogs this will be no problem, to others it could be an open invitation to dream up all sorts of mischief and / or undesirable behaviour.

delly

Thats one of the reasons for getting two dogs, company for each other.

I reckon it'll happen soon enough tho', wifey is taking a career break some time in the near future.

LegacyUser

delly wrote:

Thats one of the reasons for getting two dogs, company for each other.

I reckon it'll happen soon enough tho', wifey is taking a career break some time in the near future.

No no .. trying to justify leaving one dog in the garden all day by buying another?? No way!! With regard to the post above implying that y0u have to be retired before you can get a dog - my answer -

If there is nobody in the house all day - a dog is NOT a good pet to choose. Why? Leaving a dog cooped up all day is NOT fair on the dog, AND not fair on your neighbours. The house two doors down from me has 2 dogs - one barks - the other barks - ALL night.

There are plenty of other pets out there, if your not home for 9-10 hours of the day then get a cat or goldfish. Nobody is saying you need to wipe their arses (as some poster nicely put it above). Fact is - dogs like human company and they deserve to be walked and played with as opposed to left in the garden all the time.

FranknFurter

Would you put a shock collar on the neck of a toddler who cries at innapropriate times?

Your dog is essentially no different.

You can teach respect and obedience without hurting the animal, through patience and time.:(

Also, heres a fact for you, I have seen dogs die via shock collars, how? if a dog has a (maybe undiagnosed) heart condition or epilepsy, the pulse can kill, specially smaller dogs.no matter what trainers or manufacturers may say to get you to buy their product.


b

wasted_winter

I sympathise with your problem... I have the same problem regarding people (adults included) 'teasing' my dog. The dog naturally barks like crazy, running up and down the garden.
I've tried a million different things, I did read up on the collars aswell. In the end I decided to just leave her as she is - personally I'm glad that she barks, it's her natural instinct... it's the best alarm system you can get... plus she gives me advanced warning for when my sister in law arrives with her kids, giving me an opportunity to slip out through the back garden!!!

The barking isn't so much a problem, just a little annoying at times - but she's trained to quit when called by name - like most dogs, it's just the tone of your voice.

I really can't help with the daytime barking. I do think that people should be a little more sympathetic for during the day - but I do think that at night-time it really is rude and inconsiderate (in this boiling weather I have to sleep with all the windows closed because of several dogs... there are to ring-leaders so to speak... but when one dog barks they all do!)

Plus I don't think your cruel working & having dogs! I think that's a ridiculous statement! I have to admit that I am a bit of a soppy muppet when it comes to my dog, so I'm not taking a 'it's just an animal' point of view - but I think two dogs for company in a fair sized garden with loads of toys.... what's the problem? You give them attention when you come home in the evening and at weekends, they are loved and cared for. Again - what's the problem?!?!

I'd suggest openly asking your neighbours to find out who wrote the note. Openly and honestly - even speaking to a couple of neighbours will probably get the word back to the author. Just say that you recieved a note though the door, you appreciate the note as you didn't think there was a problem and you would like to speak to the person who wrote it. For all you know it may just be a problem with one neighbour! Is there anyone in your area that you know would be home during the day? A mother with young children (who perhaps is trying to get a child to sleep during the day?) or an elderly person? If you can find out who wrote it then perhaps you can buy yourself time. I think it's healthier for the dogs to be outdoors during the day and if the author knows you are working on the 'problem' then they may be more sympathetic to you.

Good luck & keep us updated!

LegacyUser

wasted_winter wrote:

Plus I don't think your cruel working & having dogs! I think that's a ridiculous statement! I have to admit that I am a bit of a soppy muppet when it comes to my dog, so I'm not taking a 'it's just an animal' point of view - but I think two dogs for company in a fair sized garden with loads of toys.... what's the problem? You give them attention when you come home in the evening and at weekends, they are loved and cared for. Again - what's the problem?!?!

The problem is that the dog is cooped up in a garden all day .. thats the problem. Sure how would you know how your dog behaves and that it is barking because it is getting teased, if your at work all day!!

I know it sounds mad - you shouldn't have one if you work. But there are dog walkers out there etc

wasted_winter wrote:

I do think that people should be a little more sympathetic for during the day - but I do think that at night-time it really is rude and inconsiderate (in this boiling weather I have to sleep with all the windows closed because of several dogs... there are to ring-leaders so to speak... but when one dog barks they all do!)

Yes, I fully agree with this. During the day I have absolutely no problem with dogs barking. Sounds like they are having fun - someone throwing them a bone a ball .. whatever.

At night, it is a pain in the neck .. BUT .. what stops me from saying anything to this particular neighbour is that I actually feel safer knowing this dog is in the garden at the end of mine. No way someone could get past him into mine.
You CANNOT blame any one dog owner for the instance where there are a lot of dogs barking. It happens. Its annoying sometimes - but .. I'm getting used to it.

Wavey wrote:

Morning all.
Got an anonymous note in the door yesterday complaining that our six month old german shepard was barking all day while we were in work.

The original poster says the complaint is that the dog barks all day. During the day there will be noise and this is acceptable when you move into an estate. An anon letter through the door!! You know what - I'd not worry about it - let said person come to your door and discuss the issue in person or make themselves known .. or he he forever hold their peace. Do they expect you to get rid of the dog? I doubt it, unless they are mad! I'd leave it - not to bother. If it was during the night I would still wait until the person comes to you in person.
What I would do is - do a dinger on the house - ring the door bell and hide behind a bush - see what they neighbour looks like. If its a little old lady then go over with a bunch of flowers a hot flask of tea - big smile etc
If its a massive bloke who looks like he'd thump the next pedestrian then rung like hell!!

Sysiphus

Why does it not seem that important to most people if a dog barks during the day?

Lots of people sleep during the day due to the fact that they are shift workers! Also as pointed out chilrden and wrinklies!

Excessive barking at any time is unfair to both the estate and the mutt.

I agree with all peasent had to say, I would love to have a dog, but I know that my work schedule would not allow it, thats why I have cats (still trying to get the to carry my slippers......)

doctor evil

I agree with Sysiphus, dogs barking evcessively during the day is not fair on those who work nights or have young children. If you ingore the note it will not make the problem go away.

I may get torn to shreds for suggesting this (tbh I don`t care!) but have you considered having the dogs vocal cords cut?.

LegacyUser

Sysiphus wrote:

Lots of people sleep during the day due to the fact that they are shift workers! Also as pointed out chilrden and wrinklies!

Excessive barking at any time is unfair to both the estate and the mutt.

For Gawds sake Syphalis!! During the day there is lots of noise, road works, dogs barking, kids crying, cats meowing, people driving cars, lawnmowers blowing - tut de tut tut tut (thats my neighbour's kid clarinet lessons).

Anyone working shift work - sympathies - but ear plugs a must as unfortunately the world ticks on ..
The law of the land is that between the hours of 11pm and eh is it 7am that there is no noise. Would you be of the type to extend that time period?

Back to the dog issue - not saying ignore it - I'm saying that whoever put the damn letter in the door should have knocked and discussed.

If your dog really is barking non-stop then take it to training - but a few barks a couple of times an hour is not excessive. Only to wrinklies like syphalus

peasant

I may get torn to shreds for suggesting this (tbh I don`t care!) but have you considered having the dogs vocal cords cut?.

Rest assured, you would be torn to shreds ...by me ...personally ...if i cought you doing that.

How about we hacked your fingers off ...so you can't post such rubbish anymore?

Same thing ...

doctor evil

peasant wrote:

Rest assured, you would be torn to shreds ...by me ...personally ...if i cought you doing that.

How about we hacked your fingers off ...so you can't post such rubbish anymore?

Same thing ...

Charming :rolleyes: . It was just a suggestion, if you don`t like it I suggest you ignore it.

peasant

Sorry mate ...but the suggested brutal mutilation of an animal is something I do not ignore.

Infact ignoring something like that is just as bad as doing it yourself.

Somebody has a dog that they can't control because they're not at home. So you "suggest" cutting that poor dogs vocal chords??

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you were "just" trolling ...

LegacyUser

peasant wrote:

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you were "just" trolling ...

They don't call him doctor evil for nuthin'!!
Not a solution doctor evil.

---
On a side note - to the original poster. When your at home at the weekends - does your dog bark a lot during the day? Is it only when people tease it from over the wall that it barks?? How old is the dog? How long do you have the dog? I'm just wonderin, if its young. do you think it is something it will grow out of? Also, the anon letter, was it threatening - or just informing you that the dog was annoying them?

Its really difficult to give a solution. I wouldn't be the type to recommend those collars.

You kinow what? I'd actually ring the local vet and ask if they have any suggestions.

wasted_winter

doctor evil wrote:

I may get torn to shreds for suggesting this (tbh I don`t care!) but have you considered having the dogs vocal cords cut?.

:eek:

Oh god that's horrible! I didn't even know such a procedure existed! :mad:

I'm sorry, but that is really, really horrible. It reminds me of people who have their cats declawed... or the absolute worse - ugh... even thinking about it, removing pups tails (either with a knife or that horrible rubber band). It makes me want to vomit.

I doubt if there is a single person who could stand up and be pi55ed off about a dog barking. It's the continuous barking that's the problem.

In regard to the whole daytime/night-time arguement I really do think there is a difference if a dog is barking at night. During the day the sound will blend into all the other noising going on... cars, machines, tvs, stereos, trucks... etc. At night time it is very different. Unless you happen to live in the middle of a war zone one single sound will echo at night... Which is why your neighbours tom cat howling or a dog down the road barking will sound as though it's in your bedroom with you.

And I do have sympathy for shift workers - I'm a chronic insomiac - so I know exactly what it is like to try to get your body to sleep when your mind is wide awake. So shift-workers of the world: get heavy curtains, get double glazing, get soothing whale sounds.... or get earplugs.
On the flip side I'm a student who spends her days studying with little kids screaming outside, cars coming and going and the general noise that comes from living in a residential area. I dog barking wouldn't even register with me.

As for the orginal poster... sorry, we're kinda forgetting about you. Someone mentioned setting up a web camera. I'd seriously think about setting up some sort of recording device - at least this way you can actually see how long the dog barks.... and if anything specific triggers it. Perhaps you could pull a sickie from work for a day or two and just monitor the dogs.

I really wouldn't ignore the note. If a person has gone so far as to put a note though your door then I think they mean business. Unless you ask around to find the author, like I suggested, you may end up with the ispca on your doorstep - or even the local council (noise pollution). At least in this situation you can have the facts and figures on hand.

Bubby wrote:

The problem is that the dog is cooped up in a garden all day .. thats the problem. Sure how would you know how your dog behaves and that it is barking because it is getting teased, if your at work all day!!

Umm... I'm not sure if that was directed at me... it was inresponse to a quote from me.... so... what the heck!

I work fulltime and I travel a distance to get into work. My average 'working day' including travel has me leaving home at 7am and not returning until 7.30pm. I live at home with my parents, or mother to be exact, my father passed away. My mother (an oap... therefore not working) would leave the house to go to the local shops, etc, perhaps every second or third day. When we leave the house the dog is asked, 'To mind the house', which she knows is the command that the house will be empty for a while. In which case she runs upstairs and gives you evil looks from the landing. (My mother, oddly enough is scared of dogs - dogs that she doesn't know - so she can't take mabel out on a leash). The dog knows how long my mother will be gone and is usually heard crying before my mother reaches the door.
Other than that she has company all day long. I get home in the evenings... now the rush hour has decreased and I'm able to leave a little earlier I can be home at six. She gets brough out for a walk, each evening, during winter she's walked in the morning (even now with the bright weather she's walked in the morning) which usually means while Im hopping in and out of the shower she's sprawled bell-up at the end of my bed.... and I swear some mornings I've even heard her mutter 'sucker' at me!!!

She will let out a growl and a bark if other dogs in the distence are barking but unless she is provoked the barking isn't a problem. Like I siad... when people come to the door they step away excpecting a rotwieller to attack them.... my dog on the other hand lets me open the door then runs and hides. Great guard dog!!!

I really do believe a person can keep a dog while still working. I know my situation is different, in that there is always someone at home. But take three aunts for example. One of them gets up at the crack of dawn to walk THREE dogs (one of which is a gigantic lab), the other is a lanky 'thing' and finally her sons dog (which she picks up on the way) and she walks, at my last count, seven miles with the dogs! While she's away from work the dogs are locked up in a stable. When she comes back from the morning walks they are given time to run around and cool down, then she pops off to work and the dogs follow her car and at this stage the are more than happy to lie down on soft hay and sleep for a while. My other aunt is a nutter, she has a problem with excess barking and decided the best way to deal with the probem was to walk the legs off the dog! Again, in the morning, when she can she hits the roads and can walk for miles, again in the evening she hits the beach with the dog. Weekends are spent on long trekking walking through out just about any daunting landscape you can think of.
I can't say that either of these women were wrong to get dogs while they work.

People get dogs for all sorts of reasons. The main to to think about is the type of dog you are getting. Some dogs need lots of attention from their owners, others are more like cats (the feed-me-and-feck-off attitude). There ARE dogs who like their own company... and dogs who prefer the company of other dogs. A lot of poeple buy dogs 'because I want one' without really researching the full practicalities of owning one... or the particular breed they have their eyes on.

LegacyUser

wasted_winter wrote:

:eek:
Umm... I'm not sure if that was directed at me... it was inresponse to a quote from me.... so... what the heck!

No no not directed at you personally wasted_winter at all. Just aa general comment. But you did say whats the problem having 2 dogs if theres lots of toys in the garden. My comment is just that if you have one dog barking, adding another might not be the solution.

You do have a good point in your latest post about how different dogs suit different situations. I hadn't thought of that. I would love to have got a dog, but got the cats instead as I thought them to be more independent animals - just after the food. I wouldn't change them for the world now. I guess that I would just be inclined to feel a little guilty about leaving a dog all day on its own. But as you point out - depends on the dog you go for. This is a key point in this discussion I think. So, a question for ye - which dogs (breeds) are more independent than others - thats the question?

peasant

Sorry, to burst your bubble there, but there is no such thing as an independent dog. The ALL are highly social animals and need company.
There also is no such thing as an independent breed. Some dogs need human company 24/7 others don't. but the differences are much more pronounced from individual dog to individual dog rather than from breed to breed.

So there is no breed that was bred for staying on on its own longer than others.

Wavey

Thanks for all the replies guys.

This seems to be quite a heated topic.

We wont be going with any special collars and definatley not any sort of surgical procedure!!

We have spoken to another neighbour who lives closer to us than where we think the note came from and she totally disaggrees with it.

She kept an ear out for us during the day and said that the dog only barked twice, when peolpe where walking along behind the garden. That is definately an acceptable level of barking.

To all the flamers. These dogs get more excercise and stimulation than alot of dogs. They are walked in the morning and evening. The are brought to dog agilty and obediance classes on Saturdays and Sundays. They have a plethera of toys and things to keep them occupied.

The german shepard is only six months old so Im sure she will calm down with age. The two dogs get on great by the way.

This is not as big a problem as I had first invisaged but thank you for all your opinions.

Wavey

LegacyUser

ARF ARF ARF and WOOOF WOOF WOOF

Wavey

Couldnt have put it better myself Bubby