Help! My Dog is a Barking Brat!!!!

[rualakin]

We have a four yr old Jack Russel Terrier we got from the local Humane Society last September.
He is a wonderful dog, and great with the kids and we love him....
The problem is, this dog barks at anything and everything that passes the house (particularly other dogs and the neighbor's cats). He runs to the back fence and barks for no reason to rile up the back door neighbors dogs and even the next door neighbors. Apparently, he just hasn't been socialized with other dogs. (according to the Humane Society, he did live with his sister with his former owners... and elderly couple who had to relinquish due to the death of the gentleman and health of the woman)
We love this dog dealy, but he barks at six am when he goes out to potty and every chance he gets!!!! And I mean barks! He just goes all out, hysterical barking, like he is ready to go under or over the fence and attack anything in sight.... though in reality he is a big baby LOL
I try to take him for walks, but he goes wacko trying to get at all the dogs in the neighborhood!
What should we do? I thought maybe if I got a different type of leash and really started working with him a lot, I could begin to socialize him (quite frankly, it rains here a LOT and he hates the rain, so we haven't walked as much as we should, just play in the back yard... and with all his barking and fighting me, I feel terrible taking him out to walk around the neighborhood... its embarrassing!)
Any ideas? Suggestions? Thoughts? I know I have to be "the boss and hubby and I have to be the alpha male and female" here but Rudi seems to think he rules the world.
He is extremely well behaved in every aspect but this.

Thank for you time and consideration,

rual


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[Juliannaluv]

I know this sounds inhumane, but ever try a "bark" collare or shock collar? I bet that would shut him up

[3tbear]

Jack Russell terriers can be a bit high strung. My sister's FIL had one, too much to handle for him, had to give the dog away. Maybe he'll calm down when he gets a little older. Wish I had an answer for you. I've had dogs in the past, but none of mine ever barked up a storm like that. The following sites might be a help. You can ask them questions on the Jack Russell terrier site.
Good luck to you. Sounds like a great dog.

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[NaomiMarie]

I can somewhat relate, we adopted Mikki form a local shelter almost two years ago. Apparently, she hadn't been socialized either
We live in a condo complex where there are quite a few dogs (all very well behaved). Mikki barks at other dogs (not people as a rule) and gets all riled up. I wouldn't trust her with other dogs, there is only one dog here that she's made friends with, a (male) boxer whom she's known since he was a lil puppy
But my biggest 'complaint' is her WHINING. She whines (LOUDLY) at everything......if a leaf falls off the tree she whines, LOL.
She really is a BIG BABY, and to think she's 1/2 pitbull
Talk about embarrassing
The other dogs look at her like she's nuts LOL
She startles very easily (especially outside), a lot of that probably has to do with the fact that her previous owners kept her outside ALL THE TIME (she came from an inner-city) and she probably heard gunshots,etc......
Thunderstorms FREAK HER OUT. Last summer we happen to be out during a t-storm. We keep her on the lower level with a heavy (installed) baby gate at the top of the stairs. She totally destroyed the 13ft banister (ripping it from the wall and chewing it up, exposing nails,etc) and somehow managed to jump the gate .....she must have been frantic not having us there to comfort her
As far as offering advice I can tell you that you may want to seek the advice of an animal behaviorist (not cheap though, about $100 for a 1-hr session) OR try doing some research online. [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now] is a great site, lots of great info/links there.
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There's also quite a few produtcs on the market (I don't know very much about them).
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Good Luck

HTH,
Naomi


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[tlspiegel]

I know this sounds crazy, but he's probably bored. Get another dog/puppy and he'll have something to occupy his time with other than barking for attention.

Those collars that shock actually aren't a bad idea on a SHORT term... they do work.

The shock is very minor.

And as a last resort, you can have him de-barked. Simple operation and he won't be quite as noisy. He'll still be able to 'comment' on stuff going on, but it won't be so shrill.

I know, I know... don't flame me. All of the above sounds crazy but it does work.

[beffie]

Try using a squirt bottle of water...every time he barks you tell him a "command" to be quiet (use the same "command" EVERY time), and squirt him with the water bottle. I've heard of this, but never used it.

Or put a few rocks/marbles in a tin can, and do the quiet "command" and shake the can...supposedly the dogs do not like the noise and will learn not to do the behavior you are trying to break them of, so that they will not be bothered by the nasty noise.

Both of these are simple, and "nice" ways to teach the dogs.


My sister tried two different types of those "training" collars to break her German Shepard- Mix from barking all the time. Neither one worked on him. First she tried one that had a high pitched noise whenever the dog barked, they would learn not to bark so they weren't bothered by the sound. Then she tried one of the "shock" type collars, when he barked "excessively" he would get kind of a static electricity type shock (not bad enough to hurt him), and it was supposed to get him to quit barking...But neither one worked for him...


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[tlspiegel]

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I love this site:
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OK... that should help! Good Luck to you and the woof.


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[tlspiegel]

One last suggestion - you can always rename him Bob!

(sorry... inside joke here...)

[luvmetender]

Our dog barked a lot when we first got her. We bought a muzzle at the local pet store and it helped. We didn't have to use it very often, basically when we walked her, or when she went out on her rope. It seemed to work pretty quickly.

[freesurfer]

Originally posted by Juliannaluv
I know this sounds inhumane, but ever try a "bark" collare or shock collar? I bet that would shut him up

Yep that does work!!

[kat]

Our stupid dog used to bark all the time too at everything - other dogs, people walkng down the street, leaves, snow, EVERYTHING. Two things would really set her off though - bicycles and the cat across the street.

We only got this dog in Sept 2001, and it was supposed to be a temporary thing, so at first we just told her to be quiet but didn't work too much on it. Then when it became apparent that the dog was ours, we took her into the vet & asked about the best way to curb the barking. Our vet doesn't like the shock collars much - he said they were pretty ineffective in real problem barkers. We were told to use the rocks in the can but that didn't seem to do much - she just barked louder than the rocks.. LOL! So then we tried the squirting water thing since it worked well to train the cats - but she didn't seem to mind that either. Finally we got some canned air & when she'd go into a barking frenzy, we'd sneak up behind her & give her a blast with the air. That worked - at least now she only barks if someone stops in front of the house or at bicycles (I don't know why - she just HATES them).

Now the funny thing is that while the dog has given up barking at the cat across the street, the cat is having a problem with the dog. It's an indoor only cat & now when it goes into THEIR front window, we can see the cat hissing at the dog and throwing a fit if the dog goes to look out our front window.


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[hattielee]

My sister had the same problem with her dog. Her dog is a working breed (cattledog) and thus easily bored. Boredom = barking.
She had to exercise her a lot more and work with her to modify her behavior.
Whenever she barked she got the squirt bottle, shake can or the training aid that worked best for her the Pet Agree training device

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She had to earn the the trust to be allowed in the backyard alone. She was only allowed in the back yard on a leash so when she barked she could be reprimanded.
Consistancy is the important thing, as soon as the dog starts barking you must tell it no, use a training aid and praise when quiet.

Her dog barks much less now and when she does start a barking frenzy all my sister has to do is show her the Pet Agree and she stops immediatley. Good Luck


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[rualakin]

Thanks so much for the suggestions!
I have to say that when we tramp out to the back fence and yell RUDI GET IN THAT HOUSE AND DO A TIME OUT (I would say that as it's what the kids get lol) he dashes into the house and pouts on the couch LOL!!!!
He is very bright, so the comments about boredom are probably more accurate. Now I just have to find a way to keep him entertained during the rainy Oregon winters!
He does have a couple of "doggie buddies" he adores, and we do "play dates" at MaMaws so the kids can visit her and he can play with their dog LOL Yep he is my youngest child for certain!
I also thought more about just getting a better harness/leash set up and forcing the issue of going for walks rain or shine and really working with him. He has to learn he can't bully everyone in the neighborhood.
Thing is, this dog LOVES people.... maybe that's his problem: he thinks he's human LOL!

Thanks again everyone!

rual