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CK
Lv 6
CK asked in PetsDogs · 9 years ago

How to stop excessive barking?

My German Shepherds are 3 and 4 now. My female isn't the problem, she whines sometimes, makes little yip sounds, but when my male starts to bark he does NOT stop, and it makes her bark too. I've had trainers say "Let them bark it out." Tried that, he will bark for over 8 hours if I let him. Some trainers have said teach him to bark. He barks on command, but won't listen to saying no bark (it's like he can't hear me over himself). Some have said separate them. Tried that too, doesn't work. I have bark collars and that works a little bit. They live in the garage during the day (or the yard weather permitting) and they'll bark at me through the garage after hearing the car pull up without their collars. The collars USED to stop their barking, sorta. Female would bark once, get shocked, then be hesitant about barking again, but still continue if he does. Male will just bark, shock himself, scream about it, and then continue to bark. MOST of the time this happens it is when I am coming home, though they could be doing this when I'm gone and I wouldn't know. I have NO idea what there is left to do. They have a plethora of toys and other things to do, they get lots of exercise (two mile walk or a one mile jog a day). They just do NOT stop barking, at least until I come in the house once I return. I'm sure my neighbors HATE me for it, and I can't afford to keep going to trainers who are yielding no results.

What do I do?

Update:

A calming cap WOULD be an option, but they can't see me anyway seeing as they stay in the garage when I'm at work. We decided a finished garage filled with toys and chews and each other to interact would be much better than crating them during the day. And a shock collar isn't inhumane, sorry, but it's not. I used to feel that way too, and tried it on myself. It's more surprising than painful. They don't notice it anymore and will continue to bark. The only time it's helpful is if they're in the garage at that time. If they are in the yard they scream, with OR without the collars on, they don't notice them then. :/ The next step, says animal control, is debarking them, getting rid of them, or sedating them for the entire day. All of that seems entirely more inhumane.than a self correcting collar.

4 Answers

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  • 9 years ago

    Calming cap. My Shepherd Mix is insane in the car. I put his calming cap on and he lays down without a peep. It looks ridiculous but it works wonders. It's about $20 on amazon. Seriously...try it.

    Please do NOT use shock collars. THat is animal cruelty and obviously it doesn't work. It probably makes them scared and bark more.

  • 9 years ago

    Your problem seems quit excessive, but a solution that helped me was

    http://www.foundanimals.org/pet-care/ask-experts/s...

    It was really helpful for me in a way that easy to understand and initiate the training.

    Source(s): www.foundanimals.org
  • I agree with the previous answer, try the calming cap, barkoff, or a dog whistle.

  • 6 years ago

    Why did you get dogs if you can't take care of them?

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