dog problem, advice?

[hbliam]

My thoughts:
-That product for the barking dog isn't going to work for a whining dog.
-I have a JRT. I also have a dog walker come on the days I work. Cost me about $180 a month. She (the dog ) also has access to the fenced backyard, and the house. She likes to hang out in the rising sun in the AM, skulk around the bushes here and there, or sleep in the cool house when it gets hot. Halfway through the day she gets taken out for an hour by the dog walker then she just sleeps until we get home. Tire them out and they don't whine..they snore.
-A second dog might help.
-I would never leave a "working" dog in a cage for an extended period of time. Fence the yard, move, or find the dog a home that is more suited to the breed.

[Grampa]

  It's a light read and really teaches you to view life through the eyes of your dog.

chase cat

sleep

eat cat poop

sleep


bark


bark


sleep


poop

[Grampa]

My thoughts:
-That product for the barking dog isn't going to work for a whining dog.

as a direct result.... yes.... it does not stop the whining, but, now that the barking has ceased, so too has the whining.

(our barking dog.... also was a whinier)

[hbliam]

chase cat

*snip*

reminds me of:

Excerpts from a Dog's diary:

8:00 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!

9:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!

9:40 am - OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE!

10:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!

11:30 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!

12:00 noon - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!

1:00 PM - OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE!

1:30 PM - ooooooo. bath. bummer.

4:00 PM - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!

5:00 PM - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!

5:30 PM - OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE!


Excerpts from a Cat's diary

DAY 752 - My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre
little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh
meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only
thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and
the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the
occasional piece of furniture. Tomorrow I may eat
another house plant.

DAY 761 - Today my attempt to kill my captors by
weaving around their feet while they were walking
almost succeeded, must try this at the top of the
stairs. In an attempt to disgust and repulse these
vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit
on their favorite chair...must try this on their bed.

DAY 765 - Decapitated a mouse and brought them the
headless body, in attempt to make them aware of what I
am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their
hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a
good little cat I was...Hmmm. Not working according to
plan.

DAY 768 - I am finally aware of how sadistic they are.
For no good reason I was chosen for the water torture.
This time however it included a burning foamy chemical
called "shampoo." What sick minds could invent such a
liquid? My only consolation is the piece of thumb
still stuck between my teeth.

DAY 771 - There was some sort of gathering of their
accomplices. I was placed in solitary throughout the
event. However, I could hear the noise. More
importantly I overheard that my confinement was due to
MY power of "allergies." Must learn what this is and
how to use it to my advantage.

DAY 774 - I am convinced the other captives are
flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely
released and seems more than happy to return. He is
obviously a half-wit. The bird on the other hand has
got to be an informant, and speaks with them
regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due
to his current placement in the metal room his safety
is assured. But I can wait; it is only a matter of
time......

[somegirl]

Looks like you have gotten some excellent advice already.

Just some additional thoughts.

- Your dog is lonely.  They are pack animals.  You need to spend time with him. 

- Being on a tie-out is stressful for dogs.  If other dogs (or other animals) come by, he has no option to keep himself safe.  Please re-consider this situation.  Could he be in the house in a large crate with someone taking him out for a walk or two during the day while you are gone?

- He needs more physical exercise than playing at the dog park.   Runs or walks are great.

- He also needs more mental exercise.  Please think about signing up for a basic obedience course with him.  You will both benefit greatly, and you will find that the mental exercise will tire him out just as much, if not more, than lots of running.

- My favorite book is Don't Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor.  It's actually not exclusively about dog training, and is not a how-to manual, but it does a wonderful job on explaining behavioral modification and the most effective methods to use.

- Instead of negative reinforcement (the anti-bark ultrasonic thing), I'd recommend looking in ways to reward him at those times when he is being quiet.

- Another way to mentally exercise him and keep him from getting bored is to use a Kong and/or a Buster Cube to feed him while you are gone.
This site describes how to stuff a Kong, which you can buy at any pet supply store.

- Again, your dog is lonely and wants to be with his pack.  Please keep investigating options to bring him inside.

[akmnstr]

I've had similar problems with my huskies.  I have a different take on the problem than most of the above comments.  It seems to me there is nothing wrong with what you are presently doing.  Your dog needs to adopt to your/his lifestyle.  You don't need to hire a dog walker or dog trainer what you need is a no-bark dog collar.  I know that some think it is cruel but I disagree.  Your dog will very quickly learn not to bark or whine while the collar is on.  Here are some examples http://www.petstreetmall.com/bark-collars/  If you can't bring yourself to use a collar you could try the ultra sonic method mentioned above http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3006736  I had a friend that tried one of those.  The dog learned that if he went inside his doghouse the sonic sound was muffled and he continued to bark all day.  The dog was a lab mix.  I have found that I don't have to use the collar for long and my neighbors now love my dogs almost as much as I do.

[Triple J]

I've had similar problems with my huskies.  I have a different take on the problem than most of the above comments.  It seems to me there is nothing wrong with what you are presently doing.  Your dog needs to adopt to your/his lifestyle.  You don't need to hire a dog walker or dog trainer what you need is a no-bark dog collar.  I know that some think it is cruel but I disagree.  Your dog will very quickly learn not to bark or whine while the collar is on.  Here are some examples http://www.petstreetmall.com/bark-collars/  If you can't bring yourself to use a collar you could try the ultra sonic method mentioned above http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3006736  I had a friend that tried one of those.  The dog learned that if he went inside his doghouse the sonic sound was muffled and he continued to bark all day.  The dog was a lab mix.  I have found that I don't have to use the collar for long and my neighbors now love my dogs almost as much as I do.

You have several dogs which are kept in a pen (easier movement), not on a lead though, right? Also, aren't they Huskies? Those issues make quite a difference.

[akmnstr]

You have several dogs which are kept in a pen (easier movement), not on a lead though, right? Also, aren't they Huskies? Those issues make quite a difference.

Yes, what you say is true.  My particular Huskies are quiet but most dog yards here are rather noisy places.  In the beginning I had just one dog and as a pup he barked a lot at night and kept me awake (he also howled like a wolf, but that is another issue).  The collar worked for him and as I added dogs I had to do the same for each of them.  My nephew keeps Weimaraners and had neighbors complaining about his barking dogs.  The collars worked for him. 

[Triple J]

Yes, what you say is true.  My particular Huskies are quiet but most dog yards here are rather noisy places.  In the beginning I had just one dog and as a pup he barked a lot at night and kept me awake (he also howled like a wolf, but that is another issue).  The collar worked for him and as I added dogs I had to do the same for each of them.  My nephew keeps Weimaraners and had neighbors complaining about his barking dogs.  The collars worked for him. 

I was talking more about the statement that the OP isn't doing anything wrong. I agree the collars are effective. I'd personally try a non-shock one first, but I have no real problem with shock ones if needed. I have a good friend that took very good care of his dogs, but had to use a shock collar to get his lab mix to stop barking constantly...it worked well and the dog survived just fine.

If I remember correctly you do quite a bit of activities with your dogs? Plus there are more than one, so they have their own pack. I just think the OP needs to walk his dog more. Getting a dog, then putting it on a lead outside and forgetting about it, save an ocassional pet or visit, isn't fair to the dog.

[akmnstr]

I was talking more about the statement that the OP isn't doing anything wrong. I agree the collars are effective. I'd personally try a non-shock one first, but I have no real problem with shock ones if needed. I have a good friend that took very good care of his dogs, but had to use a shock collar to get his lab mix to stop barking constantly...it worked well and the dog survived just fine.

If I remember correctly you do quite a bit of activities with your dogs? Plus there are more than one, so they have their own pack. I just think the OP needs to walk his dog more. Getting a dog, then putting it on a lead outside and forgetting about it, save an ocassional pet or visit, isn't fair to the dog.

Okay then, we have no argument.  The collars will work and I agree dogs do need social contact, exercise, and a pack leader.  It does sound like Silvy has other issues that he needs to work on and in my previous posts I was only addressing the barking.  Barking is easy to fix.  Training the dog and being the pack leader takes some effort and changes in Silvy's behavior. 

[silvy1200]

I just think the OP needs to walk his dog more. Getting a dog, then putting it on a lead outside and forgetting about it, save an ocassional pet or visit, isn't fair to the dog.

he does go on walks about every day, maybe missing once or twice a week. but does get plenty of excercise. and we don't forget about him, this happens when somebody leaves the house to go to work or school. that is when the he's been bothering the neighbors. either way, looks like we are finally closing escrow within a couple weeks. it will be a different story then, maybe even get him a girlfriend 

[hbliam]

Kinda weird to ask for advice tailored to your situation when you knew all along the situation would change.  Whatever. 

[silvy1200]

Kinda weird to ask for advice tailored to your situation when you knew all along the situation would change.  Whatever. 

we didn't know all along, i recently posted another thread about how we were going to fall out of escrow. still a possibility, the lender hasn't 100% confirmed yet.

i still don't think the new house will change his whining or barking, that is what i wanted to know how to make him stop. he is going to remain an outside dog though. thanks for everybodys advice/input! we feel like we understand him a little bit better now.