Mr Harv

[Connemmara]

Of a nice morning I put Mr Harv to sit outside on the step tied to the door - at the moment nobody about. At that when anybody walks past him he is very territorial and barks at them and by God he has a bark. He never never would
bite because has slipped the lead once and run up to the person and ran back. Anyway I know he is coming up to nine years old (is it too late) how can I stop him barking cos he is spoiling his own fun as I have to bring him in. BTW it has been going for years now - shouda done something before this. Tia

[ummmm]

How is he having fun if he's tied up?

[Connemmara]

By being tied up Ummmm (how one comes across so differently on the page) - I mean I tie him to the door with a very very very long lead so he wanders here and there and round the corner of my house etc. Not too long tho to go beyond my garden etc.

[Connemmara]

PS all our gardens are open plan here.

[EcclesCake]

You can get anti-bark collars.

They have mixed results and meet with mixed views from the dog fraternity too.

[Connemmara]

Thanks Eccles - do they hurt him every time he barks etc.

[ELVIS68]

The dog's nine years old and you want to stop him barking now?

[Connemmara]

Elvis I don't want him to stop barking et al but god why doesn't he allow people to go pass without going hysterical.

[EcclesCake]

There are different types, emitting sounds, vibrations or a spray. They all create a level of 'discomfort' hence the contention regarding their use.

[friedgreentomato]

Probably because he is tied up and feels threatened

[wolf63]

The problem is that he is a dog and dogs bark especially when his territory is under invasion. I would think that there is little that you can really do at his age.

Being tied up will actually make the potential of his barking worse.

I don't know the solution ~ if there is one.

[ELVIS68]

Perhaps he's telling the passers by in doggy language that his owner has tied a rope around his neck

[woofgang]

too late Conne, and don't get any kind of anti bark collar. Why don't you get a chair and sit out there with him?

[Connemmara]

FGT I am doing this for 9 years and now so he does know - when he is out at the back I call him and I say "would like to sit out the front and out he dances - genuinely FGT - he loves it - he sees down the street, cars blah etc. - then I get ready and take him to the park etc. It is only for about 15-30 mins. And I keep eye on him all the time. It is his wee time. Truly he loves it. When he took sick two months ago - staring into space, putting his back to us, hiding behind the bin at the back of house - no amount of prompting would get him out. Now he is a wee better - do you wanna go outside - ears prick up and comes dancing out. I do know my own wee dog. I just would love him to enjoy being outside with this territorial bark. But I have lived with it and sure knows how long I've got with him. So take it one day at a time. thanks all

[pixie373]

I think he's just protecting his territory. It'll be difficult to get him to stop now

[Connemmara]

woofie - I have thought of that many times - but you know us ladies - I have always loads to do and when he is enjoying his time outside I get some housework done and hoovering etc. He is truly adorable.

My friend (idolises animals) emailed me tonight to say (we were up in her house on Friday and my Mr Harv had a ball in her garden) she has a lot of rockery etc - then we gave him water and she couldn't believe he stuck his paw into the cold water and punched his face into cold water. She owned a dog for 16 years yet she never saw her dog do that. Bless her she laughed and actually told her husband when he came in from work. He is a fantastic footballer - out in the back he "HEADS BACK TO YOU AND FROM HIM" - my friend told me to call him Georgie Best - I am modest but I know he is great. Another friend Fin in Bangor said Conne I have a wee dog now but he is not a patch on yours. My friends wanted me to put him to You've been filmed. He is truly unbelievable. I, myself think if he had have a better owner they could have turned him into a PUDSEY but not me alas.

[pixie373]

He has a very loving owner, conne. Lots of love to him x

[woofgang]

Conne, the hoovering will wait....spend time with the dog......

[anneasquith]

conn loves her dog/dog loves conn, enjoy :)

[paddywak]

Max always lay out on the drive (gated) and as a pup used to bark everybody but as he grew older he settled with two types of bark on for strangers, a very agressive " what the flump are you doing on my street" bark and a gentler "Woof woof I'm here" for people he knew in both cases as soon as Trish or I had had a look to see what he was barking at and told him he was a good boy for looking after us so well he'd settle down to watch the world go by again.