Barking Dog

[Kelley24]

My mum has an 8 year old German Shepard who is lovely and really friendly, even around kids. He's very well looked after and is loved very much. He's house trained and come back after u let him off the lead etc, but he has one major problem, he wont stop barking! If he wants to go outside, he will, but then barks so mum brings him in again straight away. I thought he was barking to come in, but he isnt, even if she leaves the door open for him, he still barks. He used to bark at people and cars etc cos he's quite protective of his house if he dont know you (it the postman leaves her post next door cos of Max. lol) But now he dont only bark at people, he barks at thin air! He just barks for the sake of barking and its sending my mum and her bloke up the wall! Do any of you know a web site she can get advice from to stop this? And someones already suggest one of those collars that stop barking, but she dont want one of those.

[shaneystar]

This is a good article which may give you some help and insight into the problem
http://www.priory.com/vet/vetbark1.htm
We have GSD cross and when he lets rip it's really loud !!
Luckily he only barks when someone comes to the door.
Which is a good thing ,but he's not a barker otherwise.
Good luck and I hope he soon quietens down !!

[rebeltara]

I also have a german shepherd who barked non stop,it is a nuiscance as they are so loud!! I have an empty coke tin filled with a few pebbles, when he barks i throw the tin next to his feet or sometimes rattling it does it.You must do this every time he barks because he will hate the noise of the pebbles, much kinder than a collar and mine stopped barking within the week.Sometimes a bunch of keys works but i prefer the pebble tin.Hope this helps.

[coinops]

the best thing is an anti bark collar. you do not have to use it long term.it will sort out the problem ina couple of days, and it beats having an order served on you from council because of neighbour complaints! 

[mines-a-pint]

hi sorry late reply i just checked the answer bank! try gwen bailey she is very good, she wrote lots of books on dog training. or angela white she is good too. and i have been to smeinars with sara whittaker she is great so go with those. i use a bark collar on my sheltie he barks all the time when he gets excited! it's an automatic citronella spray, it does them no harm and his hasn't had a battery in it for about 2 months cos it worked straight away i only have to show it to hime now and he shuts up!
good luck, never to old to teach an old dog new tricks it just takes more time and patience..

[mines-a-pint]

oh just realised this was 05!!