my dog

[Connemmara]

I have a friend who idolises animals - however luckily enough for me she does not visit too often as she loves my dog and he adores her back so much so that if she stays for 3 hours eg - he constanty barks. Since the dog warden has been to see me (unnecessarily) as he is not a barker and he is in my house 24 hours a day - but when he sees her he goes ballistic - I then get stressed trying to calm him down - anybody have any ideas.

Next time I am going to beg my friend when she visits to completely ignore him. I think that is the only thing that might help. Any ideas. If I put him out he constantly barks until he gets in.

[Leahw]

I think you need to desensitize your dog to your friend, get her to come around and ignore him and then leave. Keep doing it til he thinks she is boring and just ignores her. Or buy a bark collar maybe.

[alexanderd]

I tried a bark collar once but it didnt work the dog barked every time it went off! I suggest you will have to get your friend to ignore the dog or at least not make too much fuss of her/him

[swedeheart]

Asking your friend to ignore him until he gives up sounds like a good idea. I'm thinking it should probably be followed by her acknowledging him once he has "given up" - to send him the message that nice things happen to calm dogs.

Another thing, you may already be aware of this but just in case you aren't: How have you been reacting to his barking? Have you by any chance been raising your voice at him, shouting at him to shut up? Cos the thing is, when a dog barks and a human raises her voice at him, to his way of thinking the human is joining in, barking along. So if he barks and you respond by shouting at him, he thinks he's the leader of the pack and he's doing the right thing or else you wouldn't be barking too would you. So just in case that is what you have been doing, try not to do it. Doesn't mean you shouldn't be firm, just means: Don't "bark" ;-)

[Connemmara]

thanks for your answers - no it is my friend who is the problem - big time- she really shouts and yells at him and she told me that she loves to tease him - that is how bad it is. When she saw me getting so stressed - I dont know why you are so stressed - she forgets I have neighbours all around me and thinks it is their problem. I love this friend to bits as she is so good - but oh my god - can she trigger my dog off. Next time I am going to beg abd beg her to ignore him which would work.

[woofgang]

she loves to tease the dog yet she idolises animals????? sounds to me like she is mistreating the dog, winding him up, getting him to do what he shouldn't....don't beg her, put your foot down....I don't need friends like that and neither does your dog