I am at my witt's end. PLEASE HELP.

[lunchbox]

OK, I just want to start off by saying that I love my dog. She was my first "baby" and always will be. She is a FANTASTIC dog....with one exception.

Her barking is getting out of control. We used to live in the country so the instances were few and far between. We now live in town and people walk by the house multiple times a day, the mailman and newspaper boy come to the front step daily, etc. Rio goes insane. Some days more than others, but I can't take it anymore.

We have been through obedience training with her. She did great. She listens well, she is totally house trained, she is really gentle with my little girl - she's just super sweet. We asked the trainers repeatedly what to do about the barking and they gave NO *real* solutions. "Make sure she knows you hear her." Um...excuse me? I DONT WANT TO HEAR HER, period. Or "I trained my dog not to bark once and it wasn't easy." OK? And how is that helpful? We asked repeatedly but they never gave REAL answers or real solutions.

I know some dogs are more prone to barking than others. I don't understand why she is getting worse lately. When we first moved here, she would bark for a few seconds and chill. But now, she gets really, really excessive with it and almost sounds vicious (although she is very gentle and has never so much as nipped at anyone). We have tried the water bottle trick and that didn't work. We try telling her 'no bark' and we try putting her outside or in another room - it just gets worse.

I need help. I need ideas that work, I need a way to make her stop barking. I do not WANT to do it, but I will buy a citronella or shock collar if I can't get on top of this. Three years ago when I brought my sweet girl home, I swore on my life I'd never use a shock collar. I hate the idea of using one. But seriously, I've had it. I don't care if barking is normal, I do NOT want my dog barking loudly every time she sees someone that isnt me, DH, or my daughter. She also goes insane in the back yard - I'm sure our neighbors are starting to get really, really sick of it. Anytime they are in their backyard, she just goes nuts and wont stop until I bring her in.

I am NOT willing to give her up or re-home, either, so please don't suggest that. She is like a child to me and I love her to pieces .. I just need to figure out a way to get on top of this problem. I've heard of "debarking" a dog, also, but I know nothing about it and that seems even more cruel than a collar. =/ Ugh! I know I would never have her debarked, but I would be lying if I said I didn't fantasize about it sometimes. *sigh*

Today, when the Avon lady came to the door, it was the last straw. My dog went so berserk that when I picked her up to remove her from the situation entirely, she was so aggressively barking, she literally POOPED on me. That's how worked up she was! Unfrickingreal.

I wont let it happen again...please help. PLEASE! Please be gentle with your responses/suggestions - I know we are a bunch of dog lovers and want what is best for our pooches, but I wouldn't be here if I weren't looking for a way to fix this WITHOUT the other interventions. I just need help!

[Pat's Crew]

I am at a loss as to what to say..had the issue with Zeena being a drama queen and lots of barking too..the only thing was to crate her and then spray her and it worked and corrected it most of the time. she will still bark but not near as much as before. my other two pugs seldom bark even if someone comes to the door...

I wandering if the vibrating collar might work for you..when she starts..you get a remote and that will take her thoughts away from barking..and yet is more of a tickle..on the low setting. at that point..you can say good girl if she stops barking and treat her...that is about the only thing that I can suggest. they use vibrating collars on deaf dogs to get their attention..and then you tell or in their case sign what you want...they say they work great...rescue uses them all the time for the different breeds..

[chichiandruby]

I saw a show with the lady trainer - I think her name was Victoria? Anyway, the way she trained dogs not to bark at visitors, was to have the visitors give the dog chicken - they hung a bag on the outside door. It took some effort with friends coming in the door and giving these treats. If the dog barked, no treat.

[annie1970dog]

hi there my bubbles is same bark bark bark she cut it down as every time she barks now i put her in her cage , so shes not as bad
but she was the same as yours she was even nipping people thats all stopped since ive started doing this .
annmarie

[tall grass pugs]

Spray bottles, two liter bottles full of coins and rattled or banged against your hand, an abrasive 'no' and avoid eye contact until her behavior is better or at least quieter.

[SquishiePugs]

Russell was so quiet as a puppy but has started to bark more and more often. We tried the spray bottle method, and we tried telling him to quiet and quickly rewarding to no avail. Shaking a tin can filled with coins each time he barks worked like a charm, though. It stops him right in his tracks and he'll actually run over to us and quiet down. If he quietly grumbles, I'll allow it.. but one bark and the can shakes. It took about a week with rewarding for good behavior and he's gotten much better.

[Pugs-R-MandyBait]

**Please be gentle with your responses/suggestions**

I see this so often ... and yet I have yet to read a mean and hateful response to a question asked here. PVers rarely suggest rehoming unless it is so very cut and dry that is the only solution ... and you are not in that situation

Barking is not hard to cure ... you just have to be consistent and it takes time. Distract when she barks, and reward the good behavior. Time outs in another room to let her calm down is a good idea. Watching/reading Victoria Stilwell is an excellent start.

This is not an overnight 1-2-3 fix. This is weeks and months of work and being consistent ... and the people around your dog.

Good luck!

[lovemymilo]

My milo, who I absolutely adore and would NEVER think of surrendering, started barking constantly about a year ago. When I say everything, I mean everything. Chirping birds, the bunny in the yard, the wind if it blows to hard and of course the Harleys that pull up in front of the house. He never used to do this and when he did bark it was usually for a reason. Now it's just all the time. I've been very torn about a bark collar for him but after speaking to his vet she thinks a bark collar would be very helpful. I am purchasing one next week and will keep you posted. I know how heartbreaking it can be..I love Milo and will do whatever I have to do to make our home less stressful for me and for him. Best of luck to you.

[Wally 'n' Leto]

We started the coins-in-a-bottle last night with Wally, and we see a difference already! He HATES it.

[Pinkles]

Before you buy one of those vile collars, please check out Victoria Stillwell's advice for barking. When a dog barks he is warning you that there might be danger and/or protecting you, in return he gets a nasty shock or citronella sprayed up his nose :( (which incidentally he will eventually become desensitised to.. so what then?)

Please think about trying other methods before you resort to a collar. Or, try the collar on yourself to see what it will do to your puggy.

*I'm not being evil, just trying to say there are other ways, and I DO know how you feel I have 2 barkers :) good luck