Agggh. The BARKING is driving me crazy.

NefAndWord · 08-14-2007, 10:51 AM

I want the new puppy and my dog to play.
They are just crazy about each other.
But now they have taken to barking, whining and howling the whole time.
I keep correcting this, but they go right back to doing it. My dog has even started barking at ME. It's driving me NUTS... how can I let them play without it being noisy through all of their free time during the day?

Curbside Prophet · 08-14-2007, 03:07 PM

How are you correcting them?

Do you interrupt the play sessions to ask for a sit from both dogs often?

NefAndWord · 08-14-2007, 03:45 PM

The puppy doesn't know sit yet, we've only had her a few days. Working hard on housebreaking and recall first. Little bit of sit, but not really stressing it yet. Should I be? I thought that would be too much at once.
Yes, I interrupt, and tell them NO. I've caught myself saying "Take a break" after I tell them no, not sure if that's good or bad. Then seperating them, by luring the older pup a few feet away to do a sit/lie down. But, they go right back to it. And they nip at each others muzzles, the puppy even bit my ankle today accidentally while they were playing. But, they go right back to it.

I'm just not sure what is okay, and what is not between two dogs. Aside from temporary instances, I've always had a one dog household. I'm not even sure if playful biting and tug of war is okay to let them do. I've stopped the older dog from putting her paw on the puppy's head - she stopped doing that pretty quickly. But the barking and yipping and biting is driving me bonkers.

Also, this is entirely unrelated to my question.. but instead of making a new thread I'll ask. The walk for my older dog is FAAAR too long for the puppy, but I can't take 4 or 5 seperate walks per day. I've taken the older dog for 2, sometimes 3, but 5 might be pushing it for free time. Nor do I really want to carry the puppy halfway home. Any suggestions?

NefAndWord · 08-15-2007, 02:19 PM

Well.
Growling at them works.
That's the only thing so far, but I guess as long as it's working. lol

PuppiesInPink · 08-15-2007, 11:03 PM

I would imagine there is a fight for dominance and placement in the pack. Make sure to allocate similar attention to the older pup.

Mayhem · 08-15-2007, 11:14 PM

I have exactly the same problem with my two.
I put a post on about it AGES ago but have been away...
In that time, my dogs still do this- although they don't bark as much. My older one growls like you wouldn't believe and initially I was really worried- I've realised now she's just a grumbly dog and there is no ill intent whatsoever...
What I have started to do, is I allow them to play for a while but as soon as I think it's getting to much I tell them to get on their beds. The do this straight away and because they are next to one another they will often sit noses touching in a silent protest but it seems to work. They calm down for five minutes, I get a break from the scrapping and everyone's happy. I know there are probably much better ways to deal with it and your puppy may be too young but the older one may understand giving the pup a chance to chill. Hope it helps a little

Curbside Prophet · 08-15-2007, 11:49 PM

Yes, the dogs can also be working on sit. I don't know how you feed the dogs but it should not be out of a bowl.

I guess the question I have, are you raising these dogs alone? Or do you have help?

Back to the no-bowl. You should be feeding your pups either out of frozen stuffed Kongs, or by hand. Each piece of kibble is one kibble that can be earned by your dog with a sit, or a target touch, or a quick recall, or to teach "take-it" and "leave-it"...the possibilities are endless. This is also where your dog will learn that all resources come through you...including play time.

My conclusion, based on the information you provided us, is that the pups are playing for sessions that are too long. You've allowed them to get so amped up that they've taken to barking, whining, and howling as a means to dispense of built up energy.

What needs to be done is to redirect this energy into an appropriate behavior. Perhaps chewing on an appropriate chew is one of those alternate behaviors. So...I would keep play sessions short...maybe no longer than 5 minutes at a time, and interrupted every 30 seconds to ask for an appropriate behavior from both dogs. After the 5 minutes, I would redirect the dog's attention onto another energy release. I would alternate...one puppy goes into a crate with a stuffed Kong, while the other you take into a room away from the other dog and work on a relaxing exercise.

The exercise would go something like this...
Sit on the floor with the pup and spread your legs out into a "V" shape. Keep the pup close to you and gently put the pup on its side. In a soft sweet voice I like to say and repeat the word "relax", while securing the pups rear with one hand and cupping the the pup's shoulders with the other. At some point the pup will offer a resignation sigh. At that point I would give the dog a massage or treat the dog, or work on being touched on its ears and paws and tail, like a vet might, and treating the dog for relaxed behavior.

The relaxing exercise isn't something that just happens with some dogs, and they may become aggitated. I would entice this dog to settle with a yummy treat...or keep the exercise short, maybe 5 or 10 seconds long, eventually building up until the pup can be calmed for 5 minutes.

As for the walks, how old are the pups again? If one pup can walk further than the other, start the one dog first, then come back and start the second maybe midway through the first dog's walk.

NefAndWord · 08-16-2007, 01:15 AM

Well really, I'm by myself for the most part. My husband works long hours.
I do feed from a bowl, but not at every feeding. I do this occasionally with my older pup (she's 11 months), but for the most part when I get her dish ready she will lie down and wait for it.. in fact, she will stay lying down to eat it, which I think is sort of cute.

I will start giving the new pup her meals by hand all of the time. I have just heard that training sessions should be short and interesting. My sister accuses me all the time of being too serious with my dogs "they can't do this, they can't do that, do a trick for this, if she doesn't sit she can't do that...etc" So I have been a little worried about spending too much time training? Is that possible if we are training during daily activities, and not just a training specific session? (we do those too.)
The barking and whining starts IMMEDIATELY. I don't let them go for a long time together, because it is just too annoying to let them play for more than a couple of minutes at a time. It's improving today, actually, since the time I got frustrated and "growled" at them. I was ticked off and stood up and went "GRRRRR." and they both laid down at my feet. The older pup seems to have already gotten it. Now she will play without making noise. The young puppy is still whiny when playing.
The older dog is going on one year (or may be one year, I'm not positive of her age.. she was a rescue)
And the puppy is 11 weeks.
Sorry for the long response.
Oh, and believe it or not... my dog doesn't like kong toys. Not that it matters, she's perfectly happy to sit in her crate with another favorite chewy, but I just thought I'd share. She is a WEIRD one.

also.. my dog is barking AT me when i correct her for barking. i'm assuming she thinks i am playing with them by "barking" when I say no. will this wear off when they learn not to bark at each other?

A picture of the girls playing NICELY :

NefAndWord · 08-18-2007, 01:07 AM

no luck so far.
the entire time that they spend together they are growling and barking.
not like they are fighting, it's playful... but irritating. I am constantly correcting, but they stop for a minute and go right back to it.
I think that barking at each other is way more rewarding than anything I'm offering. They won't even play with me when they are playing together.

xx aussie shep love xx · 08-19-2007, 08:51 PM

wow the same thing is happening with me everytime my dog sees a new dog she barks and howls and whines. you need to get the dogs together take them to the park and give them the same amount of attention. if none of this works you might have to resort to a muzzle.

oh and by the way, they are adorable!!!! also try to get their attention when they are playing get out a toy and play double fetch, let them know that you want to have fun too, they will keep barking but not as much, if this still doesnt work try givind them a flick on the nose, it is not really painful but can teach the dog not to bark, they will think it is annoying and will want you to stop, but u will only stop when they dont bark

NefAndWord · 08-20-2007, 11:06 AM

I really don't want to muzzle, only because I'm pretty sure it doesn't actually TEACH them anything. I am getting pretty frustrated though. They aren't FIGHTING... so I haven't found any information on what to do about their behaviour. I think they think that I am disciplining them for playing... not barking, so I'm really confused about what to do. Nothing seems to be working so far. Not even a slight improvement... which is very upsetting.
I've tried playing fetch with them.. the puppy doesn't get it yet, she's really really short, so she has a hard time running.. lol, but as for the fetch.. they'd rather play with each other than with me. So for the most part they try to ignore me. They go right back to each other. Blah.
Thank you! They are pretty, aren't they?

xx aussie shep love xx · 08-20-2007, 10:33 PM

well try contacting a petsmart or petco they usually have some answers

poodleholic · 08-21-2007, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NefAndWord

no luck so far.
the entire time that they spend together they are growling and barking.
not like they are fighting, it's playful... but irritating. I am constantly correcting, but they stop for a minute and go right back to it.
I think that barking at each other is way more rewarding than anything I'm offering. They won't even play with me when they are playing together.

You need to separate them for periods of time, they shouldn't always be together. With two or more dogs, it's essential to provide one-on-one time with you for each dog, away from the other. This keeps the bond w/you stronger than w/the other dog. This is essential for training, and maintaining a smooth and peaceful household. To help establish your role as leader, implement NILIF with both dogs ASAP.

I establish a daily routine with some structure, which includes individual 5-min. training sessions throughout the day, in addition to sessions together. There is also quiet time and nap time, along with walks. Walk the two of them around the block, then put the puppy in the house, in the crate, and continue your walk w/the other, older dog. Get a couple of Buster Cubes, and let that be one of their meals of the day. Teach them interactive games w/you, like fetch, or seek and find, to keep them busy doing something, other than getting rowdy w/each other (something I don't allow my 3 dogs to do in the house - it must be outside).

Remember that every time an unwanted behavior is displayed, it's being reinforced, and will be harder to change/stop.