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Dog: Jaia, 3 year old GSD. I've had him since he was 8 weeks old.
Situation: Every time I put on my shoes or get dressed or some other action that is also a precursor to going outside to play, he would get so excited, he would start SCREAMING non-stop! He also screams every morning when my husband gets up at 4:45.
Background: Many GSDs are very vocal and Jaia is no exception. My husband and I thought it was cute at first, and it started out innocently and quietly enough. We called it "singing". But as time passed, he got louder and louder and it really got to be a nuisance. This is from a yeah and a half ago when DH was taking the other dogs outside during Jaia's neuter recovery... And it has only escalated since then. You can imagine how bad it's gotten recently.
We live in the country, but I know his blood-curdling screams waft across the valley and could even wake up our closest neighbors at 4:45 and again at 6 AM when I take the dogs out. In fact, I asked my neighbor if they had ever heard him and she said all the time.
And it's not only when I'm getting dressed now. It has progressed out into the yard and into the pasture. SCREAMING all_the_way.
I have "nagged" him about it, telling him to be quiet, but it only works for a moment. It's like the excitement builds up and everything comes out his mouth, louder than before. And I'm talking blood-curdling. It sounds like I'm killing him.
I have stopped the behavior, but I used punishment and I just wondered how people would have done it without punishment. I don't like to use punishment, but nothing else I did had worked. I know I should have asked before,
but it was a spur of the moment decision.
So, how would you have stopped this behavior without punishment?
Thanks for your input.
P.S. I KNOW we screwed up by encouraging it. We didn't know it was going to "grow".
Situation: Every time I put on my shoes or get dressed or some other action that is also a precursor to going outside to play, he would get so excited, he would start SCREAMING non-stop! He also screams every morning when my husband gets up at 4:45.
Background: Many GSDs are very vocal and Jaia is no exception. My husband and I thought it was cute at first, and it started out innocently and quietly enough. We called it "singing". But as time passed, he got louder and louder and it really got to be a nuisance. This is from a yeah and a half ago when DH was taking the other dogs outside during Jaia's neuter recovery... And it has only escalated since then. You can imagine how bad it's gotten recently.
We live in the country, but I know his blood-curdling screams waft across the valley and could even wake up our closest neighbors at 4:45 and again at 6 AM when I take the dogs out. In fact, I asked my neighbor if they had ever heard him and she said all the time.
And it's not only when I'm getting dressed now. It has progressed out into the yard and into the pasture. SCREAMING all_the_way.
I have "nagged" him about it, telling him to be quiet, but it only works for a moment. It's like the excitement builds up and everything comes out his mouth, louder than before. And I'm talking blood-curdling. It sounds like I'm killing him.
I have stopped the behavior, but I used punishment and I just wondered how people would have done it without punishment. I don't like to use punishment, but nothing else I did had worked. I know I should have asked before,
So, how would you have stopped this behavior without punishment?
Thanks for your input.
P.S. I KNOW we screwed up by encouraging it. We didn't know it was going to "grow".