Dog people, I have a question.

[Prometheus]

So, we have a 9 month old german shepard. she lives in the back yard about 85-90 % of her time, she perfers to sleep outside as well, which is a good thing because we want an alert dog, that lets us know if someones around outside. The problem is we rent a place with huge apple trees that attract every freaking critter on earth, so now that the apples are ripining she is always barking at the stupid birds squrels ect. I dont want her barking all day but i dont want to teach her to never bark either, any thoughts?

[Lex_Luthor]

Maybe some personal protection classes? Working dogs benefit HUGE from training like that, and when they're given a job to do.

[BigBear]

If you never want your dog to bark then get a bark collar... (Which I hate).

If you want an alert dog that will only bark at threats then your ONLY option is classes and constant training. Shepherds are working dogs and they need to be worked.

I have a boxer that everyone LOVES. Wonderful with kids, etc. But I say a magic word and point at something/someone, it dies. Training is the ONLY way to be a responsible pet owner.

Also, spaying/nuetering your animal will also help calm some of the hormones and toxicities through growth which can help lead to a better life for both master and pet. However, I know a lot of folks who want to breed animals so that may not be an option for you.

[Delfuego]

Just a good dog trainer and diligence on your part to consistently reinforce the training. With the later being waaaaay more important.

[Prometheus]

Yeah, shes had a bit of training, great with my 2 and 3 year old ect., she was great at our last place when unwanted people came around, but its just like she forgets every thing when those fuc*ing rodents come around.

[Prometheus]

If you never want your dog to bark then get a bark collar... (Which I hate).

No I said I want her to bark when she needs to

[Prometheus]

Also, spaying/nuetering your animal will also help calm some of the hormones and toxicities through growth which can help lead to a better life for both master and pet. However, I know a lot of folks who want to breed animals so that may not be an option for you[/quote]

It is unhealthy to spay a german shepard before they are 2, it changes their growth as well makes there chest cavity smaller.

[OneGuy67]

I have a 3 year old female shepherd mix and she also is constantly barking at the rodents and birds who dare come near our yard, as well as the neighbors who are in their backyards. She won't quit and has burned through 3 bark collars. They only work for the occasional bark and turn off on purpose when the dog barks repeatedly. She is a repeat barker.

On the plus side, she is a sneaky little b*tch and has caught/killed one squirell and one bird so far.

[Prometheus]

I have a 3 year old female shepherd mix and she also is constantly barking at the rodents and birds who dare come near our yard, as well as the neighbors who are in their backyards. She won't quit and has burned through 3 bark collars. They only work for the occasional bark and turn off on purpose when the dog barks repeatedly. She is a repeat barker.

On the plus side, she is a sneaky little b*tch and has caught/killed one squirell and one bird so far.

Nice, they are true bitches, cant live with them cant kill them.

[Ronin13]

Yeah, shes had a bit of training, great with my 2 and 3 year old ect., she was great at our last place when unwanted people came around, but its just like she forgets every thing when those fuc*ing rodents come around.

I'd keep it up and get her into a class- one of the good ones will cost, but they're worth it! My dog barks at two things- guests and elk, my cousin's dog barks at everything- even if the damn wind blows. Difference? Training.

[Delfuego]

SQUIRREL!!!!!
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ln_lXxEFFS0/TbyDmZRiQtI/AAAAAAAAA1o/FFUEhkpqDPc/s1600/squirrel.png
But seriously the training must be reinforced consistently every day. There are no bad dogs...[Luck]

[Prometheus]

[ROFL2][ROFL3][ROFL2] Yeah, thats it

[jhood001]

But seriously the training must be reinforced consistently every day. There are no bad dogs...[Luck]

Amen to this. And if you live in a neighborhood, having a dog that constantly barks is just as repulsive as having a shitty yard with a washer, dryer, bathtub, or a car on blocks sitting in the middle of it.

Alot of people with barking dogs in neighborhoods just shrug and think 'I just have a dog that barks and there isn't anything I can do about it'.

Meanwhile, I sit there and think 'I just have shitty, irresponsible neighbors that have an untrained dog that barks and there isn't anything I can do about it... aside from move'.

[earplug]

Do you feed the dog outside? We had a Doberman that would go nuts over the birds/critters because they were stealing her food from outside. Crows and Squirrels were the worst.
We feed inside now. No problems with our two dogs outside.

[NitroxBoss]

I have a boxer that everyone LOVES. Wonderful with kids, etc. But I say a magic word and point at something/someone, it dies.

More than Awesome!

[stevelkinevil]

I wish I could help but I have a 2 year old shepherd and he barks at everything, scares the shit out of folks (even though he is really a big sissy). My guess would be as others have suggested with training but Im just gonna leave Dex the way he is.

[Mtn.man]

Working dogs need work, and a young dog needs alot of work/exercise. we have one that was getting annoying and the vet said at least an hour a day of hard work/exercise will stop the behavior. She was right, so work play exercise.

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

I am a huge supporter of bark collars. HOWEVER you get what you pay for in that realm, it also has 5 different stages of shock. I have a bloodhound, anyone that has dealt with them know they aren't the brightest dogs and they bark at a leaf rattling in a tree. That being said once I slide that bark collar on him he knows not to bark. When he comes inside the only time he barks is when something is in the front yard or the doorbell rings - like he should.

[Omicron]

She's lonely and bored and acting out. Dogs should not be a yard ornament. Also, squirrels do tend to torture dogs, so get rid of them and the dog''ll likely quiet down some.

[theskalickys]

get the bb gun out and give the dog what it wants!

Fixes your critter problem and your dog barking.

[sniper7]

Somebody say squirrel?

[Prometheus]

Already feed her outside
Can't do bb gun, all neighbors are liberal hippie duche
Worse time is 12 _ 5 am, when she knows it takes me longer to tell her to shut up
She has a dog run so no critters get to her food, with out becoming food
Had to result to locking her up at night

[CrashTestDummy]

You shouldn't have a dog.

[Prometheus]

You shouldn't have a dog.

And why is that?

[CrashTestDummy]

Because she's clearly just an inconveniance for you. If she's just going to live in the yard, what kind of life is that for her. Dogs like to be with their people, not off living by themselves in the yard. If you can't let her live with you, give her to someone who will. The yard is no life for a dog.

[jplove71]

Because she's clearly just an inconveniance for you. If she's just going to live in the yard, what kind of life is that for her. Dogs like to be with their people, not off living by themselves in the yard. If you can't let her live with you, give her to someone who will. The yard is no life for a dog.
This.

[Prometheus]

Because she's clearly just an inconveniance for you. If she's just going to live in the yard, what kind of life is that for her. Dogs like to be with their people, not off living by themselves in the yard. If you can't let her live with you, give her to someone who will. The yard is no life for a dog.

If you read it says she perfers outside, she comes in when ever she wants, or when we drag her in , she is a75lb puppy, why the hell would she want to be inside, yes she perfers for us to be outside with her, but I said the problem is after midnight. How did I say she is an inconvenience, we have had her trained, my kids play with her for hours every day
The point of the post was if any one had the same issue and how they handled it, not if there was a way to treat my dog like a human, which is really animal abuse.

[CrashTestDummy]

Yeah right. This is how everyone who gets a dog to be a yard toy justifies it. "She prefers the back yard." BS, she doesn't have a choice. You do. Oh wait, that's treating her like a human, which is animal abuse? Wow thats a stretch.

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

Holy cow this thread took a turn for the worse.

[OneGuy67]

Where's a storgage closet?

[Prometheus]

Yeah right. This is how everyone who gets a dog to be a yard toy justifies it. "She prefers the back yard." BS, she doesn't have a choice. You do. Oh wait, that's treating her like a human, which is animal abuse? Wow thats a stretch.

Well she has a doggie door into the garage, then into the house. Any dog trainer will tell you one of the worst things you can do is treat your dog like a human, thats why they train dogs to walk beside or behind you they learn commands because they are suppose to know their place, Trainers have told us if you treat your dog like a child they can become agressive towards their competitors, your real children. that doesn't mean I dont love my dog, stop acting l like I am kicking the shit out of my dog because I dont want to put a shock collar on her, and who the fuck
Ever heard of an animal that wants to go outside, dont they all want to be locked in a house all day.

I know when we went camping last week, the look in her eyes was " man i wish i sat on the couch this weekend the outdoors suck".

[CrashTestDummy]

LOL ok whatever dude, she's clearly happy as can be and you're the bestest owner ever. Yep, thats it.

[Prometheus]

I am glad we finally agree

for those of you who said they have gone to professional trainers any great places you want to share, I liked our last place but I think we are going to try someone else

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

I never followed through due to time and distance from home, but the best dog trainers in the Denver metro IMO is "sit means sit" people.

[Prometheus]

Thanks I will have to check then out

[stevew]

Anyone know how to tell my 3 shepards they should be ninja dogs? I've tried:
Ruff Ruff and Ruff Whimper Ruff and even Ruff Ruff Ruff but nothing is getting through to them!

Seriously though, I try to stop them from barking at some things but I do like to be told someone is at the door so I don't want them to never bark. Luckily I work from home so am around them pretty much all the time :)