How to stop your dogs from barking….or die trying
July 1, 2009 by Valley Bugler
By Alison McClelland
I have a pair of three year old Scottish Terriers, Angus and Fiona. They are healthy, energetic, very good tempered, loving, and best of all they are siblings.
GREAT little family members, except for the barking.
I like that Angus and Fiona bark when someone comes to the door, or walk down our back alley. Besides taking the place of my now grown children, I have dogs to warn people that this is my house, and yard, and everyone needs to be respectful of that.
What I didn’t bargain for is these two black live wires have decided they are in charge of the whole neighborhood from 6:00am until 9:00pm, when we corral them into pet taxis for sleep!
I know I should have started some sort of anti-bark training when Angus and Fiona were pups, but they were so cute and innocent then, and the first year - the neighbors were so forgiving!
I needed to buy a book on barking. When I finally bought the book, the best advice revolved around a water-filled squirt bottle which you liberally used as you charged after your barking dog, at the same time shouting “NO BARK” in your most assertive voice.
Although I now own a lovely iridescent pink squirt bottle, it didn’t work out as planned.
Either Angus and Fiona are the smartest craftiest Scotties in town, or their owner is the dumbest and laziest human around; because so far, I still have Scotties who love to bark!!
Here are the reasons why I think it’s not working…
- There are two of them. When I am chasing, shouting and squirting one, the other runs the opposite way. Lots and lots of teamwork!
- Doggie Door. They have their own. Necessary for potty training, but now they use it as an escape route from my squirt bottle! I find myself screaming “no bark!!!!” to the flowers as I race inside, only to find out the crooks have sailed back through the doggie door and are back at the fence!
- They never wait for me to be dressed with a squirt bottle! I’m either in the shower, on the phone or cooking something when they decide to defend the property. I’ve shouted, screamed and cried, but they don’t care. Warning passersby off is too important to a Scottie!!
I do apologize to the neighbors and all the passersby for my two seemingly wild ones. I AM trying to be a responsible dog owner, and Angus and Fiona are not really as unruly as they seem.
If you come inside the fence or the front door, they stop barking and become your bestest friends.
They are nice, loving family members and I can’t imagine life without them!!
The solution to barking dogs is very simple if your neighbors know what to do. All they have to do is document when your dogs bark, then contact the authorities and make a complaint. In the county the aurhtority would be the sheriffs department. A deputy will then interview the complaining party followed by a visit to yourself where he will issue a citation. You will then appear before a judge who will give you a fine up to $200/accurance. I’ve seen the local judge nail a nice person that thought they tried to keep their dogs bark contained with 3 counts at the full amount/count. After you pay your $600 +/- you tend to become a responsible pet owner real quick and purchace and use some inexpensive bark collars. I suggest starting with the bark collars and skip the rest. They are effective, safe and pain free.