Friends, I have terrible problem. I can't seem to stop barking.
Wait, wait. Actually, that's: I can't seem to stop my dog barking.
Actually, he's not my dog. But I have to live with him. And he is driving my wife and me crazy. He barks very loudly (German shepherd) and mostly after dark. He waked up the neighbors barking early in the morning. Last night we had to correct him at least 9 times. This evening I think I have already corrected him more than. I tie him down at some distance from us, but it is not far enough away (though about as far away as I can get him) to make a real difference. It is hard for him inasmuch as all the OTHER neighborhood dogs (about 40) seem to get away with barking as much as they like.
Anyway, suggestions? Electric shocks are out; tying him up doesn't help, he often escapes, I feel sorry for him bound up, and I think it makes him bark more. I am thinking about a muzzle, but that of course means he can't eat or drink until we take it off, and that's a bit rough on the old lad as well. With this many dogs it's hard to swat him every time he barks; especially when that means getting out of bed at 3:00 a.m. and going out in the cold to administer discipline to a dog who really is rather loveable and quite an escape artist, if incurably stupid in other ways.
Wait, wait. Actually, that's: I can't seem to stop my dog barking.
Actually, he's not my dog. But I have to live with him. And he is driving my wife and me crazy. He barks very loudly (German shepherd) and mostly after dark. He waked up the neighbors barking early in the morning. Last night we had to correct him at least 9 times. This evening I think I have already corrected him more than. I tie him down at some distance from us, but it is not far enough away (though about as far away as I can get him) to make a real difference. It is hard for him inasmuch as all the OTHER neighborhood dogs (about 40) seem to get away with barking as much as they like.
Anyway, suggestions? Electric shocks are out; tying him up doesn't help, he often escapes, I feel sorry for him bound up, and I think it makes him bark more. I am thinking about a muzzle, but that of course means he can't eat or drink until we take it off, and that's a bit rough on the old lad as well. With this many dogs it's hard to swat him every time he barks; especially when that means getting out of bed at 3:00 a.m. and going out in the cold to administer discipline to a dog who really is rather loveable and quite an escape artist, if incurably stupid in other ways.