[Kicky76]

Hi everyone Please help...I have a 3 year old Beagle (male) who barks non stop...He is the best dog possible other than the barking and it is non stop...I have tried different training things such as a bark collar and some ultra sonic barking device but they do not work...Is there any way I can get him to stop barking with out hurting like the bark collar did...

I am the only home he has had and I would never give him up like some people who I have asked what I could do have suggested...I just would love it if he wasn't so loud (really loud)... I just need some help on what I can do to get him to stop barking...Any advice would be greatly appreciated...I will tell you that he barks at everything and at all different time's...

Please Help
Kicky76

 

[oldhounddog]

Kicky76 ,

A little more general information will help.

Are all shots UTD , and , are there any health issues?

Is he fed twice a day? What dogfood?

What is his day like and are there any walks?

How long have you had him?

General advice: Bark collars do not work.....The dog figures out fairly quickly what bark pattern will not activate "Bark Collar" .

Does you Beag know nay of the easy obedience training commands , for example. Sit , down and stay?

What type of leash and collar do you use for walks.

Does your Beag sleep in a crate at night?

Is he house broken ?

Last but not least......Do you have time for some regular training walks?




BTW....Welcome to Beagles Unlimited. I like the picture , you have a beautiful Beagle.



I know I asked a lot of questions , but , it will help me get an idea of how to help you....


Best , oldhounddog

 

[Kicky76]

Thank you oldhounddog for trying to help it is appreciated

A little about my Beagle...His name is Oscar he will be 3 on August 1st...I got him when he was about 7 weeks old...
He is current on shots and has no health issues that I am aware of, I know his parents and the father barked a little bit but nothing like Oscar barks...
He gets fed twice a day and whether inside or out there is water available for them...He gets Blue Bonnet brand to eat...I get it from my local pet supply store...
He spends part of his day in the Kennel (while I am at work) with my other Beagle who is older almost 14...
I live by a river and we go for evening walks 7 days a week, he knows when it is time and will wait by the door with his leash in his mouth for me...
He wears a harness when we go on walks with a retractable leash...
He is house broken and was the easiest dog I have ever had to potty train...
He knows some commands such as sit and stay, I am still working on down he thinks he should be in my lap at all times...
He and Annie (14 year old female beagle I have) sleep in bed with me...
Hopefully I have answered all your questions if not let me know and I will...Thank you again for any advice you may have...Kicky76

 

[oldhounddog]

Kicky76 ,
The walks by the river just sound great and from your description you have a great pair of Beagle kids.

Has Oscar barked this much from the very start or did it build up over time?

My thoughts on "Barking":

Dogs bark for a reason , for example: Dog is outside and barks at door to get in....When you let dog inside you have reinforced that behavior. This trains the dog that barking to get inside works. It is really that simple.

Now the fun part. Since this has gone on for a while you will need to do a little discovery work and try to pick out the triggers for some of the barking and address them one at a time. You can do this , just go slow.

Note: anti-bark collars do not work , because , the dog soon figures out that changing the bark pattern avoids the correction. In many cases these collars can make the problem worse. IMO

So , to the fix. Below is a link to a trainer that has many free videos that are very helpful. She uses a clicker for many training issues. Give the video a look and let me know what you think.
This is nothing more than distract , cue word , praise&treat , repeat , repeat , repeat. Then break , play, praise and then start over. Oscar will learn that this is more fun and rewarding than barking.


Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp_l9C1yT1g



Hope this helps.

Best , oldhounddog

 

[el chupacabra]

Just to add to OHD's comments on using aversive type bark collars... IMO there are definitely times I want my dogs to be able to bark, and like suggested, the effects of these collars can really make a bad problem worse in many situations.

I too have struggled with constant barking from 6p-11p from one of my Beagles. One of the best cures for us is stimulated play or structured walks. We also try to redirect negative behaviors with things like bully sticks, nylabones, etc.

 

[Tales from the Doghouse]

I'm having the same problem. Every time I let Dexter outside, he lets out a very loud howl and then runs around snuffling the ground. There is a fox that roams the area at night, so I'm guessing that's the reason. But it's really frustrating having him bark every time I let him out! I've tried letting him out the front, even leashing him up and personally walking him out. Our trainer suggested using white distilled vinegar. Put some in a small spray bottle and carry it around with you. Then whenever he barks, spray him in the face. It stings for a few seconds, but is not harmful. I've only been using the vinegar method for a few days now, so not sure if it's helping yet.

 

[oldhounddog]

Our trainer suggested using white distilled vinegar. Put some in a small spray bottle and carry it around with you. Then whenever he barks, spray him in the face. It stings for a few seconds, but is not harmful. I've only been using the vinegar method for a few days now, so not sure if it's helping yet. View attachment 654

Hi Tales from the Doghouse ,

Would you mind saying what Dexter's days are like? Does he bark inside? What kind of obedience training class?

======================================================

Now I know you did not ask for suggestions , however , I would like to make a couple of comments that are not critical in any way , just my thoughts.

First , any type of startle correction , a can of coins , loud noise , vinegar spray will hurt your relationship with your dog , and , it is possible it could make things worse. As you said , the vinegar stings your dog's eyes , and your dog knows this is coming from you.

The problem here is that your dog is not given any instruction as to preferred response to barking. Your dog could end up barking at you out of frustration for being sprayed and stinging eyes. This would be a new problem to solve.

Remember a beagle is a hunting dog and the bark/bay when going outside is the correct response for a Beagle opening on a new scent trail. That is in his genes and what he was born to do. Training that you can work on at home and on walks will help but may not eliminate your problem with prey drive barking.

Don't want to be too long winded here. I am not a trainer , however , I do train my hounds and would be happy to offer suggestions for your consideration to help with barking if you are interested.

Best , oldhounddog

 

[Tales from the Doghouse]

Hey, Oldhounddog, thanks for the info.

What Dexter's day is like: when the alarm goes off in the mornings, he moans, rolls over, and goes back to sleep until we are finished getting ready for the day. One of us then lets Dex and his brother Tonka (golden retriever) outside. They come in right when their daddy heads off to work so that we can all wave good-bye at the window. I then feed them, and they both take a nap while I check e-mails, etc. About 8ish, I take them for a walk, usually about 20-30 minutes. Then until lunch time, they "help" me do chores around the house and/or make cards (I make and sell greeting cards featuring my boys, hence why my camera is always within easy reach). After lunch, I usually alternate between playing with them (hide-and-seek, tug-of war, fetch, etc) and training (Dexter now knows quite a few tricks). Sometimes I'll even take them to a nearby park to let them run. After that, they nap in the room with me while I work on cards. When their daddy comes home, they all roll around on the floor having fun for about 10 minutes, which usually wears them out again. Daddy then takes a nap while Mommy makes supper. They get fed at the same time as we eat, after which we all sit on the couch and watch tv until about 7ish when we go for our evening walk (about 30-40 min). They pretty much sleep the rest of the night, transferring into the bedroom when we go to bed. Tonka sleeps in his crate, Dexter alternates between his crate and our bed.

Last year is when we took the training classes (basic training), but the guy is always available to answer any questions... no, we didn't go with Petsmart. He's a local trainer with over 20 yrs experience. Came highly recommended by friends.

Yes, Dexter barks inside. We used to live in an apartment where I could monitor his barking very closely, but since then we've bought a house. Now he's off in the back rooms barking at people as they walk by/come out of their houses. I've been keeping those doors closed, but he still barks whenever he hears something..anything. And of course now his brother is starting to "get in on the fun"!

I would love to hear your suggestions!

 

[oldhounddog]

Tales from the Doghouse ,

I really enjoyed reading your post , and , could not help getting the feeling that I should keep my mouth closed because that first paragraph describes a loving environment that I would wish every pet could have. Made my day...............

The training class was a very good idea and I'm glad you found a good trainer that you like and is available to answer questions from time to time.

My guess is that when you let your dogs out it is into a fenced area. The howl/bark from Dexter when he goes outside with Tonka is the same as the rush a child would get stepping onto a new playground everyday that is full of sight , sound and scents that are the absolute high point in a hunting dogs life.
This is a fact of life with hunting breeds , however , this can be buffered with training and the inside barking can for sure be corrected to an acceptable level.

There are several way to train/correct a barking problem and one of the best examples of this is the Kikopup series of video shorts on youtube by Emily Larlham. Many trainers put barking on cue and then train a quiet command , all done with positive reward based training which is what I use most with my rescue dogs.
Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp_l9C1yT1g

Teaching Woof/Shush: http://www.dogstardaily.com/training/excessive-barking

A good resource: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/19...mp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1929242514

Training for attention , eye contact : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiMGJBxRtBw

Great resource , Emily Larlham , Kikopup : http://clicktreat.blogspot.com

Keep in mind that your dogs will be best served using mental stimulation and general play/exercise on a regular basis together with individual short training sessions that can be done inside or out weather permitting.

Example of some inside fun games to play: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJxG--4t3SU&feature=player_embedded

A little obedience work on a regular basis to keep your dogs receptive to new training. I would take what you have learned from your training class and do a refresh of basic commands with both dogs. Then , start training "Quiet" on an individual basis with both dogs.

Keep things fun with short sessions and lots of small treats.

I could talk for several days , however , I think you will find enough information here to serve your needs well. Pay close attention to the technique and timing of rewards in Kikopup vids. Let me know what you think............

Best , oldhounddog

 

[Tales from the Doghouse]

Thank you, Oldhounddog, for the advise. I just got back from a trip, so haven't actually looked at the videos yet; but I definitely plan to!! Dexter is very quick to learn and therefore knows a ton of tricks already. I am actually in midst of teaching him a new one: say thank you. It's where he goes down on his front paws with his back end up in the air (some call it take a bow). He is very close to being able to do it on his own. )

Here's are some videos I thought you might enjoy of Dexter doing tricks: a few "ever day" tricks, get the light, and climb the ladder
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=248288178608745&set=vb.235695209868042&type=2&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=277085472395682&set=vb.235695209868042&type=2&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=267203630050533&set=vb.235695209868042&type=2&theater

 

[oldhounddog]

Tales from the Doghouse ,

I did not see the videos until today , and all I can say is WOW.....................You have two very special and Beautiful furkids.
You are very adept at training and correct about Dexter being smart. My guess is that you will have no trouble correcting any bark problem you wish to address. I have never tried to control any barking mostly because I have hunting dogs that live outside during daytime and inside an enclosed heated garage for winter. I can tell you which dog is baying by the sound/pitch of the bark/bay. This is music to the ears of an old houndsman. Your posts to this forum are greatly appreciated.


Best , oldhounddog

 

[derektam131]

hello there me and my fiance recently purchased a beagle and we named him gunnar he comes from very good hunting stock however i am starting a new job as a mason worker i may be travelling a little but not sure yet. gunnar is my best friend i grew up raising blue ticks my whole life and **** hunting raising world champion blueticks. my pap always had a few beagles to rabbit hunt to now that im older and my pap is no longer around i was wondering how to go about starting him on rabbitts he is soon to be 10 months old he does a bit of howling he is an outside dog my fiance works nights she is a home health aide we both make time for him every day i was just wondering i looked into a trainer that has been training dogs for 40 years to get his obedience traini ng out of the way. once thats out of the way i wanna start him on rabbitts he is my buddy and i want what is best for him im new to raising and training beagles is a whole lot different than training **** hounds any advice from anyone would be greatly appreciated thanks yall!

 

[oldhounddog]

advice from anyone would be greatly appreciated thanks yall!

In the Beagle Hunting and training section there is a thread about starting Beagles for pay. Contact member Beaglechaser for information on training.

oldhounddog