Help - four westies barking in garden

Westie Lady

Can anybody help me please, I have four female westies and they bark no consistently but they are annoying my neighbours and its causing a big problem. They have access namely a dog flap so their are not looked outside they have full accessibility to kitchen and outdoors.

I have read about dogs collars that send out high pitched sounds etc but because I would have to buy four it works out expensive and I don't know if they work. I would not consider using the collar that gives off a shock should they carry on barking.

Any help would be much appreciated.

pawzaddict

I would not allow them to go outside unless you are home.

Some people recommend getting the bark on cue (teaching them to "speak") then training them a quiet cue, however I personally have had no success but maybe someone else has and can give pointers.

What are they barking at when outside? People? Other dogs? Cars? I can't link you but there are good threads on using a game called "look at that" where you click (if you use clicker training) and treat for the dog looking at but NOT reacting to objects.

How much exercise and training are they all getting?
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Cali

How much exercise and mental stimulation do they get? Excessive barking is often due to boredom.
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Westie Lady

They bark at birds and nothing in particular. They cannot see beyond our garden as we have hedges and walls - one can set the others barking.

pawzaddict

Ok. How much exercise and training do they get? It definitely sounds like a boredom issue
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biosop

I am having the same problem. However my dogs don't just randomly bark. They only bark, excessively and loudly while playing. There are three and this problem is relatively new as the youngest is just reaching an age where he can 'stand up for himself and assert some authority' as such his play is more aggressive. These are well mannered dogs, who have recently begun to play more roughly.
The neighbor approached me this morning to keep them quieter as 'he works from home.'
I am fully willing to cooperate, as I too work from home and recently moved due to my neighbors excessive noise issues.

I cannot put bark collars on my dogs, they pull each others collars off during play. So they only wear collars to the park, the vet, on walks etc.

I am looking at the ultrasonic bark control devices. Do these work for anyone?

pawzaddict

If they get loud when they play you need to interrupt the play and bring them inside for a min then let them back out. Repeat this as needed and eventually they will see when they get too loud they can't play anymore. When they are being quiet toss them some treats.
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