How do you live with a barking dog? (mixed rant/question)

[Lilani]

Like seriously. I have neighbors in the apartment downstairs, and every day for at least an hour in the morning their little dachshund will bark and growl at absolutely nothing. I know they're there, I can hear them moving around and talking. And I know they're not the only people who live with yippy dogs. So my question is, how? How do you deal with that day after day? Or rather, WHY do you deal with it? Maybe you've gotten used to it and it doesn't annoy you, but surely you don't find it enjoyable. And surely it's not healthy for your dog to be so distressed over so little.

I mean I can understand some barking when a stranger walks in, or some whining after you leave. But barking at nothing for an hour or more? How do you stand it? If it were me, I'd be letting it out or training it. Or of that didn't work, I'd find it a better home, somebody who can teach it to behave. And don't give me that "Some dogs just bark, it's in their nature!" schtick. I have seen service dogs who can ride in an airplane for three hours or more in absolute silence. If trained properly, you can manage how much and at what your dog barks. I can understand why some people wouldn't want to or are unable to put in that much time to train their dogs, but what I don't understand is why living with the hours of barking is an acceptable alternative.

 

[Comocat]

Talk to your neighbors about it, or report it to the building supervisor. As an aside, I thought barking dogs were normal because my parents are weird and like making our dogs bark. Now that I live far away and come home for holidays, it drives me bananas. It's probably like smoking, after a time you just dont notice the smell/noise anymore.

 

[Jezzascmezza]

My dog lives in my backyard, and he doesn't bark very often, maybe once a day.
Whenever he does, and I'm around when he does it, I just stick my head out the door and tell him to shut up, and he does.
I guess the amount of barking a dog does varies from dog to dog, but I can't imagine it to be too hard to train one to bark less. The owner really just has to sternly grumble at them or something and over time, the dog should be deterred from barking.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

"Some dogs just bark, it's in their nature!"

I agree that's grade-A bs. I've had two dogs and both lived long, healthy lives without even barking at the occassional stray cat. Thay may be because of breed. Little dogs turn to "bark" (i.e. yap) a lot, whereas bigger dogs are usually more laid back. I'd never put up with a yap-yapping machine like some people do, either the barking goes or the dog goes. Some people put up with too much.

 

[Catfood220]

To be fair, as annoying as it is, I like that my dog will bark, it means he is looking out for the home. It is annoying though but he will stop if when people tell him to stop.

 

[Commonly Confused]

For your first question, it is probably as others have already said. Eventually people just become numb to the sound of their dog's barking.

For your second question (or second part of the first), it is usually laziness and then outsiders (neighbors, other family members) have to deal with it. Honestly, a dog should not be barking that much. If it is early in the morning and the dog is barking, it likely wants something (attention, to go out, food, et cetera). The more you respond to a yippy dog with attention (negative attention like yelling is included when not paired with corrective behavior), the more likely it is to reinforce the barking. The dog starts to think that barking = attention and it becomes a deliberate attempt to get attention. Essentially, it is your dog training you.

I do have to disagree to some extent about certain breeds not being more vocal than others. Although you can train any dog (if you use the most effective methods and you start early enough) to control its barking, there are some breeds who are just naturally more loud. Dachsunds in particular are not quiet dogs and they require more training than a Lab or a Terrier. It is not impossible but it can be more difficult.

Depending on how long the dog has been allowed to bark, it could be relatively easy to discourage the bad behavior or the exact opposite. I would suggest having a talk with your neighbor if you feel comfortable enough to. That kind of behavior is not pleasant for anyone who has to be around it.

 

[Fappy]

I honestly don't know, Lilani. Our dogs bark at nothing 24/7. It drives me absolutely crazy sometimes. There are few things more infuriating than being woken up several hours early because the dogs realized they hadn't barked in awhile and needed to fill their quota.

As much as I like dogs I think I'll stick with cats when I eventually move out >.>

 

[Rylot]

"Some dogs just bark, it's in their nature!"

I agree that's grade-A bs.

Yeah, I've got two Dachshunds and while they will bark whenever someone comes to the door (living in a duplex really sucks for this) as long as we (Girlfriend and I) go and check it out and comfort them they stop pretty quickly. As improbable as it sounds they were bred to chase and hunt so they do have a tendency to bark at anything that moves. Since they were bred to do a specific job sometimes if they're not engaged enough or kept active they'll bark for attention. For us when we moved to a new state it took us a few weeks to find a new place for our do to take classes; you'd be amazed at how much destruction a seven pound mini Dachshund can cause.

As actual advice I'd say talk to the neighbors in a friendly way at first and escalate to apartment management if it doesn't get resolved.

 

[Casual Shinji]

And don't give me that "Some dogs just bark, it's in their nature!" schtick. I have seen service dogs who can ride in an airplane for three hours or more in absolute silence. If trained properly, you can manage how much and at what your dog barks.

You know, beagles are known to be extremely whiny dogs. It basically is in their breed to make a lot of noise, and the only way to stop it is to exhaust them.

I had a dog, a malinois, that would bark up a storm. And during thunder storms or fireworks he'd go apeshit, no matter how much I would dicipline him or how exhausted he was. The week before New Year's eve (when much fireworks could already be heard outside) was always a fucking nightmare.

I eventually got used to the morning barkings.

 

[Berithil]

We have Yorkies.


Yeah, it's just kinda something we have to live with. Also yell at them to shut up when they start yapping at nothing. That usually works.

 

[gigastar]

Usually i find that feeding them something shuts them up.

Its doesnt have to be actual food, a chew toy or a bit of rope should suffice.

 

[Launcelot111]

Of the six dogs I have owned (a combination of labs and spaniels), the only time they bark is when they're scared (they see something in the dark they dont recognize or they meet an unfriendly dog) or when they're really excited, like when they've spent all day in the pen and you finally come home to get them out. They're not the barkiest of breeds, but my mom has also gone to great lengths to train them, and that includes teaching them not to bark.

It may be harder for some breeds than others, but you can train a dog not to bark. It's just that a depressing number of dog owners don't have the patience or knowhow to train their dog to do anything properly.