Greetings,
I am part of a dog run association and am presently trying to come up with some general guidelines for dog owners to control excessive barking at our dog run. We have an issue with the local home owners who have complained to the city that the barking is excessive. We are not looking for a "zero tolerance" level of barking.: that is unrealistic. However, if we post some measures that owners can take, it may go a long way to resolve our problem. (We have taken other measures, such as changing dog run access hours during the early morning and late evening. Contacting the city to put up hedges that can act as sound buffers, etc., etc).
Now I know dogs will be dogs, and when they get together to play, it is more than likely that some of them will become vocal. Our dog run is heavily frequented and is not very large. It's one thing to have some occasional barking, it's quiet another to allow unsupervised excessive situations. I have some basic guidelines and remedial actions already down, such as giving offending dogs a "vocal reprimand", then a "time-out", a withdrawal from the park for a short duration, and if all else fails, removal from the run. If the owners stick to the plan with consistency, the dogs should eventually make the connection. These actions can be enhanced by items such as water gun, citronella spray collar, or a shock- collar. I am looking for any other remedial.
Now, my question is: Does anyone have any other training tips, ideas, sites that I can visit on this subject, etc... ? The Dog Run Committee wants to provide as much help in that area as possible: (a balance between the "carrot and the stick" approach.) Ultimately, it will be up to each individual owner to put in an honest effect in this area. We want to give every opportunity for the individual to correct the situation him/herself before more direct measures are taken.
Thnaks for your assistance in advance.

Welcome to the forum Stephen :-) Dog Runs: designated dog exercise area's, open to all? Leigh

HI Stephen

Can you tell us a bit more about a dog run - being a bit dim I'm not really sure what it is, are you in the USA?

I have to say, no offence intended, but I totally abhor the use of shock collars, and persomally woud never recommend one; because if we can't train our dogs without subjecting them to violence then we are a sad bunch :(

I feel that dogs bark for a reason, and if we sort out the reason (that's the difficult bit!) then we are half way there. If barking can't be sorted - say a neighbour winds dogs up or something - then remove part of the equation is I feel the best way.

Lindsay

Think this is the right one: Dog Run Association ?

Thanks for the link, I like the map etc; seems like a good idea for city people and their dogs :)

lindsay

Dear Stephen

Please don't use shock colliers. That are so nasty and uneccessary. Dogs bark and thats a fact! My dog Molly loves playing and barking with other dogs, its down to the owners to assist their dogs to know right from wrong, but to stop a dog barking because he or she is happy and wants to play just seems a little to strict?

(sorry about the spelling not my strong point!)