I really need help OH is at the end of his tether with Milo my beautiful vocal cavalier I need help getting him to hush he is about 18 months and has already had three homes when he came to us I think his barking played a big part in this OH says he wants Milo quiet or gone and i could not face loosing him.  In my OH defence he has just had a car accident is in a lot of pain with his back and not sleeping very well so I am sure he will calm down but I do have to do something about Milo.  He is very vocal he barks when we go to work when we get home when he is going out when he sees other dogs when he is getting into the car when the car stops when Cindy still has some of her treat left and he has eaten all his.  When the car is moving he whines a lot coming back from the beach.  The problem is made worse by OH actually encouraging him to grumble he holds him and they grumble together it is funny but I can't help but think that he is being encouraged to make noise at this point then later he is told to shut up.  I have tried a citronella collar with some success but he found that not all vocalisation was punished the higher pitch one would not make it spray the other collars are all out I am afraid the one that emits  a high pitch noise will punish Cindy too and that isn't fair and he isn't getting one that gives shocks as I could not do that to him.  We took him to training lessons and were told to shake a bottle at him but he seems genuinley affraid and we have to be in the room at the time for this I am using a bottle of water to spray him now but again I have to be there as soon as he starts for this to work.  Any other ideas please he is a very sweet clever boy I really feel like I am letting him down please help

I'm no expert but your OH is definitely training Milo to be vocal. You have to ignore his noises, they'll get worse before they get better otherwise every interaction he will regard as a reward. If you want to continue using the spray then do so without any words spoken on your behalf.
Good Luck but consistancy is the key so you need to train your OH as well!!
Becky

Actually would consider shock collar on other half:rolleyes:

'They' say that to teach a dog to be quiet on command you first have to teach it to make a noise on command. From what you say, you're part-way there. :)

Ignore him when he barks, turn your back to him and do not speak to him at all, not even shhhh. It's best to pretend he's not there and pretend to read the paper instead or watch the telly etc, Don't look at him. Don't bother with water squirts, collars or any other gadget. Ignore, ignore, ignore him. When he stops, which he will, then reward him with affection and games etc. Be firm and don't falter even once, no matter how inconvenient it is or you'll be back to square one again. Use baby gates and keep him in the room with you at all times as this training must be total 24 hrs with a problem such as this. Try to remember that dogs will only do something if it's rewarding, so be as cruel as hell, because it's not, and that's if you want to keep him? I'm sorry but it's as simple as that.

First of all, try not to be stressed yourself. I know it's difficult especially when OH's make helpful remarks like "quiet or gone" but I suspect your OH wouldn't really want Milo rehomed and if he wasn't feeling under the weather himself he'd not have said it.  You see if you are wound up yourself Milo will pick up on your tension and this won't help him be quieter and more settled.

I know all about gobby small dogs and the one I know most about is watching me type this message! However, I've managed to nip (sorry about the pun) most of it in the bud using many of the tips that Spiritualist recommends. Certainly I have never, ever, used water squirters or pebbles in tins since they tend to excite a confident dog and make a nervous dog all the more nervous. Both conditions encouraging barking and not being at all helpful in stopping it.

Ignore unecessary noise and if Milo pipes up simply act as if there isn't a dog in the room or car. Carry on conversations (difficult as it may be to hear above the din) and don't be tempted to pay him any attention. If necessary, quietly and calmly remove him from the room for a few minutes and ignore any protests. He will come to no harm whatsoever even if he does strike up something fearful. Finally, be consistent. It's hilarious to encourage a mutual grumble (I taught my cocker to howl at the top of the stairs and lived to regret it!!) but you can't expect a dog to know that the noise he made yesterday which was greeted with hilarity is greeted with zero tolerance the following night.

Good luck. I'm sure you'll get there!

He is very vocal he barks when we go to work when we get home

How long is he on his own? Just wondering if the underlying problem in fact is separation anxiety and that he barks more than usual in other circumstances as well because he has got used to barking when you are not there.

His last owner was at home all day and his barking was bad enough to make her get rid of him normally he and Cindy are on there own for about four hours when I am working if I do a full day I come home at lunch and walk them both.  OH actually came home from work and walked him today so maybe all is not lost.:rolleyes:

I agree with the advice given, except that if Milo finds barking is self rewarding, ignoring unfortunately won't work. Not saying it is this, though. I'd actually get in a behaviourist to assess this, within your household. There may be things which are not obvious to you which are exacerbating this.

Try www.apbc.org.uk or www.apdt.co.uk  (the first one is very good behaviourists, the second one has some behaviourists but may not be quite as experienced as the first).

Try also getting a DAP - this exudes pheromones which many dogs find comforting and many start to really relax. Also give him some stuffed kongs etc to keep him occupied, hopefully this will help until you get some professional help.

Just my view :)

Lindsay
x

The good and best news is she is only 18 months, but 3 homes that is so sad.

I completely agree with Lindsay, you really need a behaviourist for this one you can't fix it yourself, I feel sorry for those with a yapping and barking dog, it is so hard to get under control, it is not a quick fix either, it will take time and a lot of effort, I hope that you will stick with it as 3 homes is already 2 too many.

Have spoken with OH he apologised saying his back pain is making him crabby and has agreed to stick with it so I can't see Milo going anywhere but getting a behaviourist in seems like a good idea if we ever buy are own place the nieghbours may not be as forgiving as the ones we have now.