Problem.. One 7 year old GSP -adored spoilt bitch!
Lately she has become very verbal--- That is---- really squealing & barking to get our attention.
Other than fitting her with a shock collar is there a solution to stop this constant noise?
She squeals in the car...before she gets taken for a walk...when she's tired and even when I stop & talk to friends in the park!
We have got control of her in all other situations ie she obeys all our commands.. except for when she makes this horrible noise.
There is now a 9month old baby grandson in the family ..this could be the trigger ...because she does seems to get worse when he's around.
Do dogs get more attention-seeking as they get older?
Does anyone think that the doggy discs would help?

Does she like toys?  Try to pre-empt over excited behaviour by giving her something to carry/hold in her mouth.  GSP's should be relatively easy I would have thought to encourage to do this :)

If you think her over excited behaviour has any relation to your grandchild then IMO you should not consider any type of aversive technique in case your dog makes the negative association with the baby.

With training discs timing is *crucial* if they are to be effective. 

'Shock Collars' OTOH are just plain cruel and would be particularly dangerous if your baby grandson is genuinely a trigger for behaviour you're trying to prevent.

Have a go with diverting her attention to a suitable toy - I think that would be the best route to follow.  Additionally have you considered doing some clicker training with her to perhaps give her a mental workout prior to what you may feel are predictable outbursts of vocal or OTT behaviour?

HTH,
regards, Teri

You could try squirting her with water, saying nothing and ignoring her, repeat this every time the noise is made, you can wash out a jif lemon (theres lots about at the mo) to take on a walk. 

If that isn't effective try a shaker which is a plastic bottle with a few stones in. When the dog starts the noise drop the bottle on the floor, say nothing and ignore the dog.

We use these methods at our dog school and they do work with a bit of persistence.

Do the training without the child around, it may be the trigger but if it happens on a walk it could be anything that sets her off.

> We use these methods at our dog school and they do work with a bit of persistence

Can I ask, are you a trainer or pupil at the dog school?

Hi,

There are many options other than a shock collar and that really shouldn't be an option at all as they can have very serious consequences!  Does she seem stressed/anxious or excited or anything else when she is doing this?  Has it litterally just started since the baby has been around or has it just progressed.  Is her hearing ok?

Is she getting enough attention and stimulation as obviously it can be hard with a new baby and sometimes it can be difficult to fit everything in.  How many walks a day and what do they consist of, does she get any training, brain games, interactive toys?  How do you respond when she starts to do this and do you respond the same in each situation as she's doing in in a variety of places?  How she been genrally since the baby has come along, does she seem settled and relaxed compared to before the new family member?

You could try squirting her with water, saying nothing and ignoring her, repeat this every time the noise is made, you can wash out a jif lemon (theres lots about at the mo) to take on a walk. 

If that isn't effective try a shaker which is a plastic bottle with a few stones in. When the dog starts the noise drop the bottle on the floor, say nothing and ignore the dog.

Sorry but I completely disagree with using these methods, especially when ther is a baby involved and we can't know why she is reacting the way she is with the limited information we have.  As Teri has already said with the Ecollar, if the dog makes makes a negativce association with the punishment and the baby then you could have far worse problems on your hands.  Both of the things suggested are just designed to startle and are often very punishing andquite frightening for some dogs, especially sensitive dogs.  They will only supress the behaviour if they work, that behaviour may or may not dissapear and depending on the reason for the behaviour you may just get another equally undesireable or worse behaviour in place of it.  Much better to teach the dog what you do want it to do rather than punishing what you don't want it to :-)

Problem.. One 7 year old GSP -adored spoilt bitch!
Lately she has become very verbal--- That is---- really squealing & barking to get our attention.
Other than fitting her with a shock collar is there a solution to stop this constant noise?  YES
She squeals in the car.  All the time? Just when approaching the destination of an exciting walk?  Have you got a new vehicle? Have you changed how she travels in the car? (ie crating v loose v harness belt)
..before she gets taken for a walk...OK...so that's excitement/anticipation.  You need to teach/reinforce self-control.  If you need more ideas on how to do this, then shout!
when she's tired and even when I stop & talk to friends in the park!

We have got control of her in all other situations ie she obeys all our commands.. except for when she makes this horrible noise.
There is now a 9month old baby grandson in the family ..this could be the trigger ...because she does seems to get worse when he's around.
Do dogs get more attention-seeking as they get older? NO - not unless there's a reason - and age isn't it.
Does anyone think that the doggy discs would help?   NO

Assuming there is no medical reason.........have you had her checked out?........has anything changed in her management and exercise routine or diet??........If not, then this is a management issue and she is managing you beautifully!  :-)

As stated above, DO NOT USE AVERSIVES ...you need to pre-empt and/or redirect and stimulate.  How is her self-control - or how has it been prior to the commencement of this behaviour and how long has this behaviour been going on for?  (You say, just lately in your post........but is that days/weeks/months? )

Also, what are her breedlines?  Some lines are naturally more vocal than others;  however, if this has been a sudden change it will come down primarily to the management/training......just that certain lines may make it more.......errr........challenging for you!  :-)

Do the training without the child around, it may be the trigger but if it happens on a walk it could be anything that sets her off.

PRECISELY..........which is why you need to understand the cause before coming up with an APPROPRIATE solution!

As for the use of aversives, well, not only do I disagree, but for your info most mature GSPs, being gundogs, LOVE water and would turn a jif bottle 'attack' into a game and not be put off in the slightest!  :-) Also, rattle bottles.........being gundogs again they are not usually that sound sensitive.  Someone tried to use a rattle bottle on my male once.........they dropped it on the floor, he ignored it for about 15 seconds then walked up to it, knocked it over and pissed on it.  He then trotted off and carried on doing what he had been doing previously.   :-)  That's GSPs for you!

he ignored it for about 15 seconds then walked up to it, knocked it over and pissed on it.

:-D  Clever boy, and exactly what should be done with rattle bottles IMO, love it!

hi , i have a 4month old gsd that is starting to bark alot when she gets over excited ie....wants to play with other dogs and if thay tell her no or ignor her she jumps about barking
or if she wants what thay have ,ive tried ignoring her but yesterday she did this for 1 and 1/2 hours ...so at training class today i talked about this with trainer and next week her daughter is coming to help and show me how to use the discs ...but it is very inportent that its done propley or it dont work ...dogs have to be trained to the discs 1st .....

hi , i have a 4month old gsd that is starting to bark alot when she gets over excited ie....wants to play with other dogs and if thay tell her no or ignor her she jumps about barking
or if she wants what thay have ,ive tried ignoring her but yesterday she did this for 1 and 1/2 hours ...so at training class today i talked about this with trainer and next week her daughter is coming to help and show me how to use the discs ...but it is very inportent that its done propley or it dont work ...dogs have to be trained to the discs 1st .....

Hi,

At four months old I would be trying to teach a dog what I want from it rather than using aversives to stop it doing what I don't want.  A four month old GSD needs entirely positive experiences around other dogs not the use of something like discs which it may associate negatively with other dogs.  There are other ways of dealing with this than saying no or ignoring her.  Pups don't automatically know what no means and again it isn't teaching her to do what you want.  What do you want her to do instead of barking? Give her an outlet and teach her that.  You could also work on teaching a 'quiet' cue, teach her to 'watch' you on cue.  What was she doing that she was barking for an hour and a half, was she trying to get your attention?  You could use a brief time out?  Is she getting enough stimulation, play training time, interactive toys etc?

The discs are used to startle the dog into stopping doing what it is doing, 'trained' to them or not, and if they don't startle them then how do they work?  If your trainer is using them for a cue to teach quiet then you are just aswell using your voice which you have control over and won't risk a negative association with other dogs.  If she intends using it to 'distract' the pup then you could teach a reliable verbal watch cue or something similar which will get her attention back on you again without the potential negative side effects, it may take longer but is more reliable and is training for what you want.  I don't consider discs an appropriate method for any training really but would question the abilities of a trainer using them on a four month old GSD.

hi karenclynes

i can see what your saying about the discs ...my girl gets lots of playtime , i train with her and we walk together for 20mins every day ,if she starts wineing i see what she wants ..she only barks at the other dogs when there all out side she wants to play with them in the garden and this is the time i do my cleaning up lol ...the only time i get to do it ...but if im out there with them she dont bark its just when im not there ? she wants to play and the other dogs and if they dont want to she starts barking at them?

thanku :)

joanne x

Hiya,

I think a lot of youngsters would bark or get over excited in the situation where they can see others playing but can't join in if they aren't other wise occupied :-)  I can also appreciate that you want your ear drums intact :-D  What about pre empting the barking by giving her something to do like stuffing a kong with something extra yum and popping her in another room with that to keep her occupied before the others go out if she can't be outside with them?  Maybe use the time in between your jobs to do some training with her and rewarding sits and downs so that she will be focussed on you.