STOP BARKING!!!!! Ahhhhhh, help help help?

Question

I have a 6 yr old female amstaff and now a 6 month old male boxer.
When people come over (even people they both know very well) they get sooooo excited and continue to bark for 15 mins or longer.
I try to get them to quiet down by individually getting their attention and telling them enough. NOTHING IS WORKING.

They are both very good dogs, but this needs to stop. Its loud and at times embarrassing, they act like they are untamed beasts. ANY ADVICE?????

They both are large dog (and the puppy is only going to get larger), and their barks are both very loud.

I cant put them outside when someone knocks at the door, it would be impossible, they wiegh more then me, and plus they are like family, they love poeple, im not looking to disicipline them, just to make them tame

Answer 1

You did not clarify if the amstaff was this way before getting the pup? Or if they are urging each other on in this barking duo?
First we start with the older amstaff to curb the barking. Prior to folks arriving are you putting dogs out to run and exercise if at all possible, get them wound down! Do they rush the door and people? For training put the pup in another room and concentrate on amstaff first. Work with friends on this to help. When they knock short leash the amstaff close to you. When they come in do not allow her to mingle and ask them to ignore her. It's the excitement and noise folks tend to make on arrival. Keep a low firm tone with her and put her to a position beside you. I prefer a warning sound versus a word command for mine, always use same sound to alert dogs of bad behaviour.
It will take awhile of being consistant and you and your friends ignoring and not giving into her antics. you may even have to get down with her on floor and put her into a calmer submissive attitude. She has to understand what you expect and in a no-nonsense approach. You and friends ignore her much as possible. She doesn't get ANY attention from ANYONE while acting bad. Only when she starts acting as you want does she get "good attention" or a treat to reinforce. This may take a few weeks of people coming over. Your friends need to be informed of what you are doing and would help if they come inside in a calm manner!

Once you see progress with amstaff then start with boxer pup. Start with no other folks around. Leash pup and do routines of going to door, open/close, out and in. Work close with maybe 1 friend at first. Short leash the amstaff somewhere in area and just work the pup with visitors. If amstaff is remaining calm give treats. Pup only gets treats/attention as long as being calm/not barking. Remember the sharp vocal warning sound, put pup to sitting or lying position beside you--firmly. Do not give in. They are going to try to get away with whatever you let them do. You just have to retrain yourself and them to what is acceptable doggie behaviour.
Work back and forth with the 2 and visitors until both have learned what you want. When being good be very vocal with praise!! And using a really good treat ONLY for training/rewards. You have a boxer pup to train so get prepared. Amstaffs are sharp and learn quick and then she can help enforce the rules and she will, naturally. My big girl helps train all the newcomers here. Make sure you give your girl her credit as the dominant over the pup, but not to you. My girl knows when one of the dogs here has been bad and jumps right in. Both of your dogs are easily trained, bit stubborn breeds, be firm.

We do not use bark collars or other things mentioned in other replies. You have to address the behaviour for what it is. You don't just spray prefume on a nasty dirty dog to cover the odor. Doesn't work.

Might want to think about friends that come over and how they act when arriving, how loud, etc--just too much commotion for the dogs. Loud noise excites. Calm, low tone instills calmness.

Answer 2

There are collars available that simply squirt lemon scent every time the dog barks. Since most dogs don`t like the smell, they eventually learn to stop barking. If that doesn`t work, I suggest a trainer or a specialist in animal behaviour; you can usually find one through your vet or animal shelter. As a last resort--and I mean last, to be used only if it`s a choice between life and death--there is an operation which will render the dogs barkless. This is not something that is done frequently as it is seen as cruel, but if the choice comes down to de-barking or abandoning or euthanizing the dog, it is definitely the better alternative.

Answer 3

Try an empty pop can filled with about 10-12 pennies, then taped up (so the pennies can't fall out). When they start to bark, toss the can behind them so that it makes a lot of noise. That often distracts them long enough that they forget why they were barking.

Answer 4

We have a dog that likes to bark and we found a collar that instead of shocking them sprays citronella at them. They don't like the smell and now all we say to out dog "is want the red collar" and she stops. It's a very uncruel way to train your dog.

Answer 5

An easy way to calm a barker is to use a water bottle and every time they bark spritz them. You need to do this every time they bark and soon they will get the message that this isn't acceptable behavior.

Answer 6

Have you tried spraying with water. Just get a water bottle. I know that works with cats. Do not get a shock collar. Those things are horrible. Especially on an older dog.

Answer 7

This is what i did with my dog, when she barked i used to put my hand under her mouth and grab it lightly, look at her straight in the eye and firmly say NO! Grabbed my index finger and wacked (lightly) on her nose... She stopped! When she did.. I used to give her a treat

Answer 8

Water bottle or take a rolled up page of newspaper and tap them on the nose when they bark

Answer 9

put there tails outside when you have company over, or take a newspaper and tap their noses and look them in the eye and say NO, bad dog. keep doing this they will eventially get the idea .

Answer 10

i have a pit bull and a Doberman pincher and they both bark all day and all night it bugs me so bad, so what i did was put a muzzle on the Doberman and chained the pit bull... i only put the muzzle on the Doberman at night when i am sleeping. so you should try just muzzling it when ever you have visitors this will help stop the barking also they wont bark as loud... good luck...