Help me please!!!!?

Question

I have a 5year old German Shepherd x Whippet.
I can't stop her from barking at people at the door and when we tell her to stop she ignores, she has also nearly bitten the postman twice!!!
Also i would really love her to walk by my side (have tried the Halti and leash method and is not really working) otherwise she is a playful happy dog and loves her walkies and nosing out the window :) please help

Answer 1

Some canine behavior problems, such as house soiling, affect only a dog's owners. However, problems such as escaping and excessive barking can result in neighborhood disputes and violations of animal control ordinances. Therefore, barking dogs can become "people problems." If your dog's barking has created neighborhood tension, it might be a good idea to discuss the problem with your neighbors. It's perfectly normal and reasonable for dogs to bark from time to time, just as children make noise when they play outside. However, continual barking for long periods of time is a sign that your dog has a problem that needs to be addressed.

The first thing you need to do is determine when and for how long your dog barks, and what's causing him to bark. You may need to do some detective work to obtain this information, especially if the barking occurs when you're not home. Ask your neighbors, drive or walk around the block and watch and listen for a while, or start a tape recorder or video camera when you leave for work. Hopefully, you'll be able to discover which of the common problems discussed below is the cause of your dog's barking.

Social Isolation/Frustration/Attention-Seeking
Your dog may be barking because he's bored and lonely if:

He's left alone for long periods of time without opportunities for interaction with you.
His environment is relatively barren, without playmates or toys.
He's a puppy or adolescent (under three years old) and doesn't have other outlets for his energy.
He's a particularly active type of dog (like the herding or sporting breeds) who needs a "job" to be happy.
Recommendations:
Expand your dog's world and increase his "people time" in the following ways:

Walk your dog daily - it's good exercise, both mental and physical.
Teach your dog to fetch a ball or Frisbee and practice with him as often as possible.
Teach your dog a few commands and/or tricks and practice them every day for five to ten minutes.
Take an obedience class with your dog.
Provide interesting toys to keep your dog busy when you're not home (Kong-type toys filled with treats or busy-box toys). Rotating the toys makes them seem new and interesting (see our handout: "Dog Toys and How to Use Them").
If your dog is barking to get your attention, make sure he has sufficient time with you on a daily basis (petting, grooming, playing, exercising) so he doesn't have to resort to misbehaving to get your attention.
Keep your dog inside when you're unable to supervise him.
Let your neighbors know that you're actively working on the problem.
Take your dog to work with you every now and then, if possible.
When you have to leave your dog for extended periods of time, take him to a "doggie day care" or have a friend or neighbor walk and/or play with him.
Territorial/Protective Behavior
Your dog may be barking to guard his territory if:

The barking occurs in the presence of "intruders," which may include the mail carrier, children walking to school and other dogs or neighbors in adjacent yards.
Your dog's posture while he's barking appears threatening -- tail held high and ears up and forward.
You've encouraged your dog to be responsive to people and noises outside.
Recommendations:
Teach your dog a "quiet" command. When he begins to bark at a passer-by, allow two or three barks, then say "quiet" and interrupt his barking by shaking a can filled with pennies or squirting water at his mouth with a spray bottle or squirt gun. This will cause him to stop barking momentarily. While he's quiet, say "good quiet" and pop a tasty treat into his mouth. Remember, the loud noise or squirt isn't meant to punish him, rather it's to startle him into being quiet so you can reward him. If your dog is frightened by the noise or squirt bottle, find an alternative method of interrupting his barking (throw a toy or ball toward him).
Desensitize your dog to the stimulus that triggers the barking. Teach him that the people he views as intruders are actually friends and that good things happen to him when these people are around. Ask someone to walk by your yard, starting far enough away so that your dog isn't barking, then reward him for quiet behavior as he obeys a "sit" or "down" command. Use a very special food reward such as little pieces of cheese or meat. As the person gradually comes closer, continue to reward his quiet behavior. It may take several sessions before the person can come close without your dog barking. When the person can come very close without your dog barking, have them feed him a treat or throw a toy for him.
If your dog barks while inside the house when you're home, call him to you, have him obey a command, such as "sit" or "down," and reward him with praise and a treat.
Don't inadvertently encourage this type of barking by enticing your dog to bark at things he hears or sees outside.
Have your dog neutered (or spayed if your dog is a female) to decrease territorial behavior.
Fears And Phobias
Your dog's barking may be a response to something he's afraid of if:

The barking occurs when he's exposed to loud noises, such as thunderstorms firecrackers or construction equipment.
Your dog's posture indicates fear -- ears back, tail held low.
Recommendations:
Identify what's frightening your dog and desensitize him to it (see our handout: "Helping Your Dog Overcome the Fear of Thunder and Other Startling Noises"). You may need professional help with the desensitization process. Check with your veterinarian about anti-anxiety medication while you work on behavior modification.
Mute noise from outside by leaving your dog in a basement or windowless bathroom and leave on a television, radio or loud fan. Block off your dog's access to outdoor views that might be causing a fear response, by closing curtains or doors to certain rooms.
Separation Anxiety
Your dog may be barking due to separation anxiety if:

The barking occurs only when you're gone and starts as soon as, or shortly after, you leave.
Your dog displays other behaviors that reflect a strong attachment to you, such as following you from room to room, frantic greetings or reacting anxiously to your preparations to leave.
Your dog has recently experienced: a change in the family's schedule that results in his being left alone more often; a move to a new house; the death or loss of a family member or another family pet; or a period at an animal shelter or boarding kennel.
Recommendations:
Separation anxiety can be resolved using counter-conditioning and desensitization techniques

Answer 2

Her barking is a symptom of her emotional feeling about visitors. You do not need to correct the barking, you need to change her emotional response. Actually, correcting her barking could make things worse. Seek the help of a private trainer or behavior counselor right away. He or she can show you how to work with her to change her behavior as well as manage her to prevent her reaction until she is trained.

The trainer can also help with leash walking. In the meantime, though, you might try an Easy Walk or Sensation harness if the Halti hasn't helped. These are body harnesses on which the leash attaches at the front of the chest instead of on the back. If the dog pulls she will feel light pressure on her chest, which should cause her to stop pulling.

Answer 3

You really need to desensitise her to visitors. Get a couple of friends your dog doesnt know well, to visit you, just for 5 mins, a couple of times a day, for about 2 weeks. Have her favourite treats in hand and make sure your 'visitors' have some as well. When they come around have your dog on a lead or harness in the house and restrain her when they knock. Get someone else to open the door and you distract the dog with the treats and tell her to sit. Once she has her eyes on the treat have your friends sit with the treats in hand, you give her the treat. Walk her over to your friends and from a distance get them to drop the treats so they dont risk getting bitten and let your dog get the treats. She will hopefully learn to associate visitors with good things. As for the walking just use a choker chain and remind youself who is boss. A choker chain can be used effectively and you dont really need to half strangle the dog with it. Just a quick small jerk is enough to startle the dog and get her attention.

Answer 4

You have to physically stop her from barking. When she starts Tap her and say NO! You can also make "shush" sounds to get her attention. You may have to do this over and over But nothing worth doing is easy is it? When teaching to walk on a leash, the rule is If they go fast, you go slow. If they go right, you go left. See what I mean? You have to stay in charge at all times during the walk. After practiucing these rules for awhile she will get the message. I used Prong collars to train my Boxers because they are hard headed but I used a regular choke chain on my Shepherd. It really dosen't take long but you have to practice. Good Luck.

Answer 5

Since she is showing signs of aggression toward people, I'd find a professional trainer to work with her. If she is trying to bite, her behavior has escalated to the point where you really need someone who has experience with aggressive dogs to work with her - though choose carefully and pick someone who does not use harsh or violent training methods. Call your local humane society and see if there is someone they can recommend. Their job is to help animals stay in their homes as well as find homes, so they may be able to help. They can help with the leash walking issues too.

Answer 6

get a gentle leader for the walking issue. we got it, and i mean the difference was instant.

as for the barking, you'll have to break her of the habit. the only thing that will really work is to tell her no, and if she doesnt stop, physically force her to submit. make her lay down on her back and stare you in the eyes. i dont know how big your dog is (its an interesting mix, so who knows what dominate genetically) but as an example, with my dog, who is 25lbs, when she's being a brat and nothing listening (usually its nipping after rough-housing) we pick her up and flip her on her back and straddle her with her neck pinned down, no pressure on it, just holding her down, and we'll stare her down and tell her to "chill out". she'll stop immediatly and she knows that when she's calm we'll let her up, and then she's her happy little self all over again, just minus the biting.

it might take a bit, but eventually she's understand that when you say no, you mean it, and she's better stop whatever she's doing or you're going to hold her down until she stops. you might want to practice a bunch with someone who's willing to ring the doorbell and then stand there a while until the dog is calm, or else you might just never get to see who was at the door ;)

Answer 7

Buy a muzzle and put a 'Beware of the dog' sign up!

Socialise her with people when she is muzzled.

She'll probably be so intent in getting the muzzle off, she won't bark at anyone!

Muzzle her at the dog and try to use distraction to train her. Don't muzzle for more than half an hour at a time though.

Answer 8

Shock collars are the worst but an idea for u might be what we use here we breed dogs and so of course there is barking alot but we spray them with vinegar water and they hate it so much just spray them and say firmly no and i think that would help

Answer 9

odds are, she's being protective or she's afraid. not much you can do for the barking except maybe a shock collar like the other guy said. i'm not a huge fan of them either but it can be used as a last resort. ceaser milan has a book out. there might be something in there. i know there would be something about leash walking in it.

Answer 10

I'm not a fan of them, but you can try a shock collar with remote.