How to get an untrained dog to quit barking, sorry to offend?

Question

Ok revision of my last question:
2 months ago I moved in with my uncle as he works out of state and asked me to it is a win win situation as I am a single mom and a full time student and he needs someone to care for his house, bills etc.
He has a german sherpard that he bought as a puppy and put in the backyard and left there.
Since moving in I have trained him to walk on a leash he walks with me to get my daughter and to play at the park. Also he comes inside with me all day instead of being outside which I think my uncle is an as* for just dropping the dog out the door and forgetting about him!!!
I have never had dogs so do not know how to train them, how do I get him to stop barking? He barks on our walks, in the house, if the toilet flushes, kid sneezes etc. I do NOT smack him I should smack my uncle so what do I do to make him stop barking?

The reason I will not hit the dog is because I have a two year old that if he saw me do this I fear he would start doing the same thing to the dog just at the wrong times like when I am not looking. Ya know?
I will admit the dog has definetly captured my heart due to the fact that when the kids go out of their boundaries the dog will actually push my 2 yr old back up the driveway by nudging his butt back up the driveway and this was with no training so I am confident he is still trainable, when someone said he is like a child I just thought to myself ok so it is like having 2 two year olds in the house funny thing is the baby and the dog were born 6 days apart lol

Answer 1

Okay, this sounds better then your last question. German Shepherds need alot of attention. Keep walking him, that's good- he needs exercise. The breed is not typically barkers. So, he may be barking because he's incredibly lonely or bored. They need mental simulation. Teach him simple tricks like sit and lay. They love to learn, and then practice them with him. Simply correct him when he barks. Say NO BARK and make a loud noise to get his attention. I've also heard that if you teach him the command "speak" they won't bark as much, because the beahvior is now not as appealing. It's not his fault. He will learn quickly if you stick with it. He probably barks because he's alone so much. They're very social dogs- they need companionship. (and they're great with kids) GSD can be amazing pets- they're loyal and social. Beautiful and smart. Good luck, but don't give up on him
(as for the spray bottle of water, that works on a lot of dogs- but does not work for my german shepherd, because she loves water and she actually likes to be sprayed)

Answer 2

Good for you for putting some time into your uncles dog, and at the same time teaching your daughter what it means to be a responsible pet owner. It sounds like you are on the right track. If you do not have time for "obedience classes" with the dog, there is a wealth of information available on line on training of dogs and puppies. I would also recommend a book called "Dog Training for Dummies" which covers all the basics. Most dogs can be taught to not bark incessantly, some need the use of bark inhibitor collars. It sounds like your uncles boy is coming along nicely. The GSD is a working breed with a need to work. This can be as simple as finding a ball, or as complex as herding sheep....You will also find that just the regular exercise goes a long way to alleviate boredom and excess/destructive energy.

Answer 3

German Shepherd's need a lot of exercise. One reason he barks so much is probably because he is bored. Who wouldn't be after spending their life shut out in the back yard? The best thing you could do would be to invest in some training classes. GSD's are very smart dogs and pick things up very quickly. Maybe your uncle will pay for the classes? Enrolling in a class and having a professional help you really will get you the best results, plus the stimulation of the class will help wear the dog out. There are also tons of training tips online, just google "dog training." Here is one website, but there are many many more:

http://www.freedogtraininginfo.com/

Answer 4

I have a rotweiller and she will bark her head off if we let her.. Since we live in a nice neighborhood we don't want to be those "neighbors" with the barking dog.. We resorted to the shock collar.. BEFORE anyone gives the thumbs down.. It doesn't hurt the dog.. I put it on and it "shocks" but it's more of a buzz.. To get the dogs attention.. It runs off a 9v battery so it's NOT like it's hooked up to a car battery or something like that.. It also has a delay so it doesn't repeatedly shock... She would bark and it would "shock" her soon she learned NOT to bark. The battery has been dead on the collar for months and she knows that when she is wearing the collar NOT to bark.. So, it worked for us.. She doesn't bark all the time and we still are liked by our neighbors....

Answer 5

That's better..

Why don't you either correct him each time he barks.. Don't give him attention for barking.. Or sign up for some classes, and learn how to train a dog. You can try the shock collar, but if he isn't bothering people, it's overkilll really.. Treat him for being quiet, ignore him for barking other than a ahhhhaaaa...

Smack the uncle.. that's fine.. It's a dog group, not an uncle group :)

Answer 6

You're doing a good thing by helping the dog - he might just be so used to being outside that he doesn't know what the toilet flushing is, for one. He'll stop barking when he gets used to it. Check out books from the library on training or follow ratical's advice - training classes will help!

Answer 7

Well,... for some it is an Electric collar... but for me.. and I have 6 GSD's which only bark with someone simply opens the front door and walks inside my house... good for them!!!

I have found that if I whisper to the barking dog it will be quiet and listen to what I am whispering about.

Once in a while I kennel sit for these friends that travel... when I go to the kennel they (13 dogs) will be barking... I will whisper and you will be surprised how quickly they quiet down... lol.... just an ol Indian trick...

H.O.T. Dog
Handler Owner Trainer of GSD's
Member U.S.A & A.W.D.F

Answer 8

Hi, I understand that you are looking for some advice or resources to help fully train your dog or fix behavior problems. If a professional dog trainer is not an option at this time, or if you want to trt training your dog on your own (a great way to bond), I'd suggest you https://tr.im/BIncI

A friend recommened it to me a few years ago, and I was amazed how quickly it worked, which is why I recommend it to others. The dog training academy also has as an excellent home training course.

Answer 9

i was watching a programme it was milatary camp for dogs and there was a show with a dog that constantly barked so they put water in a spray bottle every time he barked the owner walked over sprayed his nose and walked away without facing him !


spray water (dont touch the dog of show any affection )

say no or bad dog

walk away

dont face him keep your backed turned repeat this till he spos barking once hes stoped go over with a treat

it may take 2 or 3 times but its only 5 mins to do !

good luck

Answer 10

Raticals.com actually gave you advice on your other question.
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Why not spend the money on some training classes?

I understand your frustration but it's you uncle's fault, not the dog's. Take over...since you're with the dog all day, step in and get the dog trained.

Also, learn to train the dog NOT to bark.

When he barks, say, "NO!"
When he stops, give him a treat and lots of praise.

Continue doing that praise-reward. Slowly, you'll see that he's not barking when you command him to be quiet.

Turn the dog into an ally, or you'll just continue to fester.

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I don't have any advice but I hope this helps because I know what it's like to live with a dog that barks all of the time.

I just want to add that I think that since you are not good with training you might want to take his advice and look for training classes. I didn't think much of classes until I took my current dog. I learned a lot of things that I never imagined.