Woof! Bark! And also Whiiiiiiiiiine.

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halfpint Nov 2019 9:36pm, 2 Nov 2019 29,143 posts	0 halfpint No fireworks here. The weather is wet, windy and wild. It’s a blessing. Ernie is crashed out on my bed.
Helegant Nov 2019 9:54pm, 2 Nov 2019 6,559 posts	0 Helegant Jet dislikes fireworks and climbs onto me for protection. When the bangs are really loud he stuffs his head under my armpit. All is over now and he's back to his usual space, fast asleep on Mr's lap. I think he was a little less fazed this year than usual, but that's probably because our neighbours didn't have their super loud bangers just feet from our windows.
Dvorak Nov 2019 10:40am, 3 Nov 2019 18,200 posts	0 Dvorak This could go here or the parkrun thread - I've discovered a blog by a Scottish parkrun labradoodle. It was actually the picture of the dog in her parkrun bandana I thought people might particularly like letsgetready4crumble.files.wordpress.com but hey, you might enjoy the whole thing . Latest post from one of my regular running places, the beautiful (and here, wet and muddy) University of Stirling letsgetready4crumble.com Dog bandanas £13 en-gb.facebook.com
Mazlin Nov 2019 11:29am, 3 Nov 2019 7,434 posts	0 Mazlin Rory and I are not getting on this morning. We went for a walk where, as usual because he has to stay attached to me so he doesn’t just bugger off, he yanked me around all over the place. It’s really uncomfortable. We got back and he barked so loudly at a passing dog it made me jump and spill coffee all over myself. Complete change of clothes including underwear. Ten minutes later I went upstairs and he’d pulled all the bedding off the bed and was tearing strips off the duvet and duvet cover. I don’t know what to do with him. Every time I feel like I’ve got on top of one thing, something else pops up. Barking at passing dogs is new (barking at cats/ birds etc is not new. Obvs he’s still doing that as well...) Destroying the duvet is new. Also whoever said that dogs can sense when you’re upset was lying, because mine doesn’t care.
D2 Nov 2019 1:15pm, 3 Nov 2019 11,403 posts	0 D2 Oh dear Maz, I feel your pain. In my very humble opinion it sounds as if at present he feels he is in charge which is not helpful for any of you. I would start with the walk, I've had similar issues with dogs and this head collar solves it completely; dogmatic.org.uk I'm not a believer in the view that the owner has to be the dominant force but I think the dog needs to feel confident that you know what you are doing and then they display less of those stressed behaviours. Worth a try IMHO. ((Maz))
BaronessBL Nov 2019 2:17pm, 3 Nov 2019 7,855 posts	0 BaronessBL I think D2 is absolutely right. Is not letting him in the bedroom an option? I realise that if he always has been allowed in the bedroom this is easier said than done. As I'm sure you know dogs only understand 'you are allowed to do that' or 'you are not allowed to do that' they don't get 'well you can do this just this once' or 'it's fine for you to sit on the sofa but only in the afternoon' (which is what someone I know claimed her dog - which was constantly on the sofa at all hours of the day or night - understood because it was so intelligent!). It is easy enough to say I know, and I appreciate I don't know or have to live with Rory but keeping the rules as black and white as possible for dogs and rewarding 'desired' behaviour does work eventually.... but as Wanda has proved to us.... it doesn't happen overnight (and sometimes not in six years..... I don't mean to worry you...!)
Mazlin Nov 2019 2:52pm, 3 Nov 2019 7,435 posts	0 Mazlin She sounds a bit like my next door neighbours. ‘We know dogs bark. We don’t mind him barking. But not after 8pm.’ (Well feel free to come round and teach him how to tell the time then...’) Thank you. I don’t have much time to reply right now, but part of the problem is that when he arrived, he had no concept of ‘reward’ or reward structure. Basically he didn’t want what I was offering thanks, he could find much better things to do himself. We've had to introduce it and building value in treats or toys or whatever is painfully slllooow. He’s so goddamn clever, I need to be 5 steps ahead all the time and it’s exhausting.
halfpint Nov 2019 2:54pm, 3 Nov 2019 29,144 posts	0 halfpint We tried this approach after the fog behaviourist recommended it. Basically the dog has to earn anything positive. So for example, you don’t clip the lead until they sit, or open the door, or release them off lead etc etc. We also did no dog on sofa/bed, which he picked up quickly. Then by invite only. sfspca.org It worked really well to build his confidence and has reduced the aggressive behaviour we had a while back. We have slipped lately but trying to put it in force again.
D2 Nov 2019 4:14pm, 3 Nov 2019 11,404 posts	0 D2 I think I'm right that he is a spaniel.. I hope I have remembered correctly? If so Helegant may have some breed appropriate ideas
Chrisull Nov 2019 4:20pm, 3 Nov 2019 15,457 posts	0 Chrisull Maz - more sympathy from here, Dougal is the draggiest dog in the world, and we just can't seem to stop him yanking us around, when he gets slightly spooked (which is most of the time, lorries, buses, fireworks, cats that don't run away, hedgehogs) Talking of shredding, and spaniels (Dougal is 1/4 springer), Dougal last week out of the blue decided to shred our lovely kitchen full length french window curtains, curling them up and attempting to hump them!!! This was a new first from him. He was in the dog house for the rest of the week. He's currently curled up on my lap as I type this, which might sound cute, but after a marathon, 20kg of dog isn't quite what the doctor ordered...