Barking -- how much is too much?

[k&s]

My two rotties are in a large indoor (basement) - outdoor pen during the day. I have been curious as to how much barking they do while I am at work, so I bought a voice-activated tape recorder. On average, they do about 10 minutes of barking in a 10-hour period. From what I can tell, these appear to be many separate incidents of a couple of brief barks (not 5-10 minutes of constant barking at any one time). My nearest neighbor said he does not mind the barking, as it serves to keep troublemakers away (appparently there have been some daytime break-ins in the area). However, I have thought of getting a barker-breaker (the sound-type) to keep it down to a minimum.

I have two questions -- first, does this seem like alot of barking? Second, if I did get a barker-breaker, would they still bark if there was a troubling situation (i.e. would they stop barking at the deer they see every day and save the barking for potential robbers, or would it ruin their 'watchdog' function?)

Just some additional info -- whenever we are home, they're in the house with us. This means the bulk of the barking occurs during the week and not on weekends.

[angel girl]

If they are barking at something specific then you could try to remove that trigger. Like putting up visual blocks to areas that they can see out of the yard at people.

A couple barks here and there wouldn't bother me unless I was trying to sleep. You might try asking your neighbors if they work night shifts and sleep during the day and if the barking is bothering them. If it doesn't, well, as the saying goes: If it ain't broke don't fix it.

I'm assuming by the type of "bark-breaker" you mean the one that emits a sonic pitch when it is triggered. It would probably not work unless you are there. That sound that the collar makes is used as a distraction so that you can step in and redirect the dogs action away from the barking trigger.

Let me tell you, I had one of those. It was a waste of money. We tried it. Lucky is sound insensitive so she didn't even notice it and went on barking. Not only that, but anytime a door closed or the TV made a sound the collar would go off. Even after we took it off and put it in the junk drawer in the kitchen it still kept going off. Finally took the battery out. Lucky kept on barking, but at least it wasn't bothering any of the neighbors, just us. So we lived with it. She's quieted down with age, and doesn't sound off as much anymore, and never once she's gone to sleep for the night.

[Nico'sMom]

Ten minutes in ten hours (did i read that right??) doesn't seem like alot of barking to me at all. Dogs outside are expected to make at least a little noise and that doesn't seem very excessive, to me anyway. Especially if your neighbor doesn't mind, let your two protect the house a little. At least you have been kind enough to ask the neighbors, very polite. They may be barking at something that needs barked at sometimes.

[Black Tie Mom]

Originally Posted by k&s

On average, they do about 10 minutes of barking in a 10-hour period. From what I can tell, these appear to be many separate incidents of a couple of brief barks (not 5-10 minutes of constant barking at any one time). My nearest neighbor said he does not mind the barking, as it serves to keep troublemakers away (appparently there have been some daytime break-ins in the area). However, I have thought of getting a barker-breaker (the sound-type) to keep it down to a minimum.

IMO 10 minutes of barking in a 10 hour stretch is not excessive. If there is something specific that they are barking at, then that is acceptable. I don't allow my dogs to bark just for the sake of barking. If your dogs bark once in awhile then they are making their presence known and I would think that this would help deter any problems with day time break-ins. Dogs will be dogs!!

[tilerspop]

10 minutes in 10 hours is definitely not excessive unless you have a complaining neighbor. I would imagine mine crew does more like 1 hour out of ten, unless there are sirens then its a whole lot more.

I've polled the neighbors and they all don't mind, in fact the closest ones like it because they keep away the riff raff and alert the neighborhood to somebody being around

[LORHEL]

From what I know (and I'm not an expert) rotties usually bark for a reason. At least mine have. I consider that a blessing, because I have learned what the different pitch/tones mean.

I don't think rottweilers are the types of dogs like some other breeds who will bark non-stop or become a nuisance for no reason. (Unless they would be left outside, alone alot (I'm not talking about you and this is not where they should be anyway) or in some kind of physical pain.

Your dogs sound just fine, as far as that barking goes. I'd worry if they never barked.

[Judi W]

Well, I generally think it is not the number of minutes, but rather if they are annoying someone. If it is becoming an irritation to a neighbor, then it should be decreased. 10 minutes while someone is trying to sleep is different from 10 minutes when everyone is up and about. Also, I would suggest that you tape for more than a single day.

Is the reason you decided to do this because you have heard a complaint?

[k&s]

What really motivated me to do the taping is that I have been annoyed by a generator that my nearest neighbor had been operating almost constantly (to power a pool fillter), and I was going to speak with him about it, but wanted to first be sure that any barking my dogs were doing was not likely to be problematic for him. Turns out I did speak with him and he agreed to not run the generator during the day on weekends.

He did mention that they hear the dogs barking, but when I said I'd take care if it and keep them entirely inside during the day if it is a problem, he indicated that it's not a problem. All was left on good terms and I asked that they let me know if the barking ever does become any anoyance at all. They seemed more concerned about the other neighbors roosters, and they did mention that the dogs might have a deterrent effect for his house as well as mine.

As for what the dogs bark at, the outdoor part of the pen looks out to the woods, and they bark at deer they see, hear, or smell in the woods. They also do one or two bouts of howling at sirens per day, but the neighbor seemed to think that was kind of humerous because all the area dogs join in.

I have been thinking of expanding the indoor part of the pen, anyway, which might prompt them to spend more time inside (where I have a radio on for them). This might keep them from spending time outside scanning the woods looking for deer to bark at. Might also plant some shrubs against the part of the pen that faces the woods.

[Judi W]

Sounds like reasonableness all around. Good job to both you and your neighbor.

[Nico'sMom]

Its nice to hear that someone gets along with their neighbors, I havent been hearing much of that lately.

[Judi W]

Well, I think we are hearing when they are not getting along, in which case you could pretty well assume that the rest are doing just fine.