Barking at people

[casenh]

I have a huge problem. I have an old, grouchy woman that lives beside me. Lately if I'm outside with Tank (my 12 week old male puppy), he growles and barks at her. Usually I would just ask the woman to come over and meet my puppy so he could know there is nothing wrong with her. I know this lady would never think of coming and petting Tank. She let the nabourhood know that I had purchased a rottweiler puppy and she wasn't happy with it.
She sniker and stares at Tank when outside, it's very understandable why Tank doesn't like her, especially at his young age. I also have a 5 year old boy who is very scared of her too, she just gives off a bad vibe (sorry getting off of the subject).
She is out to cause trouble for me, because it is very knowen she doesn't like me. For example when I first got my lap dog and he would whine outside she threatened to call animal control. I told her to go ahead because I had all her shots and proof from the vets. How do I get Tank to stop growling at her. I know if Tank keeps it up she is going to try and cause trouble by calling animal control or something on me. I also have all of Tanks shots and vet visit doc but don't need the trouble of animal control already. I live in a small town and our dog catcher/animal control is know to be very hard on big dog (rotty, pitt bulls. and german sheperds). Please HELP befor trouble comes my way!!!

[rush123]

As long as you train your dog well, and dont let him leave the yard unattended and all that type stuff I wouldnt worry about it. If he barks at her when he sees her...oh well...just make sure that he doesnt bark for no reason all the time. Basically do everything you can to have a very obedient dog and you will have no worries about animal control messing with you.
As for the old hag next door.............hopefully she will be heading to the rainbow bridge soon......sorry that was uncalled for....but mean people suck.

[AngelBunny]

The short term answer: If she's outside, Tank is inside your house. When she leaves or goes into her house, Tank comes outside into your yard.

The long term answer: Start training your young dog so that he understands he is not to growl and bark at people who are in their own yard. His behavior is rude and inappropriate.

[casenh]

I know it's inappriopriate, just not sure how to stop it. We have people walking by our house all the time and he doesn't bark at them, just at her. I used to just take Tank outside without a leash and just stay directly beside him but I have started to leash him when we go outside during the day. Nowing that she is watching our every move. Does anyone know of any good training books, I have been researching kindergarden ob and the nearest class is any hr away from what I can find.

[debbiej]

books are good to read. but your pup needs the socialization and experience of class. you should be able to find reasonable classes through local shelters, clubs or other organizations.

[brunie's mom]

Originally Posted by casenh

I know it's inappriopriate, just not sure how to stop it. We have people walking by our house all the time and he doesn't bark at them, just at her. I used to just take Tank outside without a leash and just stay directly beside him but I have started to leash him when we go outside during the day. Nowing that she is watching our every move. Does anyone know of any good training books, I have been researching kindergarden ob and the nearest class is any hr away from what I can find.

Where are you located in Ontario? We have many forum member from Ontario here and I'm sure we can recommend a class close by.
Till then when you go outside with your pup, take a bag of treats (tiny slices of hot dog or string cheese, or cooked chicken) and start doing some obedience commands with your pup. Teach him the "leave it" command...and "watch me"...when he is ignoring the neighbour praise and treat.

If the pup is not focusing on the neighbour it will not be barking at her. Keep puppy busy...so it has not time to bark.

Gina

[Cdn1050]

Like another poster mentioned, when your neighbour is outside, keep Tank in the house. When she goes inside, then have Tank outside. Each and every time before letting Tank outside, do a quick check around your property to ensure that there is nothing thrown onto your property that could harm your dog. I live outside of the city, but in the next town (city) where I live, people have left their dogs outside to find they have been poisoned. Some people can be cruel like that. If you don't have a privacy fenced yard, I would invest in one, this way the neighbour can stand and stare at anything on your property, and you and your dogs do not have to look at her.

[casenh]

I live in a small town called Wingham. It's an hr away from any city and as far as i know there is no ob classes around here for puppies. There is a class down at the part but your dog has to be six months old. I do try to socilize with other freinds and freinds dogs.

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by casenh

I live in a small town....an hr away from any city and as far as i know there is no ob classes around here for puppies...

I sympathize. I drive 1-1/2 hours one way to class. Training from a book is better than no training at all, but you will have to bite the bullet and drive. There is no replacement for a person training you--watching, talking to you, showing you what you're doing wrong.

Have you searched the CKC's site for dog clubs close to you? Here in the states, dog clubs often hold obed classes--my kennel club periodically holds puppy K classes.

[poohbearsmom]

Originally Posted by casenh

I have a huge problem. I have an old, grouchy woman that lives beside me. Lately if I'm outside with Tank (my 12 week old male puppy), he growles and barks at her. Usually I would just ask the woman to come over and meet my puppy so he could know there is nothing wrong with her. I know this lady would never think of coming and petting Tank. She let the nabourhood know that I had purchased a rottweiler puppy and she wasn't happy with it.
She sniker and stares at Tank when outside, it's very understandable why Tank doesn't like her, especially at his young age. I also have a 5 year old boy who is very scared of her too, she just gives off a bad vibe (sorry getting off of the subject).
She is out to cause trouble for me, because it is very knowen she doesn't like me. For example when I first got my lap dog and he would whine outside she threatened to call animal control. I told her to go ahead because I had all her shots and proof from the vets. How do I get Tank to stop growling at her. I know if Tank keeps it up she is going to try and cause trouble by calling animal control or something on me. I also have all of Tanks shots and vet visit doc but don't need the trouble of animal control already. I live in a small town and our dog catcher/animal control is know to be very hard on big dog (rotty, pitt bulls. and german sheperds). Please HELP befor trouble comes my way!!!

Well, the first thing you need to do is not put your pup into the position of her giving him a case of the woolie bullies. He's likely responding to her hard stares and posturing as a threat, and so, his feelings will be reinforced over time if you do not redirect him and give him a happier, safer behavior to perform. (redirect, get his attention OFF her and onto you, then ask for a sit or down and reward him) Try using the other side of the yard to do his business so you can avoid confrontations with the woman. Take lots of tasty treats outside with you so you can easily redirect him and maintain his attention on you.

Document EVERY encounter with this woman. You may need this later.

Look for another place to live. Mean people suck.

[brunie's mom]

Originally Posted by casenh

I live in a small town called Wingham. It's an hr away from any city and as far as i know there is no ob classes around here for puppies. There is a class down at the part but your dog has to be six months old. I do try to socilize with other freinds and freinds dogs.

Try calling all of the vets in the area...they may know of a trainer having Puppy K classes, as well the petfood stores usually know of trainers as well as groomers. It's often someone that just lives in the area that is a trainer, and will hold a class if they get enough pups/dogs to make up a class.

You are not that far from Kitchener...for sure there are good trainers there.
I also live outside of a small town...so I know it's not always easy. You really have to make an effort to find a class nearby or drive.

Gina

[Zumie05]

Don't feel too bad about his behavior, I had the same problem with my puppy at this age that seemed to have lasted until 5.5 months. When I took him outside to go potty or to play, whenever ANYONE was outside he would be really paranoid about them and bark and grumble. I was so worried about this because having a rottweiler, you don't want them to end up being unfriendly to strangers!

I just was very persistent about teaching and enforcing the leave-it command. If there was something else going on outside of our yard, it was none of our business and the dog does not need to bark at them, even if he is just trying to tell me that someone or something is there (like an alert bark). I was very firm with my leave-it and quiet.

In addition to this, I didn't want my boy to become unsocial so I spent lots of time going to parks or to pet stores just to have him meet people. Eventually he learned that people walking by the yard or cars driving by etc. is nothing that he needs to bark at.

As of right now, if something is going on he will usually watch to see what is going on, but he doesn't show signs of being uncertain anymore. I think he finally caught on that there is nothing that he needs to worry about!

Good luck with your pup.

[casenh]

Thanks for the advice as for calling the vets I did ask mine and they weren't sure, I will call around to towns near by tommorow.
Brunies mom were are you located I didn't think anyone would aculley know were Wingham was.

[brunie's mom]

Try calling groomers as well as drop in at the petfood stores...and ask them. Most people that are involved in the dog industry...usually know where to find things. How many pet food stores does Wingham have?

We are located just outside of Collingwood...ski country.

Gina

[cocopuffs]

Classes are over-rated, if you work with your dog 30 minutes a day twice a day he will be well mannered, try lots of walks so he meets new people as well as your friends.

The only way he will ever stop barking at the grumpy old lady next door is if they meet. Bake the old lady some cookies or a peach cobbler and take it to her with your dog. Explain the situation while the two of you enjoy your cookies and encourage her to acknowledge your dog and try to pet it, who in the world doesn't think a puppy is worth petting. When she sees your dog outside she should say "hey tank" and that's it she can ignore him the rest of the time outside but she has to acknowledge him or it will never stop.

Kill the old lady with KINDNESS!!!

Here's a good peach cobbler recipe: 1 stick of butter,1 cup of flour, 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of milk, pinch of salt, pinch of baking powder and 32 oz of peaches with a little cinnamon. Mix cubed butter with flour until it looks like crumbs add sugar,salt, and baking powder, then the milk and to greased baking dish and pour peaches over top. bake 350 for 50 minutes. let rest an hour.