8 year old Lab barks constantly in small apartment building - desperate

[Anonymous]

Many years ago, my husband lived in the basement apartment a rowhouse attached to another roadhouse with another basement apartment. Same exact situation, he had a lab who loved people and would bark to be with them whenever he could hear them. He tried the anti-bark shock collar and it worked in a matter of days.

[Anonymous]

Get a good trainer. A trainer that says it's the "dog's nature" is not a good trainer. Find a certified trainer. I have a dog with separation anxiety that barks when alone and tried zylkene, rescue remedy, citronella and ultrasonic bark collars, lavender oil, distraction/puzzle toys, thundershirt, and a whole host of other remedies. I worked with a veterinary behaviorist and after 2 years we have a med regimen and routine that works and the barking has stopped. It's a tough problem to solve, but you can do it with some good professional help and putting in the time. Your dog is worth it. Don't assume that your dog will have a better fate in another home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At the moment it's not remotely possible, and please believe I have discussed this with all impacted parties. I need solutions that don't require an imminent move.

Why won't you consider meds? My dog is on Prozac for anxiety and uts made a big difference. The dog sounds miserable--please help it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At the moment it's not remotely possible, and please believe I have discussed this with all impacted parties. I need solutions that don't require an imminent move.

But it really isn't fair to expect your dog's personality to change. You can put a shock collar on him, but that will stress him out more and you'll have other problems. You don't seem to have the time or inclination to excercise him more than you currently are. I guess all you are left with are pharmaceutical solutions.
Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Try a citronella collar. It worked wonders on our barker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Prozac. And if necessary Xanax. We did this with our older beagle who had similar barking issues. It worked wonders.

Please don't continue like this.

+1. My friend put her anxious dog on meds and it helped tremendously.

[Anonymous]

Beagle owner who suggested Prozac/Xanax.

We exercised our dog with 3-4 long walks a day, which he loved. He was a rescue, an older gentleman with a lot of anxiety issues. He had been conditioned through circumstances to do a lot of barking. The meds really helped him a lot. Please don't hesitate. Dogs suffer when they are this anxious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Prozac. And if necessary Xanax. We did this with our older beagle who had similar barking issues. It worked wonders.

Please don't continue like this.

+ million.
I would not recommend crating him, it almost certainly will worsen the problem.
I feel for you, my next door neighbors throw there barking dog in the back yard for hours, and he barks non stop.
It's AWFUL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Beagle owner who suggested Prozac/Xanax.

We exercised our dog with 3-4 long walks a day, which he loved. He was a rescue, an older gentleman with a lot of anxiety issues. He had been conditioned through circumstances to do a lot of barking. The meds really helped him a lot. Please don't hesitate. Dogs suffer when they are this anxious.

+1

PLEASE go to the vet and ask about meds. Your dog is barking for a reason, and meds can make a huge difference for him and you.

Also, instead of a shock collar, you can try a painless citronella collar. It sprays something that smells/tastes bad to the dog to discourage barking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Beagle owner who suggested Prozac/Xanax.

We exercised our dog with 3-4 long walks a day, which he loved. He was a rescue, an older gentleman with a lot of anxiety issues. He had been conditioned through circumstances to do a lot of barking. The meds really helped him a lot. Please don't hesitate. Dogs suffer when they are this anxious.

+1

PLEASE go to the vet and ask about meds. Your dog is barking for a reason, and meds can make a huge difference for him and you.

Also, instead of a shock collar, you can try a painless citronella collar. It sprays something that smells/tastes bad to the dog to discourage barking.

I had a dog like that. She was a new dog on Prozac and no more barking. She was barking non stop when we left the house and we had no idea. We finally found out when a neighbor was SO angry, screamed at us about our dog. We had NO idea she acted up. Once we were informed (ahem), we took her to the doc and got her on meds. She was a new, and happier dog.

(Our neighbor ended up apologizing for her outburst, we ended up thanking her for letting us know!)

[Anonymous]

We have a lab who is a barker with no mental healthy issues, he just is. Not to the same extent as your dog. One thing I have found that works is to shove a toy in his mouth......seriously. I get up for work early and leave at 5.30. I let the dogs out before i go, he would bark running down the stairs and wake up DD. Now I give him a toy and he happily carries it downstairs and doesnt bark.
If I know someone is coming to the door I do the same thing. I keep the toy handy and as soon as he starts barking I give him a toy which he greets our guests with.
Might be worth a try.