Barking at Thunder and Fireworks...

[amyk]

Eloise has been barking like this for the past year or so, but I forget how bad it is in the winter when there are no fireworks and rarely thunder. Unfortunately I live not far from an amusement park that sets off fireworks every night (unless there is a thunderstorm...ugh). So I do have a lot of opportunities to train her to not bark, but so far non of my tactics have worked.

I had heard at one point that if you teach a dog to speak you can teach them no speak. Well Eloise knows how to speak wonderfully, no speak, not so much. I have tried sitting with treats and as she sits quietly I'll give her a treat. But it's not that effective. Putting her on a leash and correcting her, doesn't really work either. Lately she's starting to bark at the lightening too in anticipation of the thunder.

Does anyone have any suggestions for this? I don't mind if she barks once, but it's like constant barking and then when the noise happens, it's barking until she's hoarse and running from window to window in the house.

 

[NessaM]

Well, corrections during barking haven't worked, and distractions haven't worked, and I'm sure you've tried the old "turn on white noise to cover thunder" tv/radio trick...what about a Mr. Lemon solution? Didn't someone on here use a Lemon juice bottle squirt in the mouth whenever the dog barked at them to get up out of bed? Maybe saying "no bark" and then the instant she barks afterwards squirting her in the mouth with lemon juice? Then if she is quiet for a little bit praising her and cookie-ing her and maybe giving her very gentle massage therapy to calm her down - rinse and repeat as needed? It sounds like a fear response - she's trying to threaten the thunder because she is afraid of it.

Pooka has barked at the thunder a few times. I've nipped it in the bud by holding his snout and saying no bark, then releasing him. He would stare at me in astonishment that I had grabbed his muzzie and I would praise him for not barking, and give him a cookie. Eventually he got the hint. I also took him and Nanook out during some of the big thunderstorms we've had and played with them both outside - it helps that Nanook doesn't feel thunder is anything to bother about because Pooka took his cue from the two of us romping about and eventually stopped worrying about it too. I think for Eloise though she's already set in her behavior pattern and you won't be able to distract her from it with just a game. I know she's a food hog, (sorry Eloise), will she pay attention to steak or fried liver during really stressful moments?

 

[Sue M.]

That's a tough one. I do have a citronella collar you can try if you want. Each time she starts to bark you would give it a squirt. There is also a separate beep button. A beep goes off just prior to the squirt. Eventually, just the beeping sound should alert her that the citronella is next and she should stop.

You'd have to trim her hair around the device though. It gets in the way of the spray. If you want to try it, I can bring it one of these next few weekends.

 

[amyk]

I hadn't tried the lemon juice thing, maybe I'll try that. Ana has squirted her from her normal water bottle to try to startle her to stop. lol Doesn't work at all. I don't really want to try the citronella yet, because I don't really want her to stop barking entirely, just the non stop barking at the storms.

I have tried the white noise which helps a little except for the really loud claps of thunder. And I've definitely tried the holding her mouth closed and telling her quiet, quiet, quiet, quiet, no bark, stop barking, shhh, eloise you're driving me crazy!!! lol

The strange thing is that if she's outside, she's less likely to bark from it. She might bark at a loud clap, but it's like the yard distracts her more than inside. Or maybe she just anticipates there being more noise outside. I don't know.

 

[NessaM]

ha ha, Nanook would bark MORE to get squirted with a water bottle! He loves that, you should see him in our sprinkler!

 

[SheilaT]

I used Mr. Lemon, or Mr. Lime, when Angus was a wee pup when he would bark for attention. It was quite effective! It was a suggestion from here on NN and boy, it still works! All I have to do is SAY Mr. Lemon and he shuts up and starts looking for it!

 

[amyk]

lol, I'll definitely try that then. I do know that if I'm cutting limes Eloise always wants to try it, when she does she doesn't seem very offended by the taste. Hopefully lemons will work better.

 

[amyk]

Vanessa, I think the lemon may work!! It's was definitely better today with lemon squirts than it has been! Hopefully if I'm diligent about it, and she will stop eventually!

 

[NessaM]

Whoo! I can't take any credit though because it was someone else on here who talked about it first!

 

[sarnewfie]

During a thunderstorm you can pretend to have a partay!
have fun and make it a party, throw a favorite toy, have treats, make it a training session where you can try to capture attention, use your VOICE and praise
also i would have other background noise, maybe a radio on for music to cover for the thunder noise.