https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 21 May 2026 06:23:29 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-crazy-effing-dogs#post-1785481 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 14:54:03 +0000 LC 1785481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Vegmama: Just to comment about the citronella spray collar... We used it with our crazy barker for a while - and it worked for a while. But one day I forgot to refill it and she realized that if she just kept barking eventually the spray would run out, so we stopped using it. (That and the smell made me nauseous when I was pregnant.) </p> <p>We ended up going the trainer route, which helped. But everyone else who said consitency afterwards is most important. Our LO learned to sleep through the barking - it's just a normal noise for her now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-crazy-effing-dogs#post-1785461 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 14:45:06 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 1785461@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My dog is exactly the same. Every single person that walks by our house gets barked at. The mailman is 1000x worse. I guess I could get a street mailbox, that would help...</p> <p>Luckily the dog had only woken LO up from naps a handful of times, but we have to be on too of her or keep her leashed while he sleeps. Spray bottles of water help wen we are 100% consistent, but it's really hard to be. I keep planning to hire a trainer. She did basic obedience, but she definitely needs some more advanced training! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-crazy-effing-dogs#post-1785426 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 14:28:36 +0000 Emsmems 1785426@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a trainer come to our house for our dog who has separation anxiety and other small issues. We only did one visit, she gave us the tools, then we just had to practice and be consistent. So I would definitely recommend looking one up!</p> <p>Like pp have said, I would work on desensitizing with you guys first, then have some friends come and do the same. When you come in, do "no touch, no talk, no eye contact" until "all four are on the floor" (preferably sitting) and they are quiet. You have to do this every time, no getting excited to see them when you come home, no matter what door you come in (or when you let them out of their crates or whatever). That was the hardest part for me!</p> <p>They learn they have to be calm before they get attention. When they are good with that with you, then have friends come over and do the same thing (much harder!). It takes awhile, but when they learn to not get excited when someone comes in, chances are they won't get SO worked up when they see people coming. My dog still gets excited, but it's controllable!</p> <p>Good luck! It's so hard when your dogs are your babies and then you have a baby! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-crazy-effing-dogs#post-1785398 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 14:14:22 +0000 Cole 1785398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have any great suggestions but we have looked into in-home training and I can share the prices. One trainer is $100 for the first consultation and $90 for additional training hours she is also fabulously helpful over the phone and gave us some ideas to consider. Both behaviorists I spoke with charge $250 for the first visit and $90 for additional training hours. We also used a trainer who would actually take our dog for the day, do a long walk and an hour of training broken up through the day for $60/day, I think he charged $60/ hour for training in home.</p> <p>We are in the Midwest so prices are probably lower than the coasts. Try calling a few people, I was really pleased with how helpful some people were and how open they were with how much they could help. Others were... frustrating and not the right fit.</p> <p>We do have a shock collar, my dog is super eager to please and a little sensitive but we have never had to shock him even once. Ours has a vibrating feature and we taught him to come sit by our side when it vibrates and it seems like that different mode of sensory input helps him when he is a bit off the walls. We bought it for hiking when he is off leash but it has proven helpful for other times too. The vibration feels exactly like a cell phone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-crazy-effing-dogs#post-1785390 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 14:12:08 +0000 Happygal 1785390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Vegmama: I feel your pain! My dog believes she has protected our den from enemy #1, the mailman, every single day and is very proud of her job. It's rewarding for dogs--they bark, the person leaves, mission accomplished--the pack is saved once again! We've moved to a new place where the mailman doesn't come to our door, and I've been working on people knocking on the door.</p> <p>A good dog trainer is worth their weight in gold. They'll give you a plan, help you practice, and can be very reassuring. I would think one session would be enough to get you going.</p> <p>If you want to try something out on your own first, here's a video about desensitizing for the door knock: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpzvqN9JNUA" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpzvqN9JNUA</a><br /> The same principles would apply for even seeing someone outside the window. </p> <p>The good news is that I think it's something that can be trained to get better. Changing a habit like that takes time and consistency, and that's the tough part. You can do it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-crazy-effing-dogs#post-1785374 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 14:07:05 +0000 Vegmama 1785374@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamaof2: That's a really good idea. Maybe even warning friends who are visiting ahead of time that we'll be doing training, so they'll have to stand outside for a minute? Our dogs do love treats, so maybe it'll help! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-crazy-effing-dogs#post-1785358 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 13:58:05 +0000 Mamaof2 1785358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hired a trainer several years ago - cant remember what we paid.</p> <p>She hated bikes with a passion and so walking her was a huge pain!</p> <p>We had some friends get on their bikes and ride past her over and over while the trainer and I stood and walked with her. She was rewarded for good behavior.</p> <p>You could do something similar - when baby is awake have someone come to the door and ring it - as soon as they bark tell them "no bark" and when they stop reward them with a treat. It wont happen instantly but maybe if you keep at it it will help?</p> <p>It did help with my dog and bikes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-crazy-effing-dogs#post-1785349 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 13:56:05 +0000 Vegmama 1785349@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Amurray: Ha! How did I know you'd find your way on here?!? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-crazy-effing-dogs#post-1785344 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 13:55:08 +0000 youboots 1785344@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@vegmama Hello best friend! I love you and your crazy dogs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-crazy-effing-dogs#post-1785342 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 13:54:29 +0000 Vegmama 1785342@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, even with warning, our dogs go crazy. We don't have a doorbell. We live in a craftsman with a big porch. As soon as anything steps foot on the porch, they are on alert. </p> <p>It's just so frustrating. They are wonderfully sweet dogs, they just go insane when people come over. </p> <p>Honestly, there's a lot of guilt on my end, too, because I know they've been quite neglected emotionally since our baby arrived. I hoped things wouldn't change, but I find myself getting annoyed with them more easily, and not making enough time to talk with them, pet them, walk them, and play. We do interact a lot, but not as much as we used to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-crazy-effing-dogs#post-1785339 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 13:53:00 +0000 spaniellove 1785339@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My dog goes ballistic. We have sidelights which makes the problem worse. I tried covering them up with window film to at least make the view opaque, which helped a little, but she can still make out forms. Part of our problem was that the dog was then going up the stairs to look out the 2nd floor foyer window! So I ended up putting a gate in the entry and confining her to the first floor, then conditioning her to stay in the part of the house where she can't see the sidelights. Then I put up a sign asking people not to knock/ring the doorbell, then we disconnected the doorbell. It's been a long process. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-crazy-effing-dogs#post-1785338 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 13:52:32 +0000 Foodnerd81 1785338@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents had an in home trainer for their dog-- who was worse than yours, it sounds like-- and I don't know about the cost, but I know it's really important to continue training and stick to the rules that the trainer sets for the dogs. In my parents' case, my mom did, dad did not, and shocker, the dog is still poorly behaved. </p> <p>I am lucky that C is used to our dog barking enough that it usually won't wake her up if she is sound asleep, but it definitely does if she is in the very early stages of sleep. I agree with @mae: about texting people ahead of time to just come in and not knock. We live in a condo building so people have to get through the outside door before they can get to our door, so that helps. Good luck. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-crazy-effing-dogs#post-1785318 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 13:47:34 +0000 regberadaisy 1785318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh, I hear you. My dog knows when someone drops something off regardless of doorbell. She freaks the F out. And in the NB days when it would take me almost an hour to get her down for a nap to only have the dog bark and wake her up? </p> <p>I have taken to putting her in our room when LO naps. Sound machine is my my friend. Over time LO has gotten used to the noise but sudden Freak out barking can still wake her up! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-crazy-effing-dogs#post-1785313 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 13:45:55 +0000 MrsBrewer 1785313@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following!!! We have 2 dogs too, (large dogs at that, one is 90 lbs, and the other is 50) and you described them to a T! They bark at anything and everything outside!! </p> <p>I have the same expectations about private in home trainers. We have looked into it a little bit and everything I have seen shows it's upwards of $60/hour, and normally that's only for 1 dog at a time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-crazy-effing-dogs#post-1785308 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 13:43:22 +0000 Mae 1785308@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I disconnected our doorbell to avoid needless freaking out every time we get a package or a door to door salesman comes to the door (most people will ring the doorbell, not realize it doesn't work, and leave without us every knowing. win). And whenever we have a friend or family member come over I text them ahead of time to just come in and not knock-- bc again my dog will bark far less (still some, but not full apeshit) if someone new just walks in rather than knocking. I even have pizza delivery people call my cell when they arrive rather than knock on my door. </p> <p>Probably not the BEST way to cope since I'm just avoiding the problem rather than fixing it.. but that's about as much energy as I'mwilling to put into it right now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-crazy-effing-dogs#post-1785301 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 13:39:46 +0000 Vegmama 1785301@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have two large dogs (7 years and 5 years) who have been causing me so much stress. </p> <p>They've never been awesome with visitors (crying, jumping, not listening), but after 5 minutes, they're totally fine. </p> <p>They bark at the mail man EVERY DAY, even though, ya know, he comes every day. </p> <p>If someone walks up to the house (very common, lots of friendly neighbors), they go ape shit. with a new baby, it's awful. They wake her up at least once a day. </p> <p>They are crate trained, but by the time I realize someone is walking up, it's usually too late. They are barking, scratching the hardwood floors, running around, and totally out of control. </p> <p>I understand they are protective (especially since our daughter arrived), but this crazy stuff has to stop.</p> <p>Soooo, onto my question. We've thought about a trainer, and we're still open to it, but I fear that home visits are expensive. I feel like we'd need at home training, since the majority of the issues are near the front door (and while on walks). Am I making this up though? Are trainers not that expensive?</p> <p>Next, what about a bark collar with citronella? Anyone ever use these? I guess I'm not totally against a shock collar, but it seems cruel (and if one dog barks, won't they both get shocked?) ... I'm a vegan, and believe in compassion towards animals, which is why I like to stay away from negative reinforcement.</p> <p>Basically, I am sure I'm not the first person to have dogs that are insane ... Part of it is our fault, I'm sure. I don't have time to train them myself (or maybe it's easier than I think??) ... Any tips would be awesome. </p>