Barking, growling dog at company

[plantsower]

I adopted Spanky, my male doxie, at 6 months old. He is very affectionate (with me). I asked the owner if he was good with cats and she said she didn't know as he hadn't been around them. Well, I found out that he hates cats just because they exist. He barked at my neighbor's cat who was minding his own business in his own yard.

Anyway, I've also discovered he barks and growls at anyone who comes over. Everyone who has been here so far is a big animal lover so it's not like he's sensing an evil person. I asked his previous owner how he acted with company, and she said he was always good with company and that they had a lot of it. I don't know if he is being protective or is scared, but it's distressing.

I bought a training collar to use but can't make heads nor tails on how to use it. I've watched videos and read the instructions but it's not computing. I've asked a neighbor to help me with it and hopefully that will happen. Thank goodness training collars are not just shock collars, You can use a beep or vibration instead. And if that doesn't work the shock goes from 1-99. Glad to have option and would never go way up to 99.

I am hoping there is a cure for this. He knows what "no" means but doesn't always respond with company.

 

[Cashs Mom]

I've never used a training collar. I prefer to use positive methods. If you can get him to see visitors as a positive thing, that would help a lot. I had one dog that I had a good result by having a lot of treats on hand. When the door opened, I'd say his name and then feed him a bunch of treats before he started barking. It takes a bit of work to get the timing, but worked well for me. I worked at it a lot and even got one dog who was a biter to a point that he would let people walk right up to him.

 

[plantsower]

Thanks for your advice. The training collar is working on vibrate. He barks a lot less now even when it's not on him. But I will consider your advice. He is a strange little guy. If I walk by him when he is eating he runs away. If I call him and approach him he runs away even with a treat. Otherwise he is very affectionate but on his terms.

I've tried the treat thing but he is not interested when he is on high alert. We will see what happens. I have to drop a treat in front of him because he is suspicious when I hand him one. So weird.

 

[Cashs Mom]

That's where the timing comes in. You have to get the treats (high value treats like meat or cheese) to him before he gets on high alert. Some dogs are very suspicious and it takes a lot of work to overcome that. Patricia McConnell has a little book called The Cautious Canine that I have found very helpful. It sounds like your little guy is fearful and her methods are very positive and gentle. They have helped some dogs I have had including one that was a fear biter. They might help yours. My biggest fear with a training collar on an already reactive dog is that it will make him more reactive, but I don't have any first hand experience with a training collar so I don't know. Good luck and update on your (and his) progress.

 

[plantsower]

Hi again: Glad you mentioned meat and cheese. That would be easy for me. Especially the cheese as he loves it. I will cut up some cheese and bag it for this. On the other hand, I have had success with the collar. I doubt I would ever use the shock option of the collar. I think the only time I would do that is if I had a big, vicious dog which I would never have. Vibration works for him. But, I would rather use the treats if I can get them to work. Thanks for the extra info.

 

[Cashs Mom]

You're very welcome