puppy barking, only outside

[renee_chan]

Hi everyone! I need some help with my 5 month old male AB, Zeus. He's a very good, smart pup with one exception. When he's outside alone he barks non stop. He never barks or whines inside, and if someone is outside wih him he won't bark. Also, he'll fling himself at the door and scratch it up. I know he wants attention and wants to be let back in, but I try to keep him out until he's quiet (I don't want to reward the barking) but he never gets quiet. This will go on for hours (8 or more, nonstop!). He's driving me bonkers and destroying the doors of my (new!) house. And I'm afraid he's going to hurt himself. What can I do? If I go out to try to correct him, he immediately stops barking. I don't want him to learn that non stop barking will be rewarded by me going out, or him getting inside. I try to ignore it, but he's got a very loud bark... I'm at my wit's end here. How can I teach him when my presence is a reward for his bad behavior? On a different forum, people suggested shock collars which I will never use! I think if you want to use a shock collar you ought to strap one on and give a yell to see what it feels like yourself.

One other thing, he's super clingy with me. He follows me everywhere and stays glued to my leg when we go walking, follows me all over the house, and sleeps on my feet. I thought this was just him being unsure of his surroundings when we first got him, but it's continued. I do not want an AB with a confidence problem, scared, anxious dogs bite! Is this normal puppy behavior? Or does he have anxiety or low self confidence? Is this related to the barking while alone? He seems happy and good natured and never meets a stranger, he loves going out and meeting people and other dogs. He does not act shy, but he sticks to me like white on rice. Any thoughts on this behavior?

[renee_chan]

AB stands for American Bulldog... Everyone tells me you have to dominate and make these dogs fear you because it's the only way to work with this breed. What a load of hooey!

[Mattie]

Hi everyone! I need some help with my 5 month old male AB, Zeus. He's a very good, smart pup with one exception. When he's outside alone he barks non stop. He never barks or whines inside, and if someone is outside wih him he won't bark.

Of course he barks when he is outside on his own, he is a baby and babies don't like being on their own. You need to teach him what you want, he doesn't automatically know it. He is a dog and a different species to us and needs to be taught what you want him to do.

Also, he'll fling himself at the door and scratch it up. I know he wants attention and wants to be let back in, but I try to keep him out until he's quiet (I don't want to reward the barking) but he never gets quiet. This will go on for hours (8 or more, nonstop!). He's driving me bonkers and destroying the doors of my (new!) house. And I'm afraid he's going to hurt himself. What can I do?

Let him in, how would you like to be isolated for a long time every day, I would fling myself and scratch the door as well. He is a baby, he needs teaching, putting him out and closing the door isn't teaching him. He is in solitary confinement out there.

If I go out to try to correct him, he immediately stops barking. I don't want him to learn that non stop barking will be rewarded by me going out, or him getting inside. I try to ignore it, but he's got a very loud bark... I'm at my wit's end here.

Try giving him something to do when he is outside, like a stuffed Kong or buster cube. How is he to know you wan't him to stop barking when you correct him?

How can I teach him when my presence is a reward for his bad behavior?

To him his behaviour isn't bad, he is doing the only thing he knows to tell you he is very unhappy. You need to build this up gradually, give him something to do when you go outside, do some training and when he has done as you ask let him in because he has behaved himself. Give him good experiences and he will gradually stop barking.

On a different forum, people suggested shock collars which I will never use! I think if you want to use a shock collar you ought to strap one on and give a yell to see what it feels like yourself.

Well done for taking no notice, all one of those will do is make your dog too frightened to tell you he is frightened, if you can understand that. At the moment he is communicating with you which is what you want.

One other thing, he's super clingy with me. He follows me everywhere and stays glued to my leg when we go walking, follows me all over the house, and sleeps on my feet. I thought this was just him being unsure of his surroundings when we first got him, but it's continued. I do not want an AB with a confidence problem, scared, anxious dogs bite! Is this normal puppy behavior? Or does he have anxiety or low self confidence? Is this related to the barking while alone? He seems happy and good natured and never meets a stranger, he loves going out and meeting people and other dogs. He does not act shy, but he sticks to me like white on rice. Any thoughts on this behavior?

As he is still a baby, only put him out for short periods with something to do like a Kong or Buster cube, you can do some training when he is outside, make being outside really nice for him. The shutting him out for hours at a time could be why is is so clingy to you. You need to build his confidence up gradually by making everything really nice.

He is really to young to be outside on his own for any length of time, that will come when he is older and more confident. Puppies need to learn how to be confident and it is up to us to teach them.

You will find as he gets older and more confident he will want to be outside. I make myself very boring to my dogs when they cling to me. I rarely speak to them when they are following me unless it is to ask them to move out of my way. Eventually they take themselves off to find something more interesting to do.

Everyone tells me you have to dominate and make these dogs fear you because it's the only way to work with this breed. What a load of hooey!

You are right, dominating a dog doesn't do any good and often leads to the dog becoming aggressive. It is much better for yourself and your dog if you work with him and not use force. Get him to enjoy training, clicker training is very good and helps the bonding between you and your pup. There is a thread on how to clicker train which may help. American Bulldogs are adorable dogs, train them with kindness but be very consistant and you will have a wonderful companion.

Ask as many questions as you want, there are quite a few on here that know what they are doing with dogs and everyone is different but work in a similar way, by reward based training.

[Lis & Addy]

I know he wants attention and wants to be let back in, but I try to keep him out until he's quiet (I don't want to reward the barking) but he never gets quiet. This will go on for hours (8 or more, nonstop!). He's driving me bonkers and destroying the doors of my (new!) house. And I'm afraid he's going to hurt himself. What can I do?

Why are you leaving a five-month-old puppy outside alone for eight hours? Ten minutes might be appropriate!

He's scared and lonely and confused, and doesn't understand what he did to get banished. When he's inside, he needs to spend all his time placating and making up to you.

Puppies do need to learn how to be okay with being alone, but you don't teach them that by isolating them outside for hours at a time. You need to teach them gradually to handle a full working alone. If they need to be alone for several hours (which superficially seems unlikely in this case since you're there to hear the barking, but I could be misunderstanding), they need to be inside, in a safe, secure space, with something Fun For Dogs to do--like a stuffed frozen Kong.

Take him inside and make him a part of your family, and he may become more confident and less clingy.

Lis

[Ry]

8 hours? That's not good. Dogs are like people, they need company. He's a puppy, being left outside with a bunch of strange smells and sounds that can be scary for a dog that doesn't know much. Sure, showing your dog that being independent is a good thing, but leaving outside for 8 hours will not do it. Barking serves many purposes, and this is probably a way to relieve stress and get attention. He needs some sort of guidance to show him it's alright outside, and that will help relieve stress. Keep in mind, some dogs like to be outside, some don't, and either way, leaving a dog outside for too long is never good.

[Nettle]

Some people would kill to have a dog that wants to be with them, follows to heel when out walking etc. Exploit this with frequent SHORT (10 minutes or less) spells of training together, and lots of going to new places for socialising.

You will have a gem of a dog.

[renee_chan]

The 8 hours was while I was at work, my neighbor recorded some of the barking. My town has a noise ordinance that includes "nusience barking" and my neighbor threatened to have the police come out & fine me . I have a 60 mile round trip commute so going home on breaks is not really an option. My solution is to take Zeus to work with me, but that can't last forever. Zeus has a Kong & several other interactive toys which he loves inside, but ignores outside. As far as him being a clingy dog, I've just never seen this kind of behavior to the extent that I am seing it now and did not know if it might signify anxiety or what not. That's why I asked.

Now, on to what I tried according to advice from this board and others. Last night I started playing the "outside-inside" game. I put him out and immediately let him back in, lots of "good dog! way to go" and treats. I lengthened the outside time just a bit each time, and I worked up to 20 minutes of bark free outside time!! Huzzah! Instead of barking he just sat at the door b/c he knew I'd open it any minute. Today's goal is 25 minutes. I think I might be on to something. The reason I didn't do this sooner is all the training books I've read say not to let the dog in while he's barking b/c it reinforces that behavior et cetera. Somehow I get the feeling Zeus is not a "by the book" kind of dog!

[Ry]

Some books are also written by idiots, ha ha. In all seriousness, hard work and patience should do the trick. Do you have any friends or family who could come over and spend some time with the dog while you're at work?

(I think your neighbor has nothing better to do though, some people have far too much time on their hands)

[griffin]

Several counties in my State have laws that prohibit leaving a dog alone, outside for more than two hours. I understand people have to work & such, but I am glad we have those laws here in my State, I just wish the rest of the State would adopt the same laws.

Dogs left alone outside can get into a lot of trouble and serious injuries, whether you think your yard is safe or not. "Clingy dogs" are the best. The may run, but will never run out of eye site and thus, will always come back...


My dog used to sleep in one of my slippers...

[Yoshi]

I agree with Ry on this one!

Anyway, since he's alone for such a long time, you could consider employing a dog walker to help him burn off a little energy. Plus, he'll be socializing with other dogs as well. Just a thought