Barking driving mad!!!!!!!

[Kirstin Ayre]

Hi there - wonder if anyone had any ideas on how to stop my cocker spaniel Woody from yapping, whining, whimpering and generally driving us crazy when we are taking him somewhere in the car!!!!

I believe it is down to excitement (generally most cockers middle name i guess) as he can't wait to jump in the back, but he starts whining and it gets louder & louder, if you turn the radio on & up he competes and short of ear plugs im stumped!!!!!

have tried treats, sitting with him, someone even suggested gently covering his muzzle with my hand and saying no in a low voice that emulates his mum reassuring him but to no avail - please help! as we'd love to go to the coast with him this summer, but don't get any further than the local country park (any further would honestly require therapy!!). He's not so bad on a return journey, as he's usually pretty tired (my god that dog can run!!!) but will usually manage to maintain a whimper!!

Alternatively, if no-one has any ideas, perhaps someone can recommend a good doggy singing coach to at least change his tune!!!!!!!!


:dogrun:

[Marsha]

Is he accustomed to a crate? If so, we got a soft-sided, fold-up crate for ours to travel in the car. It has cut out almost all of the whining and whimpering....which was also done out of pure excitement. He loves to go in the car, but it was so exciting for him he would whimper and whine, and also he was a wiggle-worm, so he was getting caught up in his leash and harness seatbuckle attachment. The crate has been absolutely wonderful. I was afraid that he would be upset that he can no longer look out the window. However, that hasn't been a problem at all. First of all, he can look out the window through the screen in his crate if he wants too. But, he seems to be quite content to just sleep in his crate for the duration of the ride.

[Kirstin Ayre]

Hi Marsha

I will try anything!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!! Do the crates come soundproofed!!! It sounds a good idea - by crates do you mean like a big veterinary type carrier - they are generally make out of durable plastic with a metal cage gate front?? :dogrun:

[Marsha]

They have the travel crates for airline travel (and car travel). I have one that I use to transport my cats to the vet. But what I got for Spanky is what I've heard called a soft-sided crate. The company actually calls it a dog tent. I think it's used for campers who want to take their dogs. Anyway, it's very light-weight and folds completely up easily. We just put it in the back seat of our car, and he rides in it. Each side has a screened window and a flap that can be closed or velcroed open. The opening zips open and closed. It has worked great for us. There was another thread last week that I think started by asking about soft-sided crates. If you find that thread, and I don't know which forum it was in, I answered with what the brand name of this crate is. Someone else, and I think it was Jill (& Finnigan), who stated that they have the same 'camper' or 'crate' and that they've had good luck with it, too. I would put the brand name here, but I can't remember what it is right now, and the crate is in my car.

[Marsha]

And unfortunately they don't come soundproofed. When our kids were smaller, we used to talk about wanting some kind of soundproof barrier that you could lower between the front and back seats. Now it would come in useful again with the doggies!! To bad that they don't list that as an option when buying cars!!

[Hee Yung Lee]

I've always read that to control a dog's barking, you should teach them to bark or speak on command and then teach them no bark, or something. I'm not really sure how to go about doing it though as I have been very lucky to have a dog that rarely barks. Good luck.

[Melissa Brunoehler]

Hi Kirstin~

The crate is a good idea. What you should also do is get him used to the car so that the car & car rides become- no big deal.
Here’s how to do that-

With the car in your driveway (or wherever it’s normally parked) have Woody get in the car. Give him a treat for getting in the car. Two seconds later tell him Good! & give him another treat. Then release him out of the car. Practice doing this- In & out of the car, gradually increasing the amount of time he’s in the car. Next move the car down the driveway & back. Next go around the block & come back home. The point to make is that a car ride does not necessarily mean a romp at the park or a trip to the vets- a car ride can be very boring. If he starts whining, barking, etc. during the practice sessions, simply turn the car around & go back home. And Ignore the whining, barking, etc. Make sure you are praising & treating for calm quiet behavior on each practice car ride & on real car rides.
Also make sure you aren’t “revving him up” before it’s time to go somewhere by getting his leash & saying stuff like “wanna go for a car ride?” “wanna go to the park” ;)



Hi there - wonder if anyone had any ideas on how to stop my cocker spaniel Woody from yapping, whining, whimpering and generally driving us crazy when we are taking him somewhere in the car!!!!

I believe it is down to excitement (generally most cockers middle name i guess) as he can't wait to jump in the back, but he starts whining and it gets louder & louder, if you turn the radio on & up he competes and short of ear plugs im stumped!!!!!

have tried treats, sitting with him, someone even suggested gently covering his muzzle with my hand and saying no in a low voice that emulates his mum reassuring him but to no avail - please help! as we'd love to go to the coast with him this summer, but don't get any further than the local country park (any further would honestly require therapy!!). He's not so bad on a return journey, as he's usually pretty tired (my god that dog can run!!!) but will usually manage to maintain a whimper!!

Alternatively, if no-one has any ideas, perhaps someone can recommend a good doggy singing coach to at least change his tune!!!!!!!!


:dogrun:

[Kirstin Ayre]

Hi there
thanks for your replies, i have got a crate sorted out and have been letting him in and out of the boot of my car (with treats as necessary!!) so he's getting the idea its no big deal. Am just waiting for a change in the english weather so we can go further afield than the farmland around us and put his new found nonchalance to the test!!! thankyou. :dogrun: :)