The statement that Nana’s barking has noticeably increased
in the last two weeks leads me to suggest that something has changed recently.
I wonder if someone has acquired a new dog whistle or
other similar irritant. My neighbors called Animal Control about barking but,
my next door neighbor’s kids love to get as high as they can on their
jungle gym which is very close to our fence and call my dogs. Of course
the dogs run over, barking and jumping at the fence. The parents
commented on the dogs, I commented on the kids and fortunately the father
happened to observe the kids one day. He was quite embarrassed. It still
happens occasionally but not as often as it used to. The dogs also
learned that if they barked, they had to come in, so being the more clever of
the two groups, the dogs stopped barking as much.
Aside from this, perhaps breaking her routines, taking her with you
on errands if she can safely stay in the car – drive thru at the bank or
drugstore, but not sitting for an hour at the grocery store, coming into the
house during the day, a different toy like a Kong with peanut butter. Mix
up her days a lot for a couple of weeks and maybe she will forget what she is barking
about.
Last crazy idea – is there a mouse or a squirrel in the
garage? Something she can hear but not catch?
Amy
From: owner-pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org
[mailto:owner-pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org] On Behalf Of BDrube1441@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 11:08 AM
To: pyrsinneed@googlegroups.com; pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org;
great_pyrenees@yahoogroups.com
Cc: webster09@knology.net
Subject: [pyrnet] Fwd: our great pyrenees
Spoke with this woman at length. Very nice and caring and really
loves her dog. Any suggestions from you experienced Pyr owners?
From: webster09@knology.net
To: bdrube1441@aol.com, jdwebster@inter-coastal.net, jd.webster@us.army.mil
Sent: 11/19/2009 9:00:23 A.M. Central Standard Time
Subj: our great pyrenees
Hello. I am writing to ask
for suggestions you may have to help us
with our barking Great Pyrenees.
We are having problems with neighbor complaints about excessive
barking to Animal Control here in Huntsville. We are increasingly
concerned that we will have to surrender our dog Nana.
Nana does bark excessively. Her barking has increased noticeably in
the last 2 weeks. Here are steps we've taken to alleviate the
problem and would dearly appreciate anything you might suggest that
could help us.
We exercise Nana vigorously every day. The kids (7 of them) run and
play with her during walk/runs. They take her to the school
playground and run and play with her. When I leave the house on
errands I kennel her up in our garage. This is something to which
she has become increasingly resistant. Nana comes inside with us
about 9 p.m. every night. I should say that she comes in with us in
the mornings and afternoons/evenings as well. She rotates between
outside, garage, inside the house. The garage used to calm her as
well as coming inside. Now she barks no matter where she is.
I have split her feedings into morning and night thinking if she's
satisfied in her hunger that would help her barking. We buy her
bones to chew.
Now though, as soon as she hits the out of doors she barks. And
barks. We have a 1/2 acre lot, fenced. Perhaps this is much
to
small. I just don't know.
I don't know how to balance Nana's needs and the right of the
neighbors to a peaceful place to live.
Nana is a very affectionate, just good dog. She loves our family--
especially our children. I am at a loss.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Sherri Webster
Huntsville, AL