Dog Issues: Safety, barking, etc...
 

Hi,

1. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good brand of reflective/safety vest for dogs.

I have a black mutt that is difficult to see at night. when we cross the street it's a bit precarious, I thought one of those orange vest thingys would be helpful.

I've heard of "Outward Hound" and "Guardian Gear" - Does anyone know which brand(s) are good?

2. How do I get my dog to stop barking at everyone who comes to the door (including my roomates and sometimes even me!)? She never used to bark, at all. She's about a yeard old (basenji/pit mix).

Thanks.

My friend who is a search and rescue guide uses some outward hound stuff for her dog.

There are a couple of ways to go about this. You can enlist the help of a patient friend to create a controlled situation: have them come to the door, and then, depending on your training philosophy, you can either use positive or negative reinforcement.

Positive reinforcement involves waiting till the dog stops barking and then rewarding her profusely. Do this repeatedly over the course of a couple of weeks until the dog gets the point - quiet = good.

Negative reinforcement involves using a choke chain. Give the dog a "leash pop" when she barks at your friend at the door, and when she quiets down, reward and comfort her. This requires some control and training on your part to make sure you don't hurt the dog with the choke chain.

Other methods you can use are a bark collar (shocks the dog when she barks), a bark sprayer (spritzes citronella, which they don't like, with every bark), or, if you get really desperate, like it's a choice between keeping the dog or keeping your apartment - debarking surgery (which essentially severs their vocal cords). I think surgery should be the last option, as it essentially silences your dog forever and keeps them from communicating at all.

Thanks a lot for the advice. I will look into the Outward Hound vest and start working with me doggie on the barking issue. I will definitely stay positive. I am patient so in time it should work out.

Thanks again.