I Need Help, People Can Be JERKS!

[RileyMay]

I don't know where to put this, but, I need some help. How can I get Riley to alert us when somebody is coming to the door, or walking around the yard? She doesn't bark when people do this. She barks at other animals, but that's only when she's outside, and they're on the opposite side of the fence. Banjo is the only one that barks, and will literally attack you if you broke in the house, he doesn't like you, or you hurt me. Riley does nothing, but she looks at you. That's it. I want to encourage her to bark to alert us. Also the reason why I'm asking for help is because last night some jerk broke into our truck. There was nothing valuable in there, but they did scatter everything throughout the truck, and outside. We leave the dogs' out now, but like I said, Banjo barks, Riley doesn't. That's why I need help to teach her to alert us. So, any advice would help a lot. People are scared, or should I say, terrified of Banjo, kinda of scared of Riley because she's a "dangerous" breed, and she looks at you, but I just want all bark, no bite. People don't know if she's going to bite, I just want her to have a very intimadating bark that makes people think twice. Just ticks me off when people break into stuff when we work really hard to pay for it, you know? Anyways, thanks for reading, and please give advice!!

[bocron]

How old is Riley?

[RileyMay]

Originally Posted by bocron

How old is Riley?

She's 11 months old. Will be 1 years old on January 22, 2012.

[Freestep]

Personally, I'd be more afraid of a Dachshund than a GSD! Those suckers BITE!

If your GSD is young, under the age of 2 years, she may just need a bit more maturity to grow into alarm barking. There are ways to train dogs to alert if they don't do it naturally, but you need expert help from a reputable trainer, because the training can be stressful if the dog doesn't have the right temperament, and can cause issues if done the wrong way.

[RileyMay]

Originally Posted by Freestep

Personally, I'd be more afraid of a Dachshund than a GSD! Those suckers BITE!

If your GSD is young, under the age of 2 years, she may just need a bit more maturity to grow into alarm barking. There are ways to train dogs to alert if they don't do it naturally, but you need expert help from a reputable trainer, because the training can be stressful if the dog doesn't have the right temperament, and can cause issues if done the wrong way.

Oh okay, thank you! Banjo is a sweetheart, but mess with me the wrong way, break into the house, or he just doesn't like you (which he loves everybody, very rare to see him hate somebody), or you're wearing a hat, you better be prepared. Maybe she'll learn to bark by watching Banjo? Trust me, I know what to look for in a reputable trainer now! I learned the HARD way!!

[Marnie]

Banjo is probably the best option you have to teach Riley to bark. She should eventually pick up on his alerts and mimic him. Dogs usually copy the behaviors of older dogs. Your puppy is very well socialized and doesn't feel that these strangers are a threat. It really is a compliment to the way you socialized her. It is unfortunate that you need a more defensive dog in your situation. So many people with stressed out barkers would love to have your calm, quiet girl.

[fuzzybunny]

Originally Posted by Marnie

Banjo is probably the best option you have to teach Riley to bark. She should eventually pick up on his alerts and mimic him. Dogs usually copy the behaviors of older dogs. Your puppy is very well socialized and doesn't feel that these strangers are a threat. It really is a compliment to the way you socialized her. It is unfortunate that you need a more defensive dog in your situation. So many people with stressed out barkers would love to have your calm, quiet girl.

I agree that Banjo is probably the best teacher. Jazz was the same as Riley at that age. I didn't see a protective side of him until he reached about 1.5 years. My other dog is an alarm barker and Jazz did eventually pick up the behaviour from her which I don't mind.

[1sttimeforgsd]

Have you allowed her to bark at people near your property up untill now or did you correct her if she barked at them? I have never corrected my boy for barking at anyone near our property be it day or night. I felt that if I corrected him from barking during the day that he would think he was not to bark at night either. Any time he is outside and anyone is near he sounds off and that is what I want him to do.

Maybe you could encourage Riley to bark, and reward her if she does. Sometimes with my lab I would say " what is it,and make a growling noise" . I can do that to this day and she will look around to see if someone is around. Hope that you can find something to trigger her to bark, I know how you feel last summer someone stole $1000. worth of lawn equipment from us that we could not afford to replace and insurance would not pay. I HATE A THIEF.

[codmaster]

Originally Posted by RileyMay

Oh okay, thank you! Banjo is a sweetheart, but mess with me the wrong way, break into the house, or he just doesn't like you (which he loves everybody, very rare to see him hate somebody), or you're wearing a hat, you better be prepared. Maybe she'll learn to bark by watching Banjo? Trust me, I know what to look for in a reputable trainer now! I learned the HARD way!!

Are you really serious?

Your Dach "loves everybody" unless he "doesn't like you" and then he will bite you or will bite you if you "wear a hat"? You really want a big GSD to act like that?

Doesn't sound like you have much control over a Dach - think how much worse that would be with a 90lb GSD!

Your 11mo GSD seems like a much better temperamented dog than your Dach. Hope he stays that way!

[RileyMay]

Originally Posted by codmaster

Are you really serious?

Your Dach "loves everybody" unless he "doesn't like you" and then he will bite you or will bite you if you "wear a hat"? You really want a big GSD to act like that?

Doesn't sound like you have much control over a Dach - think how much worse that would be with a 90lb GSD!

Your 11mo GSD seems like a much better temperamented dog than your Dach. Hope he stays that way!

He does love people. He is scared of hats. If he doesn't like you, as in he sences you're bad he'll let you know it. In example about the "he doesn't like you" part. This guy we had working for my dad seemed like a great guy. We had no problem with him at all, and he didn't have a problem with us. Banjo seemed to be on his gaurd with this guy everytime he appeared. The other workers, Banjo loved, this worker, he would be on gaurd and watch every move this guy made. Turns out he broke into our house and stole stuff from. He stole a tv, guitar, tools, computers, and sterios. He also was on drugs, and a major alcholic. But I will tell you this now. I'm tired of getting bashed all the time because I "can't" control my Dachshund. Let me tell you something, I can control him. You don't personally know me, you don't know my dog, or my life. I always get "beat up" over this stuff, put down, bashed, and called ugly names. I'm tired of it. If I couldn't control Riley, or Banjo, I would NOT have gotten them. I'm not trying to be mean, or disrespectful at all. But I am finally sticking up for myself. People tend to always go after me, they judge me before really getting to know me, and that hurts. I only have 3 friends. 1 lives 4 hours from me, 1 not even 5 minutes, and the other one 15 minutes. That's it. Oh wait, make 5 friends, my dogs'. I will say it again, I can control my dog, so don't tell me I can't. But if you don't believe that's okay. Because I know my life, I know myself, I know I can control him. One more thing, I've controled 133 pound Rottie chasing a cat. One more thing, I'm 17 years old, and I'm guessing you're older. I was taught to respect my elders, so I'm sorry if I was being very rude, or very disrespectful, but like I said, I'm just so tired of getting bashed. I get bashed often. I get bullied over the internet, and bullied by people down the road. Hurts.