Dog won't stop barking at Guitar

[Mycroft]

Something to keep in mind is that a 6 month out dog is about a 10 year old or so in human terms. Yeah, I know all about the 1 actual year equals 7 dog years meme. Actually it is not so simple. Dogs mature much faster, so over a lifespan 1 to 7 is about right.

But the upshot is that you are trying to teach a child to behave.

[frankmcr]

Originally Posted by Mycroft

What has your friend done about this? This is their job, not yours.

Quoted because it's worth repeating.

[TBman]

Originally Posted by Steadfastly

That is not a good way to train a dog. The best way is praising them when they do something right and a negative tone when they don't. Dogs love to be praised and what happens if you forget the treats or run out of them?

Also, if he is barking and you give him a treat you are training him that he gets a treat when he barks. He will always bark if that is done.

I have a dog. I don't run out of treats.

You say "shhh" to the dog, when he/she stops barking, you give the dog the treat as you praise him/her.

It'll work. (should anyway)

If.... it doesn't, then the water spray bottle is the next level. I hate doing that though. My daughter trains her dog like that and it does work. Our dog is smaller though and more manageable.

[jaybones]

Could be your buddy's Westie is jealous of the guitar. Knows when you take it out its human won't be paying attention to it anymore.

Last winter I had a yellow lab puppy that would dig on and scratch my laptop when it was sitting on the floor next to my chair. Only thing in the house she ever did that to, and my brother suggested that it was because I'd pay more attention to it than to her.

We had a chocolate lab that was such a sissy she was afraid of guitars.

I had my Alvarez sitting on a stand, she walked over to it sniffing it and bumped the strings with her nose. I don't know if the sound scared her or if her whisker got caught on a string (or both) but she yelped and ran away.

Every time she saw a guitar after that she'd head for the door.

Same dog I wanted to see if she'd be a good bird dog. Book on training them said to introduce the shotgun in the house. Let them get used to it.

I walked in the room carrying it, and she was already nervous. When I racked it (empty) not looking at her (according to the book you'd do that, then be outside walking when you'd fire it and not look at her- something about the dog hearing something new if you made eye contact would make her scared of it), she ran (literally with her tail between her legs yelping out the door).

[frances50]

Originally Posted by Mycroft

What has your friend done about this? This is their job, not yours.

My feeling exactly.

[DenverSteve]

Sounds like a dog that needs some serious training and discipline - or avoidance.

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by DenverSteve

Sounds like a dog that needs some serious training and discipline - or avoidance.

Sounded like the OP was trying to avoid a confrontation.
I understand.
It's his buddy's pet and he's trying to be accommodating and help with a solution or at least a recommendation for one.
As many of us, me included have said in many different ways, it's not the dog, it's the buddy that's the problem.
It appears that person is either consciously or unconsciously putting the dog at the top of the pecking order.

[Scott O]

You need to understand what the dog is trying to tell you when he is barking...

[AllThumbsBruce]

Originally Posted by rokdog49

It appears that person is either consciously or unconsciously putting the dog at the top of the pecking order.

I was so relieved to learn that all this alpha dog pecking order stuff is junk.

[Yrksman]

I used to have a dog that went berserk every time I got the lawn mower out and barked constantly as I cut the grass. Following advice I saw on TV, the next time I needed the mower I took a bucket of water and poured it over my dog the instant it started barking. One yelp and the barking at the mower stopped permanently. I was amazed. You might want to try this, preferably outside.

The dog, by the way, still liked me.

[Mycroft]

Originally Posted by AllThumbsBruce

I was so relieved to learn that all this alpha dog pecking order stuff is junk.

I'm not an alpha dog because I am not a dog. I am at the top of the pyramid because I am a human. I've always had well behaved dogs, both with my dad's dogs and my own, simply because they expect you to be the boss. I remember watching my dad and his cattle dog Bing gather up a 100 head of cows in a field and move them into the next field with dad on foot.

Much like dealing with a toddler, if you don't run the show, then they will.

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by Mycroft

I'm not an alpha dog because I am not a dog. I am at the top of the pyramid because I am a human. I've always had well behaved dogs, both with my dad's dogs and my own, simply because they expect you to be the boss. I remember watching my dad and his cattle dog Bing gather up a 100 head of cows in a field and move them into the next field with dad on foot.

Much like dealing with a toddler, if you don't run the show, then they will.

I'm glad you said that. Seems to have gotten lost in our culture among some.

[gfa]

Originally Posted by Mycroft

What has your friend done about this? This is their job, not yours.

Yes, I agree. I can't imagine the scenario where I have a guest at home, one of my dogs won't stop barking at the guest, and I just let it continue. Rather than exploring what you might do to train the dog, my suggestion is to bring the subject up with your friend and ask him to either put the dog elsewhere when you come to play, or work on training. You can help train, sure, but it's really his responsibility.

[Todd Tipton]

Sounds like a good idea for an episode of The Dog Whisperer...lol

[gregsguitars]

Most terriers are barking little sheet hole diggers to begin with...get rid of dog....