CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => Behaviour & Training => Topic started by: Londongirl on March 26, 2016, 08:48:11 AM
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Henry was fine in the car until he was about 5 months-old. He started barking one day on the way to the park where he has his long, off-leash walk. He didn't bark on the way home, so I thought it was a one-off. Nope. Every morning he barks all the way to the park, not a peep on the way home.
Thinking this was a learned behaviour, that he somehow thinks he NEEDS to bark to get to the park, or was just over-excited, I've tried different things, but with no success. I have:
- changed our routine so we go a bit later or earlier
- played with him and did some mental training before we went out
- covered his crate in the car with a blanket
- given him his favourite toy
- driven in a circle so we just end up back home again
- taken him in the car to other places, and on trips where he doesn't get out of the car, like when I'm picking up one of the kids.
- Ignoring the barking but praising him in the odd moments he is quiet.
Nothing has helped. And now he has started barking in the car at other times as well, although rarely on the way home from the park when he's tired. I am careful to never let him get out of the car while he is still barking. Does any one have a tired-and-true method to help with this? I don't mind how long it takes, if something works I'll stick with it until it does. I do find the barking very distracting when driving.
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Following with interest as Mollie screeches for about 20 minutes - if you didn't have a headache before you certainly get one!
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Will also be watching with interest as Millie whines in the car. Always on the way out and never on the way home.
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I really don't know if this is the way you should go but many years ago, Suki used to bark in the car. It really got to me as she has quite a high pitched bark. I tried all the things you tried - to no avail. She barked constantly, both ways to and from everywhere.
Drove me crazy. So..... I turned the music up, and up and up until I could no longer hear her.
Did it every day for about a week.
Then gradually turned it down and down and down - and lo! She was no longer barking!!!
Not sure if it was really the way to go or if she would have given up barking anyway, but it worked with her ;)
Good luck!
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We have exactly the same problem - doesn't bark but cries so pitifully, you'd think he'd been locked in a coal cellar with no food for a week. We've also noticed its only on the way to whereever we're going, (usually dog training,,which he loves) but not when we come home. Someone wrote on here recently that they stopped quite early into the journey, let the dog out for a quick wee and then got back in and carried on and that seemed to work. Haven't tried it yet but intend to before we go on holiday.
I bought an adaptil spray last week and sprayed the box and car boot about a quarter of an hour before we started off , it didn't stop him entirely but his sobs were definately a few decibels lower than usual and he was somewhat calmer. I do find it strange as I've never had it before with my other dogs and as others seem to have the same problem, it does seem to be a bit cockerish - they can be little drama kings and queens! ;)
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Something that might work as I'm guessing it is excitement and anticipation, take them to a few boring places a few times during the day, and if they are quiet take them to the park or whatever for a game, if not bring them straight back home.
No guarantees but worth a try - mine walk everywhere but can still kick off when we start out on our walk - coming home is a much more sedate affair ;)
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Something that might work as I'm guessing it is excitement and anticipation, take them to a few boring places a few times during the day, and if they are quiet take them to the park or whatever for a game, if not bring them straight back home.
No guarantees but worth a try - mine walk everywhere but can still kick off when we start out on our walk - coming home is a much more sedate affair ;)
Tried that - at first he was quiet when going other places, but now he just barks then as well!
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Something that might work as I'm guessing it is excitement and anticipation, take them to a few boring places a few times during the day, and if they are quiet take them to the park or whatever for a game, if not bring them straight back home.
No guarantees but worth a try - mine walk everywhere but can still kick off when we start out on our walk - coming home is a much more sedate affair ;)
Tried that - at first he was quiet when going other places, but now he just barks then as well!
00ps!! back to the drawing board then :016:
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Thankfully I have one that would sit in the car all day with you without a murmur until I park up at which point she cries to get out.
Does Henry bark if you just sit in the car on the drive?
Must admit, I like the idea of turning the music up. Perhaps Henry will learn to sing along with you!
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Henry's singing will probably be better than mine! He doesn't start barking until I start moving, but he doesn't stop when I've stopped and got out. He does stop fairly quickly after I've opened the boot and stood with my arms folded, refusing to open the crate until he's quiet.
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Mine are angels in the car, you don't know they are there until we get home then Bella screams at the top of her voice until she is let out of the car! I have considered driving off again, just a little way and see how she is then. I shall watch this one with interest.
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Something that might work as I'm guessing it is excitement and anticipation, take them to a few boring places a few times during the day, and if they are quiet take them to the park or whatever for a game, if not bring them straight back home.
No guarantees but worth a try - mine walk everywhere but can still kick off when we start out on our walk - coming home is a much more sedate affair ;)
Mollie starts screeching as soon as the car door is open and she knows she is going in the car.
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A quick update - I turned the music WAY up, only turned it down when he was quiet. That was a week ago. Since then, low grade whimpering, no barking! I'll settle for that. He's still happy to get in the car, which is great as I worried about using a potential 'aversive'.
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A quick update - I turned the music WAY up, only turned it down when he was quiet. That was a week ago. Since then, low grade whimpering, no barking! I'll settle for that. He's still happy to get in the car, which is great as I worried about using a potential 'aversive'.
Nice to register a success!!! We've got down to the whimper stage now (combination of adaptil spray and turning the crate around) and I agree, you can live with it but I really would like to know why they do it? :huh:
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Penny barks when she is being put in the car - I'm sure its to tell all our neighbours we are leaving - and she barks like a madwoman when we return - I'm sure its to let everyone know we've come home. Other than that she is perfectly quiet in the car, except when she sees a motorbike. She hates them with a passion and barks passionately at them until they disappear!
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Got a new crate for the car and now the barking has started again. *sigh*
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Got a new crate for the car and now the barking has started again. *sigh*
Have you tried the Adaptil spray? HUmphrey does still whinge but its most definately better than before. I spray the box and the bedding about 15 minutes before we go. ..... worth a try!
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I will give it a go!
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Update: the Adaptil spray didn't work.
On Monday morning I put him in the car and he started barking before I'd even closed the boot. Exasperated, I took him out, back into the house, back into the kitchen behind the baby gate and left him five minutes. When he'd calmed down, back in the car. Bark bark. Took him out, repeated the process. All the while saying nothing at all. Fourth time we did it he got into the car, gave me a searching look, licked my face as I settled him into the crate and was silent for the whole trip!
Quiet again this morning. Fingers crossed we're on our way to breaking the habit.
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Update: the Adaptil spray didn't work.
On Monday morning I put him in the car and he started barking before I'd even closed the boot. Exasperated, I took him out, back into the house, back into the kitchen behind the baby gate and left him five minutes. When he'd calmed down, back in the car. Bark bark. Took him out, repeated the process. All the while saying nothing at all. Fourth time we did it he got into the car, gave me a searching look, licked my face as I settled him into the crate and was silent for the whole trip!
Quiet again this morning. Fingers crossed we're on our way to breaking the habit.
YEAHHHHHHH!!!👍👍👍👍👍👍 Good boy Henry!!!! :clapping: :clapping:
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I've only just read this thread, we have similar issue here with Oscar and whining in the car.
Thats a lot of patients you had there Londongirl, i hope all is now well with Henry on his trips to the park :)
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We still have a bit of whining on the way to the park - like he's singing along to the radio, but is not so bad I can't ignore it. And not a peep on the way home or going out in the car at other times. I don't know about being patient - he drives me mad sometimes, but you just have to grit your teeth and try something positive rather than losing it. Not easy!
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Yeah, that's the way to look at it, - stay positive and be thankful he doesn't know how to whistle! :005: :005: