Can I Get a Woof Woof, or Not Please.

I have encountered an issue with Leroy.

I know, you’re surprised.

Me and Leroy having issues is just unheard of.

The issue I am encountering this time is barking.

Woof, woof, woof is all I hear when he is outside, and he is outside a lot.

Any little noise sets of a series of barks.

It seems to happen more when someone is outside with him, and my concern is that we plan on spending a lot of time outside this summer on our new patio. We have already spent a few late nights out there and the barking is bringing me down. I mean, I can’t be sitting outside at midnight with a dog constantly barking, that is just rude to my neighbors.

Of course, I have tried to figure out why he finds it necessary to bark so much.

–He is being protective. I can see this because he barks the most when I am outside with him, but is still known to bark when he is out by himself.

–He is bored. Maybe, but when I try to interact with him at these times, he wants nothing to do with it.

–He likes to hear himself bark. Possibly. His bark does echo and he is the louder than any other dog in the neighborhood.

–He is lonely. Please. Not even going to entertain this one.

To make matters worse, we have a new dog in town.

New neighbors moved in 2 doors down from us and they have a dog.

These new neighbors like to spend a lot of time outside too, with their dog. This new dog and Leroy like to have barking wars. The difference is that the neighbor people can make their dog stop barking.

I can not.

Shut up Leroy, just does not work.

I have been trying a few techniques but the only thing that really seems to work is sending him inside for a 15 minute time out, but within minutes of being out again he is back to barking.

Here are a few things that I have tried:

1. Quiet. (He knows what this means)

2. Seriously Leroy, SHUT UP!

3. Leave it. This is normally a very well received command for Leroy, but not when he is outside barking.

4. The water bottle squirt. This is one of the least effective tools for a Newf. Leroy just thinks he is getting pampered by having someone spray water on him and it quickly turns into a game of “How much water can I squirt into Leroy’s mouth.”

5. Distraction. Um, it’s Leroy, he has a one track mind.

6. The body block. You know, like how Cesar Millian does it. Use your body as a blockade.

For those of you who are regular readers of my blog and know the relationship Leroy and I have, I am going to pause here for a moment for you to get a visual of me body blocking Leroy, the dog who has been known to trip me, knock me down a flight of stairs and put me through a screen door.

 

Got it?

Good, I’ll continue now.

The body block actually works half of the time, the other times I am being pushed to the curb like a rag doll.

Does he head butt me in the ass when I walk away from him after a sucessful body block?

Absolutely.

And then he is back to barking again.

So what’s a girl to do? Gimmie your best advice and I’ll try it out!