A Dog question

**jmur5074** · 01-10-08, 07:37 AM

I have two dogs, a basset hound and a beagle. They bark whenever someone walks past my front window, knocks on the door, etc. My basset hound also barks like mad every time the house makes a creaky sound, the ice drops in the ice maker on the fridge, and basically any other sound that he finds suspicious.

I do not mind their barking. In fact, I love it when they bark. I think the houndy bark/bay/howl that they do sounds super cool, and barking dogs scare off burglars So I like the fact they bark at all these strange noises. The neighbors also do not mind because they can't hear my dogs in their house. Anyway, on to my problem.

They only bark when I'm home. I want them to also bark when I'm NOT home. I want them to scare off the potential burglar. I really don't anticipate being burgled anytime soon, because that's not too prevalent in my neighborhood....but I'm a cop and I think about home security.

I've come home before and knocked on the door, pounded my feet on the porch, and knocked on the windows to see what they do. They just sit on my couch and stare at the door. When I've tested them like that, I've always positioned myself in a way that they can't see me, so I know that's not the reason they weren't barking at me. I've also had friends tell me that they stopped by when I wasn't home, and the dogs didn't make any noise. But if I'm HOME and someone does any of that, they go bat shit and bark like mad.

Any ideas tips or tricks to make them bark at these noises when I'm not home???

**PapaBear** · 01-10-08, 08:21 AM

Two things:

1. The reason they react when you are home is to alert you to something that sounds out of the ordinary to them and because you are their master. They are trying to protect you.

2. Leave a radio on at low volume when you leave. They will think you are nearby because they associate the radio with you being there. Perhaps that will instill them to react.

I would rather have a dog who is silent and bites an intruder than one who barks at the slightest noise. Basset hounds and beagles are not generally an aggressive breed; but, will respond if physically threatened - which a burglar might be when entering a home. Their barking/baying is generally not a threat to intruders.

**Resident Smart Ass** · 01-10-08, 08:23 AM

have your girlfriend stay home with the dogs and have her bark

**jmur5074** · 01-10-08, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by PapaBear

Basset hounds and beagles are not generally an aggressive breed; but, will respond if physically threatened - which a burglar might be when entering a home. Their barking/baying is generally not a threat to intruders.

Yeah, I didn't get them for protection, obviously. Just pets. I know my beagle has the potential to be aggressive because my girlfriend was at my house one night while i was working, and I came home and he tried chomping my leg off before I turned a light on and he saw it was me. He doesn't act like that when I come home during work and no one is there though. The only time he's done that was that one time.

I would think though that upon breaking a window or booting a door, the barking/howling/growling of a dog would spook most burglars, right? I should point out that they typically "bark" at the noises, they normally don't howl or bay unless I promt it.

The basset's bark is very deep and sounds aggressive. You'd never guess he's a dopey basset hound if you couldn't see him.

**Terminator** · 01-10-08, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by Resident Smart Ass

have your girlfriend stay home with the dogs and have her bark

Wow, I'm not going to go there.

**jmur5074** · 01-10-08, 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by Resident Smart Ass

have your girlfriend stay home with the dogs and have her bark

I don't even know how I'd propose that idea....

**Resident Smart Ass** · 01-10-08, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by Terminator

Wow, I'm not going to go there.

what do you mean..you're the one who told me to say it

**Resident Smart Ass** · 01-10-08, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by jmur5074

I don't even know how I'd propose that idea....

Just get her flowers..and tell her you'd marry her

**nsb22** · 01-10-08, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by Resident Smart Ass

Just get her flowers..and tell her you'd marry her

I think that's the dumbest advice one man can give to another man. Men should not be advocating marriage!!!!!

**jmur5074** · 01-10-08, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by nsb22

I think that's the dumbest advice one man can give to another man. Men should not be advocating marriage!!!!!

Smartest thing you've ever said.

**Pudge** · 01-10-08, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by jmur5074

I have two dogs, a basset hound and a beagle. They bark whenever someone walks past my front window, knocks on the door, etc. My basset hound also barks like mad every time the house makes a creaky sound, the ice drops in the ice maker on the fridge, and basically any other sound that he finds suspicious.

I do not mind their barking. In fact, I love it when they bark. I think the houndy bark/bay/howl that they do sounds super cool, and barking dogs scare off burglars So I like the fact they bark at all these strange noises. The neighbors also do not mind because they can't hear my dogs in their house. Anyway, on to my problem.

They only bark when I'm home. I want them to also bark when I'm NOT home. I want them to scare off the potential burglar. I really don't anticipate being burgled anytime soon, because that's not too prevalent in my neighborhood....but I'm a cop and I think about home security.

I've come home before and knocked on the door, pounded my feet on the porch, and knocked on the windows to see what they do. They just sit on my couch and stare at the door. When I've tested them like that, I've always positioned myself in a way that they can't see me, so I know that's not the reason they weren't barking at me. I've also had friends tell me that they stopped by when I wasn't home, and the dogs didn't make any noise. But if I'm HOME and someone does any of that, they go bat shit and bark like mad.

Any ideas tips or tricks to make them bark at these noises when I'm not home???

It's really difficult to train that sort of thing into them, so I'm not sure. They're already naturally defensive and protective of you, which is good, but apparently haven't felt any great threat as of yet to get them defensive of the house. Maybe give them a decent scare sometime when you leave and see if it changes their patterns. Leave a window unlocked, leave for a couple minutes or just long enough for them to be convinced you're gone, then sneak back in through the window. As goofy as it sounds it may just trigger something with them, or you'll find that they may be silent but defensive when you do.

My Malinois is completely opposite of your dogs. When I'm not home he's vocal when protective, but when he's with me he's silent as can be, but will hammer the first thing he sees coming at me. My boxer on the other hand will bark, snarl, growl and bite anything other than family regardless of if we're home or not.

**Willowdared** · 01-10-08, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by jmur5074

I've come home before and knocked on the door, pounded my feet on the porch, and knocked on the windows to see what they do. They just sit on my couch and stare at the door. When I've tested them like that, I've always positioned myself in a way that they can't see me, so I know that's not the reason they weren't barking at me.

Dude! They still know it's you, and now they think you're weird!

**jmur5074** · 01-10-08, 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by PDawg

Dude! They still know it's you, and now they think you're weird!

Shut up seriously?

I like Pudge's idea

**Willowdared** · 01-10-08, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by jmur5074

Shut up seriously?

I like Pudge's idea

Having watched my Mom's dogs in action, I can tell you they hear her car turn the corner at the end of our street.

What you need to do is get a cohort to come by and see if they bark then.

**Car 4** · 01-10-08, 07:39 PM

Listen to PDawg....my dog knows it is me by the way I walk accross the gravel driveway and she just lays there.

They really do have superior senses guy....and they get used to your habits and sounds and smells....they know its you!

Car 4

**Illiy** · 01-10-08, 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by Car 4

Listen to PDawg....my dog knows it is me by the way I walk accross the gravel driveway and she just lays there.

They really do have superior senses guy....and they get used to your habits and sounds and smells....they know its you!

Car 4

+1 My dog won't bark when I walk up the stairs...but anyone else she doesn't recognize she acts like she is a big ol' dog! Same when I am home she barks if someone passes by...

She is protective of her home and her owner... and her kid (my daughter) who she is convinced is her toy...

**mack** · 01-10-08, 07:56 PM

I've gotta agree, my dog knows it is me when I drive down the street. They have an unbelievable sense of smell and know your scent.

**Resident Smart Ass** · 01-10-08, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by mack

I've gotta agree, my dog knows it is me when I drive down the street. They have an unbelievable sense of smell and know your scent.

in your case, horse poop?

**MacLean** · 01-10-08, 10:20 PM

When I was a kid we had a PD K9 named Rusty who didn't quite make it into the program.

We lived in the middle of nowhere, and you could hear cars coming for miles.

Rusty would get up and run around when my dads car was making the big hill a mile away. It was almost like an alarm clock for when dad was coming home.