My dog is making everyone in the 'hood nuts, help!?

Thorn is a 1 year old Australian Cattle Dog. We searched high and low for a reputable breeder who shows and is active in breed clubs and rescue, and his breeder is an amazing person who really helped us pick a pup with the right temperament for us - low drive but still active. He's amazing, I adore him! and I think he's pretty well behaved for a typically nutso breed... of course love is blind...

Anyway, the big prob is that he's got this thing about birds. He spots circling hawks, crows, etc, even like hundreds of meters above.

He goes crazy! It's been happening for about 3 weeks now.

About a week ago, one of the neighborhood crows (it has a white feather on its wing, so I recognize it) noticed, and has started harassing him. I'm serious.

The neighbors have complained about his barking. We have a 6 foot high privacy fence. We installed a picket dog enclosure so that he could stay in a smaller area, so maybe he wouldn't destroy the yard, window screens, bushes and kids toys. (He is a cattle dog, what can I say?).

We thought this would calm him down, but he figured out how to work the latch on the gate of the smaller enclosure and is back to freaking out about the birds.

What can I do, besides keeping him in his crate when we're gone? I'd like for him to enjoy the back yard - that is, after all, why I spent $3000 on a fence - for him! But I don't want to bug the neighbors!

Is there some trick to keeping dogs from barking? He does NOT respond well to punishment-based training, but the reward thing is hard to figure, when I'm trying to reward him for not barking! I'm at a loss.

Thanks in advance!

 

Unfortunately this is an extremely difficult issue, if you are not wanting to crate him indoors while you aren't home. You could do some behavior modification if you were to keep your ears open for this and act immediately while you ARE home, which could help, BUT if you are going to still leave him to his own devices in the back yard while you're gone then this is useless as any training you will have done at home will be undone by the time you get back home. The truth of the matter is, this may not be solvable, period - ACD's, no matter how laid back the individual dog, are still herding, prey-driven animals. Especially when "prey" taunts them.

You might consider that you are possibly leaving him in the backyard TOO much - dogs would rather be with their pack (family) in their den (house) most of the time, no matter what breed. He could be so easily enticed by the bird because he is bored and lonely. It's a possibility.

He also needs to be taken on walks to expend some of that energy - NO, the backyard is NOT enough. He needs to expend mental energy as well, and a lot of that is used when you walk your dog (and always make sure he stays at your side or behind you, never in front - that's part of the brain workout) he needs to WALK.. with YOU or a family member, OUT of his yard. Or run, even, if any of you are coordinated enough to skate while walking him if he likes to go fast, lol.

Play some games with him at least a total of 2 hours a day or more, in addition to the walk if you are not going to let him be in the house with you more. He still has a social need that needs to be met that unfortunately dogs left on their own in the backyard usually lack. The games would also expend more physical and mental energy.

Once he's gotten enough social, mental and physical activity for the day, if he continues to go crazy over the bird it will be much easier to modify his behavior from it, if it is going to be possible at all. Play the total recall game with him - Pick a special code word that means "Come" that you ALWAYS, ALWAYS give him a super yummy treat for, without fail, forever. Some people use "Cookie!" this will be helpful later if you ever need to guarantee he comes to you know matter what in case he's about to put himself in danger or something - I personally just use "Come" and always treat for "Come" instead of 2 words, but other people like 2 words. Once he is reliably coming without fail no matter what he is doing or interested in, you can use this to help condition him to stop going crazy over the bird. (Note: if he is toy-motivated more than food, use a special super fun toy he is crazy about for this and only for this). Whenever you hear him starting to go crazy immediately use the special word to get him to come, and play with him, distract him, do everything you can to make him keep his attention on you instead of the bird. If he won't keep his attention on you, take him in the house for a play session after you've used the special word to get him away from the bird. It will take time and patience, but possibly after a while, he'll stop going crazy over the bird so much and who knows, possibly come to the door to spend time with you instead. But be careful, ACD's are among the smarter breeds - he may start to actually use this behavior to trick you into giving him his favorite treat, toy, or just attention (This is why fulfilling the social, physical and mental needs first are so important).

Hope that helps!

If it's any consolation, I have the same issue in a way. For the past 3 or 4 years there has been this specific squirrel that purposely runs along the top edge of the back fence where the dogs can see him from the back door's window... he will stop, turn around, and shake his tail at the dogs until they are so riled up they are going to explode. If they are in the back yard he runs back and forth and then runs away once they are angry enough, lol. It's not much of a problem for us or our neighbors though since my dogs spend most of their time indoors with us and only go after the squirrel when I let them out to do so (sometimes I get pissed at that dang squirrel, and I know they won't ever catch him anyway), so any noise only lasts for maybe 2 minutes tops.

Ya know... I haven't seen that squirrel this year... hmm.

 

Pellet gun.

 

I have found the best method to be something I learned from a book I read on Harry Houdini, which is to misdirect their attention without them knowing it. This can usually be accomplished with either diversionary games involving a soft frisbee or throwing rope toys and reinforcement with their favorite treats. Of course, taking them for long walks works wonders too!

Persistence is the key...

 

the trouble with this behaviour, espessially in herding breeds is that it is self rewarding.
i know you dont want to keep him in, which is fair enough, but how about a compromise?
you keep him indoors when you are not there until you have extinguished this behaviour.
indeed you probably wont stop this unless you do keep him in for a bit.
you cant stop him rewarding himself when you are not there, so you must remove him from that situation.
when you are there, only let him in the garden when you can actively watch him.
as soon as you see him even start looking for the birds tell him 'ah aaah' or 'leave it' or whatever command you choose, i use 'ah aah' as it cant be confused with anything else. if he stops, praise him up, give him a game etc. if he ignores you go out and quietly bring him in, dont make a fuss, dont tell him off, just bring him in. try again in a little while. when he does stop,throw a party!! he needs to know he is the best boy in the whole world!
it can be done, its done with every single working sheepdog. my old boy would bring my sheep in for me when asked, but knew not to give them a second glance if not instructed.
he also needs a job. i strongly believe that every working breed needs a job. they are too darn bright! if you dont give him a job, he will find one for himself like he has done and as much as you dont like him trying to keep birds neat and tidy and filing them in their correct place, it is highly satisfying for him!
teach him any daft thing you like, tricks or useful stuff. tikki will bring me my keys, my baccy pouch. molly would shut the doors for me. teach then to play dead, to dance, to sing. just teach him!
set up a few low jumps in the garden and teach him to jump them. heelwork to music, flyball, canicross, obedience. litterally there is nothing you cant teach him to do that doesnt require opposable thumbs!
check his food isnt sending him hyper too.
put his food in a kong and make him work to get it.
take him on long interesting walks.
if there is anyone in your area that does it, see about getting him some training on livestock. dont beleive those who will tell you you mustnt train them on livestock if you are not going to use them every day. if you dont do it every day, you may not reach opent trial standards, but if you try it with an experienced stockdog person, and he enjoys it, i promise you your relationship will go to a level you never thought possible!
hope that helps!
love bunjies (aka colliewoman)