SA BASSETS

Hi All, I haven't posted in months due to job stress and relocating to the Netherlands!

We have finally found a house where our dogs are allowed and hopefully they will be joining us in next week - yipee!!!

My question to all Dutch members of the board...why don't the Dutch dogs bark? Maybe I'm just ignorant - but all Dutch dogs are soooo well behaved and don't bark?

We are quite worried as our dogs do bark!!

Any advice?

Thanks a ton!
Simone

Rubydoo

Why don't Dutch dogs bark?

Because they don't know the language!

Sorry...couldn't resist.

tee hee

Janice and little Ruby

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puttemanp

They DO know the language, they just have an accent :P

Patrick

SA BASSETS

Hi Guys, We are in such a bad spot...funnily enough our Dutch neighbours love our dogs but our South African neighbours here in the Netherlands have problems with our dogs barking in the day time!

We dont know what we are going to do!!

We have given them kongs filled with peanut butter and treats when we leave the house in the mornings - they have a carpet in their outside shed (with a kennel inside) to protect them from the cold.

They have torn a plant apart, dug holes, barked....i just feel like crying!!!

We go walking with them in the morning and at night - its always dark and rainy here - and this morning it was all covered in snow and ice.

Please help...

I know you guys are always full of knowledge.

S.

puttemanp

First of all, the bad news: get used to the weather I know all about it, I probably live about an hour drive away from you. It does get better in summer, but winters are mostly wet and cold with the occasional few days of snow (which melts in a few days time leaving just a pile of mud on the roads). In spring you'll be able to enjoy all the wonderful tulips
About the barking, you have 2 options: training and.... training. You could try a behavour specialist. If you've ever heard of 'Martin Gauss', you decided to live in the right country for you. He's a well known dog trainer in Europe and tens of training centers teach his method with excellent results.
You could also try a corrective colar, that either will spray citronella extract, make a (ultrasound) noise or give a more harsh correction with a low intensity electric shock when the dog barks. Remember, this sounds harsh, but is just used for training, meaning that you shouldn't use it more than a few days, the time needed for the dog to associate barking with something unpleasant, rather than the auto-satisfaction of hearing his own barking.

Hope this helps, and if you're ever near or in Brussels, make sure to drop by

Greetz

Patrick