I have these two beagles, and they've lived with me and my family for about a year.
The absolute SWEETEST dogs you could possibly imagine.
The problem is, when I walk them, they bark at people like crazy. People think they're vicious, but they're totally not.
It's gotten to the point where my neighbors yell/jeer at me when I walk by...
We've tried getting them harnesses... And I try the Cesar Milan crap but it doesn't seem to work for me..
And I've also noticed that they almost seem to be scared of people... Instead of vicious. (Apparently they were beaten by a previous owner, so I think this has to do with their nervousness around people... But I'm not sure if that makes sense because when they're not on a walk, they're generally fine with people.. Even if they bark at first they quickly act all sweet like they are)
What do I do to get them to stop barking? (I refuse to get a shock collar for them, btw)
I would suggesting finding ways to have people walk up and passed them while ignoring them. As soon as they realize their barking is doing nothing any domineering tendencies they have can calm down. If that doesn't work is there any place you can bring them for some no leash play time? An hour with no leash on and a good game of fetch can do wonders for beagles.
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Sounds like you need to spend some time desensitizing them to being around strangers while on a leash, and you may benefit from taking them to some socialization classes.
i suggest u to do all the teaching yourself.
they need to learn that barking is bad,
and they need to learn it from the owner.
not with beating or hitting them but u need to make them understand they did something wrong.
method usually depends on the dog's character
they need to get to know more strangers.
maybe invite friends to your house that your dogs dont know and get them used to them and then try socialising them with other dogs
I suggest looking up techniques by Victoria Stilwell as I cannot stand Ceaser Milan.
I can suggest walking them one at a time, as one can set the other off.
Teach them the "watch me" command, and build it up so that when someone walks by, the dog is distracted by the command and shouldn't be bothered about people walking passed if they are getting food.
Well try bringing some friends over that havn't met your dogs, and be in a room with both your dogs, and bring each person one by one inside of the room until the dogs become accustom to having strangers around them, or get one of the friends who havn't met your dogs to kind of get close to the dogs, touch the dogs, show that strangers aren't harmful, ya know?