Our dog is constantly barking non stop

The dog sounds miserable stuck out in the garden all day and night. It sounds like you don't even bring it for a walk. The dog is probably slowly going insane.

why have you got the dog ?

@Ginger83

I have one of these, Shitzu/Bichon, gorgeous dog very friendly, loyal, compassionate, loves people and company. They are very determined and persistent, dogs that know what they want, will take you for a walk were they decide which way to go.

Mine gets very excited when he meets people he knows and starts singing in a doggy way. I'm his third home and have him 7 years. He came with a reputation for barking a lot. I realised he was nervous and needed a lot of reassurance to give him confidence that things were ok, which took a while. After this his trust built and he quietened down. He still barks to defend the house at the arrival of visitors, newspapers, post, cats, birds or anybody in his garden for that matter while I'm in the house, silent when he's home alone. Loves to lie in a sunny spot anytime, outside only works when it is warm.

They have a variety of barks to suit the occasion. When he needs out he'll give a particular bark on repeat until he gets out. The same when he wants back in, constant non stop asking to come back in, in a polite sort of way, not aggressive.

This is were your dog's problem lies. As a breed they are house dogs, they live with the people they love in their home. She has been kicked out after nine years inside and does not understand what is going on and just wants back into her home. She needs walking, 40 - 60 minutes in the morning and 15 - 20 in the afternoon, confined to a garden does not give her that. Then she'll sleep for most of the day.

I appreciate that you have health issues and wish you well, but the dog needs care too. If you really feel that you can't give her the life that she needs then I'm sorry to suggest that you must let somebody else it give to her for your and your family's sake. Leaving this poor dog outside is just cruel to both her and you.

Have you tried walking the dog. A dog run and a kennel is a miserable existence.

Get the dog a home where they'll have the patience to look after her. Sounds like you've other priorities and the dog is not one of them now. Bark collars are insane. Always look for a good home before anything like that.

You're not in a position to bring the dog on a walk every day or give it the attention it needs.

Seriously need to rehome it at this stage. The barking is driving you mad and the loneliness is driving the dog mad. Everyone loses.

Dogs won’t / don’t go where they sleep and rest. Why don’t you bring her back in. Buy a dog crate.Feed her in the crate then when she barks then take her outside to go. Then bring her back in and let her free around the house. If you feed her at regular times ( twice a day) then you should have a regular patten.

You could also put a dog flap in your back door so that she goes out when she needs to go. It’s not easy but the dog sounds lonely and is barking for company. Another thing you could do is get a dog trainer in but she is elderly though so don’t know how responsive your dog would be. But get her checked at vet as well.

You are a dog's world

Everything they need you must provide.

You and everyone in the household must provide that.

In return they provide , friendship , love , affection everything that is wonderful about having a pet in your life .

If you can't provide , you can't expect the above because the dog doesn't know any better and the dog deserves better

The household needs to look at what it can do. If you can't provide (for whatever reasons) you need to look to re-home , dont be selfish.

This needs to be addressed now. Not in a weeks time or when you have time. Make time. And if you can't make the time because of whatever reasons you know what the answer is .

One thing that is jumping out at me from your posts Op is that there is a lack of any affection in the words you use to describe your dog, including using an anti bark collar on an 11 year old small dog. Not sure if it has always been that way, or has the health focus meant the dog was sidelined and the dog was acting out because of that? Either way, its not good for any of you as you almost seem resentful of the dog.

The words you are using come across that the dog is a pest / nuisance at this stage for you. At 11, a dog should be part of the family, enjoying their retirement with those who love them. Shih Tzu's and Bischons are intelligent and crave company and attention so no wonder they are barking.

I would ask you why you are keeping the dog at this stage.

Treat them as family or dont keep them, certainly not as a garden ornament.

When I think of the lengths I go to make the dogs comfortable in their old age…

I will stop at nothing to keep them happy and let them know they're loved. It is the very least any of us can do for a little animal that never chose to come and live with me but provided me with years of entertainment and affection.

OP, a few years from now when you are once again tempted to buy a cute designer crossbreed puppy, please remind yourself how annoyed and impatient you were when this one stopped being cute.

The dog has been banished. They're social animals and you have cut her off from everything she cares about. That's why she's barking.