Awful dog? or Awful Owners?

I admit to lacking any motivation to blog over the past few months despite a lot of happenings to write about. Quite frankly, we have an awful dog. People say dogs aren't awful, they're the creation of their owners... so what the heck are we doing wrong?! Everyone we've asked seems to have a different answer to that, not helpful.

Since the summer:

Bad behavior 1) Rams has continued to bark. Car doors slamming... footsteps outside or upstairs ... doorbells or knocking on TV,  accidentally bumping the wall with anything... bark bark bark (side note, we are temporarily living in an apartment which may amplify any behavioral issues).  He's constantly on edge which has become worse with the move.

We tried yelling, but were told he think's we're barking with him. We tried calling him with treats to get him to stop, but that doesn't stop him from starting, and what about when I'm showering? We tried grabbing his snout, and sternly saying 'No,' but what about when we can't reach him? Or the fact that he's so worked up I'm partially scared to get bit... Now, we sit on edge as much as he is. We listen for every noise and try to distract him from them before he barks. Now, noises stress me out at the anticipation of his barking most likely adding to his stress, and leading to more barking. Sometimes he does pace around crying and whimpering at noises, I think this is progress... he's trying not to bark?


Bad behavior 2) Separation Anxiety? I know, not a 'bad behavior' but annoying. We've received two notes from our upstairs neighbor. "PLEASE stop your dog from barking!!!" Thanks for the info.... We aren't sure if he is crying because we left, or because he hears something or sees something. Either way... this is what we're trying:

Yes those blinds are taped together. There will be NO looking out the window while we are gone.

(We tried crating, that was the first note.... we tried just the bedroom, that was the second note. We think the anxiety is worse when he is confined.)

Bad behavior 3) Pulling on the leash, even in his prong. Two incidents have led us to think we need to revisit the pulling. The first being that one car ride we forgot his prong and I tried to take him walking in a regular collar. Disaster. He frustrates me so badly I could scream. The second being that after a run his neck was actually bleeding from his prong. I'm not sure how... I hadn't been yanking, and I've yanked it on my own arm quite hard and it's uncomfortable, but not sharp at all. Maybe the blood wasn't from the collar, I had clipped his nails that day, he could have scratched himself. But I got nervous either way. But seriously, to pull hard enough in a prong you'll bleed? What's wrong with you!? (We also were criticized by the trainer at Petco, apparently there is "No reason at all for a Springer to be in a prong" sorry lady you don't know our springer, and you just lost us as customers. If we come to you for help, don't criticize us.

We started to stop moving when he got ahead of us. This is working although it took Greg's patience the first few times, I don't have enough. The dog is supposed to realize you've stopped, look at you to see what's going on, then you can tell them to get to their position, or give them a treat when they do it on their own. Rams continues to pull while you stand motionless, as if he pulls hard enough you'll start moving again. Sometimes he goes up onto two feet, strangling himself at the same time. Other times he'll sit with the leash as tight as possible and stare at the sky watching birds. :Sigh: Thank you Greg for waiting him out and getting this started. He's getting better, but still highly distracted into pulling by smells, people, dogs, squirrels, birds, leaves, anything that moves....

Bad behavior 4) Demanding attention. If you sit in the only chair in the apartment, he needs up. If you say no, he tries again. I counted, 8 attempts in 20 minutes, alternating putting hi paws on you and crying at the door even though he just was outside.

We started ignoring him completely. Although he seems depressed it's working. He now can lay in his dog bed and sleep, or stare at the door waiting for a noise.

Sorry for my vent. You'll be happy to know, we enrolled in a new, positive, training class for Rams. It's an 'Attention & Distraction" class... We'll go as a whole family and see what we can do. Last night was the first night, successful, and we weren't the bad kid!