Night-time guarding against planes + helicopters: need to crack this!

[BelleinLondon]

Hi everyone, hoping you can help me solve a dilemma.

During the day mr minipoodle is chilled out, having a snooze, generally relaxed. Come twilight, he goes into full home defence mode against airborne traffic, particularly as soon as the flashy lights of the airplanes are visible. It has become more of a problem the last six months (he's 3) after we renovated our flat so his favourite place to watch the world go by now includes a much better view of the troublesome air creatures.

We live under heathrow flight path so it's not like the planes are going away any time soon. Please help with techniques to stop this nightly performance...

We started out squirting some water at him when he did it which worked but I didn't really like doing that to him, so stopped; dh loves to yell at him to come back inside where he's quiet.. that never works so not sure why he persists (?!); i have a partial technique of going to offer him a treat in the kitchen which normally gets him back inside being a good boy... but two minutes later he'll be back at it. eventually he takes himself off to the non-airplane side of the flat to have a snooze, but it's wearing everyone out in the interim!

[Blackpuddingbertha]

I'd guess he's doing it because when he barks at them they go away (in his eyes). He thinks his methods are very successful and is probably very proud of himself!

would treating him for not barking work? So distract him when they go over and treating if he's quiet. Could take a few nights of you hanging out in the garden with him though...

[SpicyPear]

I have an intermittent aeroplane barker and am also on Heathrow flight path. The police helicopter sends him wild.

It is much much worse if he is a bit bored and looking for something to do. What is your evening routine? Could you, for example, introduce a twilight street walk for 30 mins to tire him out or do some play or training so he is not obsessing about the planes?

[BelleinLondon]

Blackpudding - I totally agree, he has 100% success rate! I haven't worked on the 'quiet' command that i've seen mentioned on here a few times, so good idea, i'll look that up.

SpicyPear - he's gone for a big walk already (my routine is home from work, nice walk in the park, chuck a ball around until he refuses to move, back home for some games like hide and seek with his dinner, and a general potter about, have a brush (poodle), etc.. But it's almost like the barking is now also part of his inbuilt routine iyswim? i get the feeling that his day is just not complete without it!

and then if its not airplanes its a fox or a cat or a door slamming.. it's almost like he's more nervous at night time?

[SpicyPear]

I know exactly what you mean. One of my dogs is terrified of the dark. I would be looking to stop his access to the special barking at flying things spot to try and break the habit. It's not without merit to teach quiet command but I would be reserved in any expectations for success as he is will be quite over stimulated