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By Jack Beresford
Senior Reporter
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A dog trainer has revealed what happened when she tried out an affordable hack for getting her miniature poodle to stop barking out the window.
Willa is a certified dog trainer from rural New Zealand who just made the move to Brisbane City in Australia with her 2-year-old canine companion, Billie.
"Her full name is actually Billie Goat because she's all black except for the little white tuft on her chin that looks like a billy goat's beard," Willa told Newsweek. "She's definitely lived up to the name because one of her favorite things to do is climb."
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Willa and Billie are regular fixtures on social media, with Willa often posting videos chronicling Billie's "training journey" under the handle billieandwilla. It's all been going very well. "She's very confident and loves training," Willa said.
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But Billie's move to the city has not been without its challenges. "Moving countries is a big change for a dog," Willa said. "She was used to a pretty quiet life in the countryside."
Since the move, the peace and quiet they once enjoyed has been replaced by the hustle and bustle of city life. But up until recently it wasn't just the hubbub of the sprawling metropolis that was causing disruption. Billie was reacting to her new surroundings by barking. A lot.
"We moved into an apartment fairly close to the city, and there is definitely a lot more noise and foot traffic than she is used to," Willa explained. "We can see two houses from our deck with a glass fence, and when the neighbors have been going into their backyard to hang the washing, or if there's possums or turkeys running around, she's been barking."
Animal noise is a leading cause of disputes among neighbors in the U.S. A survey of 2,000 American adults conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Homes.com saw it ranked among the top five most common problems that led to an argument with a neighbor.
Billie wasn't at that stage quite yet, and Willa emphasizes that it was "not crazy nonstop barking." However, she was concerned over what Billie's barking could mean.
"She was communicating that she doesn't feel safe," she said. "It's important to me that she is comfortable in her house, so I knew I wanted to do something to help manage the environment so she could feel safe."
So Willa went away and researched some potential solutions. That was when she discovered an affordable and—crucially—"renter-friendly" solution.
Using a paint roller and wood glue, she applied a series of coats to the glass that Billie was spying on his neighbors and other animals through. In doing so, she was able to create a frosted glass effect that prevented her miniature poodle from spotting and barking at anything outside while still letting light through.
"It took me about two hours each time because I did thin layers and waited for them to dry completely before applying the next coat," she said. "I did it twice because I put it on too thick the first time and you could see the glue drip texture. It was actually a really simple and satisfying process."
Willa admits both she and her flatmate had been "a bit apprehensive" about how it would turn out. "We were both a bit worried about whether it would actually be easy to remove since we are renting the place," she said.
Fortunately, it proved "super easy" to remove, with Willa showcasing the application and effect in a video posted to her TikTok account. She said she would "definitely recommend" the approach but still sees it as a stopgap and is keen to work with Billie on reducing the amount she barks.
"I'm hoping to do some more training with Billie to get her more comfortable in the space," she said. "But it's a great solution for now so that she's not rehearsing the unwanted behavior and making it a habit while we get on top of the underlying issue," she said.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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