How can I stop my dog charging and barking at passers by?

Every now and then I have my dog (jack russell) in my front yard with me when I'm gardening or watering and she has a very bad habit of barking like mad and charging up to the front gate whenever someone walks past.Unfortunately someone put in a complaint to my council and I need to do something about it. I can see why because she has taken quite a few people by surprise when they walk past. She can't in any way get her head through our gate or get out of the property either so there is no danger that she can bite anyone but I'm sure she gives people a fright.I've tried telling her off, I've tried to be quicker than her and intercede when I see someone walk past, I've tried my hand held ultrasonic device pointed at her, I've even tried squirting her with the garden hose.Not much is working.Please can anyone help me with some training tips. She seems to think that she has to be the guard dog of the house. We have 3 other dogs and none of them go off like a bat out of hell like my little jack russell does.I have thought about tying her up on a long lead but she's always roaming around in amongst the plants and in the hot weather she likes to just lie in a shaded spot. I have also thought about getting her a little bark collar but I don't know if that will stop the charging behaviour.I really want to fix the behaviour and not opt for a band aid solution.I totally get what you all are saying. Yes, my dog does have a right to protect what she considers is her property and I know she can't harm anyone. I did think about this. I guess to some point it drives me around the bend a bit too because she has such a loud bark and the last thing I need is for some poor elderly person to walk by and have heart failure because of my dog. That kinda scares me.I think I will call my council and ask if there is any rule against my dog barking on our property and protecting it and see what they say.Danielle - I like the idea of the tie up and yep, my dog is a super smart little cookie. I got to the point with the hand held ultrasonic device where I just showed it to her and she wouldn't bark. But that was when I let her out in the back yard and she would instinctively chase after the birds that were sitting in the grass. It doesn't work in the front yard though unfortunately.

watch dog wisperer but for now, make sure your are walking dominently and always correct behavior as soon as it happends

What you are trying to stop is exactly what I expect from my dogs. I expect them to raise holy hell at the fence line at anything or any one who passes.Had many complaints from a specific neighbor but Animal Control was sent out several times to listen to my dogs barking. They only barked when there was a reason to bark & don't ever just sit out & bark for no reason. finally the head of AC came out cause there were so many complaints & her officers could never find ground to cite me for their barking. She stood & listened to for about a half hour, while we talked at the fence line. They barked three different times while she was here but each time there was a reason for the barking. When she left she said she saw nothing wrong her & that my yard reminder her of her own yard. She also said dogs bark, they don't moo, meow, neh, cackle or make sounds other than what a dog make. Dogs bark, that is what they do.You might try a long distance correction tool. A coke can, a beer can....put some small rocks in it, a small hand full is more than enough. seal the hole on top with tape. attach a bail to the rim of the can. Using the bail sling the can in the dogs direction so it will land close to the dog but not hitting the dog. When the can lands beside him, the noise scares him & he runs away.You do not want the dog to hear the can coming so be sure you sling by the bail. Make up several so you are not constantly going to retrieve the one you just threw. The dog should not know that you were the cause of the noise. So comfort the dog but keep up the corrections.This is avoidance conditioning, to avoid the loud horrible noise , you just don't bark at the gate.

I have a Jack as well, she's 8, and she used to do that ALL THE TIME. I actually had someone put in a barking complaint saying she was doing it all night long!! When they showed up at my house with teh complaint in hand I told them where to shove it for the simple fact: I'm not an a&&hole, my Jack does NOT stay outside all night. Regardless, I'm not sure where you live, but if she's protecting your yard against possible intruders, what right does anyone have to tell you you need to do something about it?Helping to stop that however...it's horrible, it sucks, they hate it, but they learn and they learn fast. Put a dog chain outside in teh middle of the yard. As soonas she does it, tie her up. When she calms down, let her off, when she does it again, tie her up. Jacks hate being tied up, but it works better than yelling, spraying, screaming, chasing her around, etc...been there done that my friend!! Try the tie up, they are smart smart animails, she'll catch on to the point where all you'll have to do is show her the chain and she'll stop. it worked for me, I hope it will work for you!