I know it's been talked about before - barking & separation anxiety

[trufflove]

I've got two sheltie boys at home, one is about 2.5 years old and one is almost 7 months.

Yesterday we were approached by a horrid complaint from our neighbor who called our dogs vicious little things, which, if you see them, they look like fluffy marshmallows and act like them, too. They just bark quite a bit which has been exacerbated since we got our puppy.

I have read of some techniques where we just stop what we're doing if they start to bark - has anyone found some great ways to calm down the barking? They bark and growl when they hear the cleaning of our floors in the hallway, things outside, etc.

In addition, they bark and squeal quite a bit when we leave the apartment and I believe that will be a bigger problem to tackle. I'd also like to know if anyone found some good tips for that, too.

Thanks for the help in advance. Have a great day to you and your Shelties!

http://i47.tinypic.com/2zt9fsx.jpg

[Jess041]

I have no suggestions off the top of my head, I just wanted to say your boys are too CUTE!

Just send them to me.. that will take care of the barking problem (at least for your neighbor, my neighbor on the other hand....)

[dblock]

aw, nice pictures,

Just before you leave, put some treats in a Kong, This helps to divert their attention.

But, your pups are way cute. i love belly shots.

[Shelby's mom]

We give Shelby a treat when we leave. If we are not out the door fast enough she will run at the door and bark at us a few times then proceed to sit on her chair and watch out the window. We just do our best to act like leaving the house is no big deal this seems to help. But Shelby doesn't have seperartion anxiety, she just yells at us for not taking her along.

For the barking I do not know how much I can help. This is what we do. Shelby loves to sit on her chair and bark at everything that goes by. She will run to us and cry telling us something is outside. I am good at ignoring her or just saying thank you for telling us and she will stop. DH isn't as good and tends to sternly tell her enough and then she barks more.

If there is a constant distraction outside like kids playing in the street we can not stop her from barking. That is when I get out her favorite chew, a bully stick. She will then forget about the distraction and eat her bone.

I am sure you will get some more suggestion here.

PS I love the pics! You have 2beautifull dogs.

[PatC]

The best advice I got was to just leave quickly and without fuss. One of my two used to carry on when I left the house--I made them both sit, gave them a treat, and was gone while they were still chewing. I'd hear barking after I shut the door, but for less than a minute. Eventually, the barking stopped altogether. And I stopped giving the treats. Now I can leave with no barking--sometimes they don't even bother to get up to follow me to the door.

[mellie]

Your boys are sweet !!! I find Sally barks less if she is well exercised, but sometimes she wants to bark at every little sound. We have get on her mat and settle- she knows what we mean by that, but she still really wants to bark. We allow alert barking but not crazy constant barking so we try to get her before she goes over the top. Sometimes I will get her to do her tricks- high fives jump through my arms down etc. . We only have one dog right now so it's not like she has someone to egg her on barking wise, so you will have to get them both distracted- maybe a game of tug will shut them up...there have been good suggestions, hopefully some of them will work with your guys.

[seashel]

With mine I have found a set routine prior to leaving helps so they know they are not coming too. I shut the curtains so they can't see out and put on the radio on, change the water bowls and shut the doors. They are left with a biscuit and where possible they will have been out for their walk.

I used to give them frozen Kongs but unfortunatly Revel and Epic squabble over food so have suspended this for the time being.

[mellie]

Originally Posted by seashel

With mine I have found a set routine prior to leaving helps so they know they are not coming too. I shut the curtains so they can't see out and put on the radio on, change the water bowls and shut the doors. They are left with a biscuit and where possible they will have been out for their walk.

I used to give them frozen Kongs but unfortunatly Revel and Epic squabble over food so have suspended this for the time being.

Yes, I forgot routines- shelties love them...Dh and I are at the point in life where we have routines in place- no kids at home, so we are pretty predictable. Sally likes to do things on schedule, I guess she finds comfort in them just like we do. Consistancy is reassuring.

[*Caro]

Oh dear, the games of one-upmanship with two young dogs. You'll definately need to put a cap on it so it doesn't get any worse.

When you leave are they crated or free? I agree that giving them some food to stay occupied while you leave will make things a lot easier, if they are crated then a Kong or treat dispenser, if they are free then a 'treasure hunt'. I'd be dispensing their kibble meals via treat dispensers, and if you are leaving in the morning then give them their breakfast as you leave, that way they will be happy for you to go and it will keep them occupied and give them time to settle back down.

Keep really vigilant on their barking when they are outside, in fact I wouldn't leave the 7mth old in the yard if you arent around to bark. At that age you've got more of a chance of nipping it in the bud if you keep on top of it.