Bark, bark, bark, bark, bark...................

I used a penny can to interrupt my boy's barking, and teach him the Quiet command.

Sometimes when he was being barky, I would kneel down right next to him, and talk in very quiet voice. He would quit barking, so he could listen to me.

That said, my boy was never really a problem barker to begin with.

When all else fails a (no-pea / no-cork) referee whistle can be used to interrupt an unwanted behavior. At close range, they are horrifyingly loud. (I would only use that as a last resort, and not on a dog that was fearful or reactive.)
 
My Sheltie Angel Cody loved to bark. Anytime he would go outside, he would let out 5-6 barks just to let everyone know he was in the yard. Most of the neighbors knew when they passed the house, they were going to get an earful. Once he got started, I would let him have his fun, and then gave the "ENOUGH" command. If he did not stop, I would go get him and make him come inside. It took a while, but he finally caught on. Don't know how this would work on two dogs, but it does take time and a lot of patience! I sure do miss those barks...
 
Do they bark the minute you step outside of the house? If that's what they do, then the instant they bark I'd say TOO BAD and go back right in. A couple of reps and they get it!

If you're going for a walk around the block and they start barking, I'd do the same and head right back home the minute they start up; if you're driving to a park and they bark when you get out and start walking, I'd return to the car, or if that doesn't seem to work, then I'd just drive home too. It's a huge "penalty" for them seeing as they are so excited to be outside. If they bark, they get penalized and the penalty is they get taken home. It's similar to a time out/naughty corner but in a larger context!

Mind you my dogs bark and I love that they do, but while I'm fine if they are barking as we play fetch or if they are running around a field, I'd go half mad if they barked all the way during a walk around a park! :eek2:
 
They do not bark on their leash when walking or in the car, well, sometimes in the car, but I am usually so far from home, I can't take them back. You see, I am 85 miles from the nearest big city. They mainly bark in the yard when alone or when someone walks by and they are horrible when the doorbell rings or someone knocks. They are so engrossed in it, they even snapped at me once. I tell you, it is no fun. I would never have two again.
 
I may be the only person to say this, but I revel in my Shelties' barking!
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-- as Chris said . . .

I do too. I count on my two AND my neighbor's little Munchkin AND my other neighbor's big lab Patches. I also count on one of my llamas who will squeal like a giant squeaky wheel on a giant wagon at a predator. I have learned the meaning of different alerts and they certainly help me. Shay has a "woo, woo, woo" car bark and an "uf uf uf" bark at an animal in the wrong place and an all out growl-bark hysteria at a human intruder. When Melody joins in, time to to investigate, usually with a weapon in hand. I live on a mountain top. I am alone all day and some nights when the husband stays in town with his elderly father. I might feel differently in the city, with neighbors, although back in the day my dogs came along because I was physically attacked and a ginormous Aussie was a great comfort and deterrant.

Still, at 3 AM when someone has to tinkle, barking through the house and into the backyard is somewhat frowned upon. A stern QUIET works, as does SHHHHH.

THey will grow up -- they are young, Bella is new and the whole household is still in turmoil. Provide ear plugs to the neighbors and do your best with the shushing.
 
I was at the vet yesterday and ran into a friend who breeds Rough Collies. She had 3 pups from her latest litter with her. One started barking and they all joined and just kept going and going. OMG the high pitched loud bark was ear splitting. Sheltie bark aint got nothing on a Rough Collie bark!
 
Laddie's Mom said:
They do not bark on their leash when walking or in the car, well, sometimes in the car, but I am usually so far from home, I can't take them back. You see, I am 85 miles from the nearest big city. They mainly bark in the yard when alone or when someone walks by and they are horrible when the doorbell rings or someone knocks. They are so engrossed in it, they even snapped at me once. I tell you, it is no fun. I would never have two again.
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Honestly, it's not because you have two of them. Though, it might escalate more because of two. I had Honey in NC before Ruutu was even born and she'd bark at every sound and everything. I knew this going into bringing her down though because she was 8, going on 9. She barks outside, she barks on leash and she barks in the house.


Add a 8 week old puppy (now almost 14 months). Ruutu doesn't bark when he sees animals (cats, squirrels, anything) or people. He does bark at sounds outside of our door, but not too often and only if he's on the steps. He doesn't bark at all when on a leash unless playing. He barks inside to play. He DOES bark if Honey is barking, or if he wants to make Honey bark (he'll stare out our blinds, let out one bark and then go and steal whatever Honey had). If Honey is barking because she sees something or hears something, Ruutu actually barks AT her for barking. It's weird and cute at the same time.

Needless to say, if we had JUST Ruutu, it would be a silent house minus playtime. If we had JUST Honey it would be a loud chaos like it is currently. None of my dogs have ever barked in a car though unless it's because I was walking back to the car or they saw another dog.

Granted, you have litter mates. They're made up of the same gene. But even Ruutu's sisters act completely different than him as well as his brothers.


Edited to add: I frankly love barky dogs because I know they'll alert me if needed. It also makes me feel safer because my fiance is often gone for conferences. My neighbors all enjoy my dogs because they have their house protected without even the works of having dogs.
 
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