barking, barking-barking at birds, barking at cats

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Estella'smom

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Estella, our beloved 14th month old sheltie, has begun to be more barky. She barks at the cats every morning. The cats get fed first thing and are very excited. I take Estella out of the crate and for a pee in the backyard. She barks like crazy to come in and proceeds to bark at the cats as they follow me to the basement to eat. She is not allowed in the basement. she will bark at the top of the stairs while they eat and ignore her own breakfast until I close the door.

She will bark at the back door in the morning and evening during her puppy crazy moments. She pretty reliably goes outside to do her business. I am hesitant to deny her the trip to the yard, but yesterday and today, she has streaked outside and then barked at the tree with the squirrel nest at the far side of the yard. Once she starts barking, she will not stop. She will not come when called and, if I try to pick her up, she will run away at top speed. Then she will circle back and continue barking. I do not like the ignoring my command and I worry that the neighbors do not want to hear a barking puppy at 6:30 am.

Suggestions?
 
With just one dog it becomes easy to work with to contain the barking. If she doesnt know the command bark teach it to her, than followed by NO BARK..also as far as the running away barking not listening in general go back to basics. She get tethered to you until she re-learns that the behavior is not acceptable.
 
Honey is over two, but as a rule, just because she's so excited about finally being up and outside, the first couple of trips in the morning are on a leash. After that she's calmer and I can let her out loose...

It is easy to calm them down a little with exteremly consistant work, but if you have a barker, you can't lapse. I actually even use workers that are on the street as an excuse to train Honey. I bring her out with some turkey and we work on her staying quiet. I feel a little bad for the workers, but it's great practice.
 
Pogo, the sheltie we take care of, perodically, is very excitable in the yard.

I, also, bring him out in the yard, first thing, on his leash.

In fact, Pogo does his business while on the leash. He would be too distracted in the yard, running and barking to go potty.

Then after he goes potty, the leash comes off.

This is what works for us.
 
Shelby does her fair share of barking too. Especially if the neighbor kids are out playing. She knows that when she is told to "get in the house" she will always get a treat if she comes in immediately, which she does.

I also don't want her bothering the neighbors (even though they say they don't mind). So if she is barking like a nut and running the fence it is time to come in. Once in the house she calms down and is quiet. So she knows barking outside means she looses her outside privelages. Even though she can care less if she is in or out.

I don't know if that was the correct way to train her but it has worked for us. We did the same when we had Hollie.
 
I use Don't Bark. NO is my favorite word. If they are so distracted I make them come in also.

I realize where your at. mine herd and bark at squirrels, deer, ferral cat, and so on.
 
Just like some teenagers: all mouth and rebellion! :lol: I use the sharp "AAHH" sound for curtailing unwanted behavior that I'm not going to argue about.
 
I threaten them with no dinner or yell cookie and they come running. My neighbour's daughter was in shock yesterday when I told the dogs they wouldn't have any supper unless they stopped barking and Liam and Emma came running in. She couldn't get over the fact that they stopped barking at me speaking in a normal tone of voice.:lol:
 
Given she is an adolescent I'd be putting some tight reins on the behaviour. When Deska was this age I kept a short lead on him (cut down an old lead) so I could easily grab him and take him inside or to time out, without a word. That was at recommendation of a vet behaviourist and it does work, altho as mentioned, when you have a barker you need to keep on top of the behaviour.

If she's barking at the cats - time out, barks at the basement - time out, barks at birds - time out. When she goes outside she goes on lead or is supervised so you can grab her and put her in time out when she starts barking. I understand you may not want to restrict her outside time, but it is better to restrict her access now that spend the next 15yrs with a barking dog. Esp one that has to be kept inside because of neighbourhood complaints!

Also teach her to come inside regularly - call her (or whistle - that works for my dogs) when she is being calm and give her a little treat.

For my dogs, time out was either the laundry - I put a little barrier across or room I could shut the door. They get let out when they calm down and I do not talk to them until they are calm - then they get praise. Honestly, being strict now will save you years of stress in the future.
 
The barking is improving

I did as many suggested and started to bring Estella in once her Barkapalooza started. She is much improved yesterday and today. I believe that she is a quick study.

The cat barking is a two way street. Last night I was convinced that the cats were invoking her barking. I would get her to stop and those cats would be back to wind her up! Sneaky cats!

I can keep her from waking up the neighbors but I can't keep her from waking the household. The cats want their breakfast and so does she. If I feed her first the sneaky cats try and steal her puppy kibble.They will tag team her right out of the bowl. Then the barking starts. If I feed them first, she gets excited by the smell of their food and their excited meowing. Then the barking starts.

Maybe we all need some earplugs.
 
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