My 4 year old sheltie will bark & jump on my sliding doors. At this point the wood around the window is now splintered and severly scratched. I have tried to put pillows on the window, etc., to protect the doors. Is there a way to train her to stay away from the windows? What about those snapping gizmos that look like a mouse trap that they sell for dog training? Any ideas? My husband is furious.
Barking & jumping on windows
- Thread starter bubber5
- Start date
BarbV
Forums Celebrity
My forever pup did that all his life. In his case, it was his reflection in the window that he was "guarding" us from. It was actually quite funny most of the time. Every window he looked into, that "damn dog" was there again! He even burnt his nose on the gas fireplace by charging his reflection on that. I put up a fireplace screen after that.
The only suggestion might be to cover the sliding door with blinds when not in use.
Good luck!
The only suggestion might be to cover the sliding door with blinds when not in use.
Good luck!
Barking and jumping on windows
No, I am sure it is not potty cause she barks at the front door for that. There are times when racoons have walked past the door. Now, maybe she hears something and thinks they are they. I am not sure. What about those "mouse trap" contraptions that are specifically for dogs that go off and scare them?
No, I am sure it is not potty cause she barks at the front door for that. There are times when racoons have walked past the door. Now, maybe she hears something and thinks they are they. I am not sure. What about those "mouse trap" contraptions that are specifically for dogs that go off and scare them?
sable
Forums Enthusiast
I have never seen the mouse trap thingy so not much help there. Some of us use the coke can. Take a coke can and fill with pennies, or bolts, so when your sheltie goes nuts at the door, shake the can, throw it at his feet. Say down, after awhile he will catch on. Believe me it works.
Barb could be right, mirror mirror on the wall, who is the most gorgeous sheltie of them all?
Barb could be right, mirror mirror on the wall, who is the most gorgeous sheltie of them all?
BarbV
Forums Celebrity
I'd be careful about mouse traps or whatever if you want her to use the door to go outside. It'll just make her skittish if you scare her away from it. It might also make her skittish of other sliding doors (if you ever take her to other people's houses, for instance, you might not get her out the door when you want her to!)
Step 1: Figure out WHY the dog is barking/jumping at the window. Could be something in the yard, a noise, wanting out (which you already said you don't think is the case here), or something else. Figure out why the dog is jumping, what are they gaining from the exercise? Do you always react a certain way when they do it? Has there ever been a time when they were encouraged to react to the window?
Step 2: Provide an alternate option for the dog to do instead of jumping at the window.
I've said it before, but it bares repeating ... Don't tell the dog what NOT to do, rather tell them what TO DO. So instead of punishing the behaviour that they are doing, figure out why they are doing that behaviour and provide them with an appropriate way to react to it rather than the negative one that they currently are doing.
For example, if you think your dog is barking at the window because there is something in the yard that they are alerting to, what would be an acceptable way for them to alert you other than jumping at the window? Would you prefer that they come to you? Sit? Lay down? Pick one action that you are comfortable with and ask that they do it instead of jumping at the window. So anticipate when they are going to go to the window and begin the routine (this does take supervision and thinking ahead ... but so does all dog training, it is not a lazy-man's activity
). If you see them approaching the window, ask them to come away from the window and do the action that you prefer (sit, down, come, etc.). Reward when they do that alternate behaviour. Keep at it, persistence and consistency is key. Every time they go to the window, distract them and ask for the alternate action. Reward when they do that rather than the window jumping. If they ever offer the alternate action instead of jumping on their own, HUGE praise and reward!
Shelties are alert dogs, they will alert. You just need to show them an acceptable way of doing so.
Step 2: Provide an alternate option for the dog to do instead of jumping at the window.
I've said it before, but it bares repeating ... Don't tell the dog what NOT to do, rather tell them what TO DO. So instead of punishing the behaviour that they are doing, figure out why they are doing that behaviour and provide them with an appropriate way to react to it rather than the negative one that they currently are doing.
For example, if you think your dog is barking at the window because there is something in the yard that they are alerting to, what would be an acceptable way for them to alert you other than jumping at the window? Would you prefer that they come to you? Sit? Lay down? Pick one action that you are comfortable with and ask that they do it instead of jumping at the window. So anticipate when they are going to go to the window and begin the routine (this does take supervision and thinking ahead ... but so does all dog training, it is not a lazy-man's activity
). If you see them approaching the window, ask them to come away from the window and do the action that you prefer (sit, down, come, etc.). Reward when they do that alternate behaviour. Keep at it, persistence and consistency is key. Every time they go to the window, distract them and ask for the alternate action. Reward when they do that rather than the window jumping. If they ever offer the alternate action instead of jumping on their own, HUGE praise and reward! Shelties are alert dogs, they will alert. You just need to show them an acceptable way of doing so.
BarbV
Forums Celebrity
Yep, yep, yep!
As always, Gee!
You are right on the mark!
As always, Gee!
You are right on the mark!