Barking...to be bad!

That is definitely a good point about using a quieter voice, I will try that with Pidge.
Another concern that I have with bringing her in from outside when she barks is that when we open the door to come in she won't unless we call her, but when we call her and then put her in her crate for barking she stops coming when we call her. And then when we start putting her away without calling her and just try to pick her up and bring her in she runs away from us and there is no way I can catch her...she's a fast little mischief maker! What do I do then???
 
Shelties are so smart, aren't they! I've had this situation. They can hone in on when they think you are going to give them crate time. One of my can even tell between my 'outside' shoes (that I wear at home to do chores outside) and my 'going to town shoes' and so knows beforehand when I am leaving the house, and of course, reacts.
One good idea I have found for this, is to click and treat for coming to you, even when not calling her. Just sit outside and whenever she comes up click and treat. Then you can add in a few calls and click and treat when she comes up. I found early on that they learn the word 'treat' very quickly. lol
Make them yummy, good treats, not any of the boring dry stuff.
Next, treat for coming in the door when called. Then treat for going in the crate when told. I would keep reinforcing until she will come in and happily go in the crate to get her yummy treat.

Sher
 
Barking

I have to agree with what everyone has suggested about the barking.I have a look I can use with Shadow when he barks and he knows when I mean buisness but Sting on the other hand just does not know how to shut up.The only thing that bothered me is when you talked about a rolled up newspaper.
 
Sharon,
Thank you for your concern! I had never used a rolled up newspaper on Pidge, just a friend of mine had suggested to stay outside with her all the time and smack her with one when she barks...needless to say this is impractical as she would run away and I don't really want to hit Pidge with anything! I've just returned from a completely failed attempt in the backyard. Now whether I'm out there or not she is still barking insanely. I have to pretend to throw a toy to get her to come to me because she knows she is being bad and will be put away. I don't want her to start to think that toys are bad! Has anyone had any success with a citronella collar? I think it may get the idea across to her a little faster, but I don't know, maybe she'd outsmart it too!
 
Oh dear, those trying teens. Mind you Deska found his bark at about the same age and now just adores hearing his own voice. But he is much better than he was at that age. They do tend to settle down.

I have an ultrasonic collar. It may not stop them completely but they do tend to get sick of it and bark less. Often now Deska will just come inside if I put the collar on because he hates being beeped. I tried a citronella one but because his mane is so thick the citronella smell hung around and so then he didnt care if he got sprayed. I dont leave a collar on when he is inside.

I also have a slip lead for Deska so if he is outside barking I go out, slip the lead over his head and march him inside to time out - all without saying a word. It is more effective than yelling. Nowadays I often just let out a whistle and he will come inside anyway.

Keep up the training. It doesnt seem like anything sinks in when they go thru adolescence but when they get their brain back, they do remember.
 
When Indy goes nuts barking at the dog next door, he comes inside. No discussion, no fuss. I don't crate him, but neither does he get to be outside anymore

(Of course, its not Indy's fault, at all! Its the other dog next door that starts it....or so Indy trys to tell me! :lol: I do have to be carefull about discipline these days now that the boys are "organizing". Last thing I need is a grievance filed against me!
 
I'm sorry for my earlier post. When you said you were at the end of your rope, I took it literally.

You should have a command for "No Bark", don't be afraid to use that. I also use a finger to my lips as in "shhhh" as a hand signal. If you use them in the house, then he should recognise it outside also. I did use treats to teach my boy "No Bark", but eventually you have to stop or she will start to bark to get a treat. My boy hates being ignored the most, so that's what we use most of the time.

Try stepping outside where she can see you, and firmly say "No Bark", then cross your arms in front of you and turn your back on her. She will probably beg for attention, but be firm for at least a minute. For a short time I would treat her when she stops barking outside. Make her wait and be quiet for longer periods of time, then treat her and say "Good No Bark", "Good Girl".

Hope this helps. It is harder to keep them quiet when they have a lot of distractions going on.
 
Help help help!!!!!!!

Thank you so much everyone! Your responses have been great but I'm afraid either I'm not doing something right or Pidge has a little imp behind her ear telling her what to do :smile2: Now that she has "time outs" or is ignored when she's loud she barks even more the minute we ignore her and she now will not come for any reason and will not come back in the house either! We can not lure her or anything! She will come within two feet of the door then run away barking like crazy! We cannot catch her, she's way too fast. I think that she knows not to bark but she will just look at me and do it anyway...Help !!! What is my next step????? If I go outside at all while she's barking she continues but just runs away... :confused2:
 
These are all great suggestions for barking but it sounds at the moment like you have to put that aside and deal with the not coming issue. There's a definite stage they go through at this age, so it will pass, but until it does it sounds as if you need to take Pidge out on a leash so she doesn't have the opportunity not to refuse the "come" command. I know it's a pain (I've had to do this) but it really is worth the effort.

The trick that Connie (missjennygirl) taught me when dealing with this is to only let the dog run loose in the yard (even if your yard is fenced) with an extra long leash or rope attached to her collar. Then, when she runs by you, step on the leash and you've got her. Start that way, treat her every time you get her so she knows it's a good thing, and keep that up until you can work your way back off the leash. You can't leave her outside alone though because you don't want to risk her getting caught on something, so during this period you need to stay outside. But it does work, and once you've solved getting her to come to you, you can go back to the barking issue.
 
Ann said:
These are all great suggestions for barking but it sounds at the moment like you have to put that aside and deal with the not coming issue. There's a definite stage they go through at this age, so it will pass, but until it does it sounds as if you need to take Pidge out on a leash so she doesn't have the opportunity not to refuse the "come" command. I know it's a pain (I've had to do this) but it really is worth the effort.
Click to expand...

I so agree with Ann. At this age both mine went back on leash because they became unreliable. Even Deska, my shadow, decided to run off home one day (crossing a road) while Tully ran off into the bush for an hour chasing things (luckily I was getting reports from other bushwalkers as to her whereabouts). So the moral was - dont trust an adolescent pup off lead, ever.

Also, dont worry if she doesn't seem to be taking in the reprimands. Their brains really do go to mush and it often takes a lot more reinforcements to teach them. Leave a short leash on her at home when you are around - it makes it a lot easier to catch them (just use an old puppy collar or cut short an old lead - melt the ends so it doesnt fray). Or as someone else mentioned they did - put a harness on her.

Keep going with the training even if it doesnt look like its working - one day it will just sink in.
 
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