Barking

[Jan244]

Today I plan to start training Spencer to control his barking using the "It's Me or The Dog" way mentioned by Crystal1. As far as barking at the door when I am about to let him out, what works with him is "do you want to go out?" I start to open the door. If he stays in his sit and doesn't bark at all, the door opens all the way. If he breaks the sit and/or barks, the door closes and we start all over again. Now if the "bark" signal and the "quiet" signal will work, there will be a major celebration going on here.

 

[Caro]

I do a few things to shut my two up (thanks to advice from a behaviourist or two). I have two barky dogs next door too and we both had noise complaints.

1. "Okay, thankyou" so now I know you want to alert me to something - you can be quiet.

2. In the yard - walk out and put a lead on and pull them inside without saying a word.

3. Whistle - I whistle to get them inside when I can't be bothered going out to get them. Only works if occassionally you treat them or give them your attention.

4. Muzzle and collars - Mine can get their muzzles off in less than a minute and the collars were useless - once their mane smells of citronella a bit more hardly matters!

5. I installed a 'dog run'/inner fence to keep them from running the fence line.

6. Sometimes I just yell at them!!!!!!!!!!!:

7. I tried the "speak" command but really teaching a Sheltie to talk - they are pretty good at that already. I do let them "speak" to bark at electrical appliances sometimes to stop them going over the top (I too suffer chronic migraines)

 

[Chris]

Everyone is so thoughtful and calm. I just rap on the window and holler, "Knock it off, you morons!"

Works like a charm.

 

[Jan244]

Oh, Chris. "Knock it off" works for Kismet (the cocker/springer mix), but does nothing for Spencer. Any other words of wisdom? I'll try just about anything.

 

[OntarioSheltie]

Everyone is so thoughtful and calm. I just rap on the window and holler, "Knock it off, you morons!"

Works like a charm.

I wish that worked with Sadie, the only thing that seems to make her stop is whipping my croc (soft rubber sandle) at her. But I don't have enough pairs to keep throwing them and its getting annoying picking them up in the yard. (joking)

Actually, I did it once but it didn't have the desired effect. She stopped barking but proceeded to trot around with it in her mouth and whip it around as hard as she could. lol

 

[BarbV]

Indy has started barking at my blow dryer. I've started doing a puppet hand gesture at him when he does it (like jaws opening and closing). He stops immediately, looks at me with his head tilted with total confusion in his eyes. "Like are you nuts?! What's that supposed to mean, Mom!? "

He always starts again, but stops when I do the hand motion again. Makes me feel like I'm in control, somewhat!

 

[romeosangiovese]

Some people find teaching Bark and then Quiet as a pair works. I taught Romeo to bark on command (the fastest thing he learnt) and taught Quiet too. It works sometimes, usually when he's not overly excited (like when he checks out a noise at the gates and alerts me to it - he's still fairly mellow in the beginning after a couple of barks and Quiet works if I catch him early!) and not in one of his barking fits (attention seeking mostly). But it could also be because I haven't gotten into the habit of clicking and treating and reinforcing the behaviour when he does shut up.

When he gets super aroused/excited and is in a barking fit, he can barely hear me (yelling Quiet at the top of my lungs), so I take out the can of coins (which is like a gift from the heavens) and give it a little shake. You can experiment with what sounds make your sheltie stop in his tracks. That's just all you need - a sound that can cut through their barking fit and jolt their little brain to go "HUH? Whazzat?" Could be a can of coins, or clanging 2 pot covers together (as seen on It's Me or the Dog), or an out of tune violin? As you make the sound, say Quiet and reinforce with treats when they stop barking.