Excessive Barking

I couldn't open your link, woof, but this is the harness I had her in. Note that the description says "escape proof". :rolleyes2: Normally I wouldn't use a harness because I don't trust them but we were walking on a quiet dirt road. Quiet until a pickup truck came along. Lesson learned!

Ron, that connector is something I've never seen before. It looks like an excellent safeguard and a really good idea.

This is my go-to collar and it actually is escape proof. It's the collar I use for conformation shows and impossible for them to get out of. It's a slip lead. I like these because they're nylon and actually do "slip" when there's no tension on them so unless the dog pulls, it doesn't tighten. It's not what I had her in the second time she escaped. I had her in a regular collar with her name tag since we were going to the vet for tests. Not a mistake I will make again! Panic mode for sure. This vet is on a busy main road and all the worst possibilities ran through my head as I chased her. I was lucky enough to corner her near a snowbank in the next parking lot and when she knew she was stuck she grudgingly came to me. I think I aged another 10 years.
 
I absolutely LOVE the Perfect Fit Harness. It literally is the perfect fit. It is 3 separate pieces that you size for your dog and then each pieces also has adjustments as well. I use a slip lead at times as well. But the Perfect Fit is my go to for strange places, public walks, travel. I have seatbelt slips they attach to for car travel so they are restrained in the car as well.

https://www.cleanrun.com/category/p...g_harnesses/index.cfm?fct=Brand|6|Perfect Fit
 
Caro said:
She sounds like an anxious but high drive adolescent sheepdog. This is very much what my Tully was like - I was pulling out my hair with the behaviour. I think Sheep of Blue on here was the one that coined the term 'Border Sheltie' and they do have the energy of a little Border Collie. The good news is that when Tully grew up she had the most beautiful nature - and she was the reason I got into dog training (I specialised in adolescents).

Some dogs go through a very difficult adolescence and dogs also go through fear period at this time, at this age their brains are rewiring so it might seem like she's not picking things up, but she actually is. It's why more dogs are surrendered at this age than any other time. So while she does need training to ensure the behaviour doesn't continue, it needs to be done carefully in case she's in a fear imprint period. The aggression is more likely to be from anxiety - she's opted for the fight rather than flight response. It may not seem like anxiety but this is how it shows up in dogs.

I'll have a longer think over the weekend - I know I've got other posts on here dealing with similar behaviour so I'll have to go through posts. In the meantime, some suggestions.

On walks try a head collar or front clipping harness so you have more control to prevent her pulling away to lunge at things (she will need a bit of training to get used to the head collar). Take a squeak toy on walks with you - a squeak noise cuts through their brain much better than a voice they hear all the time: and stop and have a little play with her on your walks so she learns to focus back on you, and also puts you back into the walk as someone more fun than barking at cars, and always have a few treats with you to keep her focus on the way - but only when she is calm. Before you head out with her do some focus exercises first - 'look at me' or even 'leave it' and other commands you are learning in class. This will switch her brain on before you start walking and have her focusing on you more, and you can stop along the way and do more commands. I recommend everyone with an adolescent or high energy dog switch on their brains before a walk.

With the fence - stop her getting near the fence, put things in her way. At this age you are better off just preventing her rehearsing the behaviour.

Teach her fetch. She sounds really high drive, just like my dear Tully was. Chasing a ball or donut toy (Tully loved her Air Donut rolling along the ground - like chasing prey) is going to tire her out more than you can.

All her meals should be given in puzzle toys. Use that food to tire out her brain and they love working for their food. Cheap options is to toss kibble out in the yard or get a water bottle and cut some kibble sized holes in it (smooth the edges) and leave the lid off. then she has to push it around to get the kibble out - there's probably commercial versions of this but I just made my own. For wet food use Kongs and other things you stuff or cover.

For barking at electrical appliances - such a common Sheltie thing, I'll look for my previous posts on controlled barking.
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Caro you are so good at this !!
 
Willow has exhibited a number of these behaviors from time to time. One helpful thing we had success with is to sit Willow and talk in a reassuring way, saying Just a truck, it's just a truck. Then with the okay she gets a treat if she's managed to keep quiet and hold her sit. For controlling dog interactions we sit her again and talk quietly to her. Again, once the other animal has passed by she gets a treat. It has been surprisingly effective. Willow loves a pretty large number of dogs we encounter but not all of them and for those not in her "pack" she wants to lunge and growl but we haven't had that in a while.
 
Brodie loves to chase - Covid shutdowns truly changed him - that and a neighbor who loved to roar his car in front of our house. We've worked hard with him on walks. We used to make him sit, stay, and leave it! or watch it! and then treat when he did well. We slowly worked up to where if the car is behind us, he does still prance up a bit high on his toes still with his tail coming up, but then after they drive by, he looks up to me or hubby, whoever is walking him, like hey, I was good, where's my treat? Cars coming towards us are still a challenge as are red cars (neighbor who thankfully has moved).

He does get excited over kids - he doesn't quite understand them at all. And he's not a fan of 99.9% of dogs he encounters. He does tolerate his classmates, he has one Aussie friend that he is just fine with. He met Ann's shelties years ago but hasn't met any other shelties. I wonder if he would be accepting or his usual self.
 
Ann said:
I couldn't open your link, woof, but this is the harness I had her in. Note that the description says "escape proof". :rolleyes2: Normally I wouldn't use a harness because I don't trust them but we were walking on a quiet dirt road. Quiet until a pickup truck came along. Lesson learned!

Ron, that connector is something I've never seen before. It looks like an excellent safeguard and a really good idea.

This is my go-to collar and it actually is escape proof. It's the collar I use for conformation shows and impossible for them to get out of. It's a slip lead. I like these because they're nylon and actually do "slip" when there's no tension on them so unless the dog pulls, it doesn't tighten. It's not what I had her in the second time she escaped. I had her in a regular collar with her name tag since we were going to the vet for tests. Not a mistake I will make again! Panic mode for sure. This vet is on a busy main road and all the worst possibilities ran through my head as I chased her. I was lucky enough to corner her near a snowbank in the next parking lot and when she knew she was stuck she grudgingly came to me. I think I aged another 10 years.
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here is the link again hope this works-- I like it because it is padded, very secure and if adjusted correctly almost escape proof - also you can attach lead to the front of it or on top-- i am sure there are other out there that are good but I really like this one and it has help up

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GVFCRC5?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1
 
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I also use or have used this tool for barking. It is with caution tho because it is mainly useful as an attention "look at me" getter but misuse could be punishment so care is required. I have used it on walks when an aggressive dog comes barking at us from a yard and one quick touch of the button usually shuts that down toute suit.. also, when my crew is going crazy outside for some reason I give them a touch and they stop..It can be over used so care is required and mostly in cases where they are going ballistic it is better than a shout it is an attention getter.. I rarely need it on my crew and just a touch of the button is enuf but it is again is also useful for aggressive dog when we walk or may in my neck of the woods a curious coyote.. I am sure it could make matters worse it your dog is fear barking?? I don't know but at least I can get my crew to focus on me which may be helpful.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C73SXF84?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
 
I carry something similar to what Woof posted when we go on walks. Deacon is not fizzed by them, Brodie isn't a fan of , but I figure just in case at least I have something on me. At times I carry an emergency boat horn - spring when the bear across that lives in the woods wanders into the neighborhood.
 
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