How to curb puppy barking

[PreciousSheltie]

Not that its getting way out of hand yet but one thing Precious doesn't seem to like (or love) is barking at cars zooming by and trying to chase after them. She wasn't interested in them before and only recently started doing this to the point where I can not take her there because she goes too crazy and have to take her on more secluded streets for daily walks.

What are some of your ideas to curb this barking/car chasing behaviour? I haven't had enough time to spend on her barking problems yet (doing our training with more distractions, moving slowly over days closer to streets with more cars to ensure i still have her under control and listening without you know dumping her beside a busy road).. But what are you thoughts on this? 1) I have heard people say to yell "NO" but can actually excite the dog from yelling 2) using spray bottles (I have never used this method and dont ever want to as I don't want to create fear in my dogs) 3) using loud cans filled with pennies (once again.. i do not want to use because she's already so small, I don't think its any good distracting her with more fearful noise to make her stop barking 4) ????

I do the grueling long committed way to training my dogs though I don't know if its the fastest way, does any one have any insights on how to better deal with this new behaviour??

 

[Princetopher]

Not that its getting way out of hand yet but one thing Precious doesn't seem to like (or love) is barking at cars zooming by and trying to chase after them. She wasn't interested in them before and only recently started doing this to the point where I can not take her there because she goes too crazy and have to take her on more secluded streets for daily walks.

What are some of your ideas to curb this barking/car chasing behaviour? I haven't had enough time to spend on her barking problems yet (doing our training with more distractions, moving slowly over days closer to streets with more cars to ensure i still have her under control and listening without you know dumping her beside a busy road).. But what are you thoughts on this? 1) I have heard people say to yell "NO" but can actually excite the dog from yelling 2) using spray bottles (I have never used this method and dont ever want to as I don't want to create fear in my dogs) 3) using loud cans filled with pennies (once again.. i do not want to use because she's already so small, I don't think its any good distracting her with more fearful noise to make her stop barking 4) ????

I do the grueling long committed way to training my dogs though I don't know if its the fastest way, does any one have any insights on how to better deal with this new behaviour??

here is one link to a thread on sheltie nation that covers some of this. you see the different situations and efforts. hope this helps as we have a barking sheltie with superman hearing.
http://www.sheltieforums.com/showthread.php?t=7820&highlight=stop+barking

 

[SheltieChe]

Not that its getting way out of hand yet but one thing Precious doesn't seem to like (or love) is barking at cars zooming by and trying to chase after them. She wasn't interested in them before and only recently started doing this to the point where I can not take her there because she goes too crazy and have to take her on more secluded streets for daily walks.

What are some of your ideas to curb this barking/car chasing behaviour? I haven't had enough time to spend on her barking problems yet (doing our training with more distractions, moving slowly over days closer to streets with more cars to ensure i still have her under control and listening without you know dumping her beside a busy road).. But what are you thoughts on this? 1) I have heard people say to yell "NO" but can actually excite the dog from yelling 2) using spray bottles (I have never used this method and dont ever want to as I don't want to create fear in my dogs) 3) using loud cans filled with pennies (once again.. i do not want to use because she's already so small, I don't think its any good distracting her with more fearful noise to make her stop barking 4) ????

I do the grueling long committed way to training my dogs though I don't know if its the fastest way, does any one have any insights on how to better deal with this new behaviour??

dogs unable to understand "don't do that" concept. It is much easier for them "do that- get cookie"... so stop thinking in terms " I do not want my dog to lunge/ bark.... start thinking in terms "What do I want my dog to do when xyz happens"...
one- observe when and why your dogs barks, usually there is a reason why dog barks... lets say mailman is coming to the door... second think what you want your dog to do when mailman comes to the door- lets say you want your dog to go to the mat... well train that behavior... teach your dog to go to the mat without distractions, then ask your friend to help you train the dog by coming to the door, repeat... introduce more distractions...
Mantra for distractions is distance, duration and intensity... start slow, far enough and at short periods, increase as tolerated...
chasing cars- take doggie breakfast kibble in your pocket, got outside, sit at the corner/ again watch for distractions, only as as close as your dog still able to respond to you/ hand feed kibble while watching cars... next day try coming closer... repeat ad nauseatum...
walk on the street.... when you hear upcoming car call your dog and start dropping occasional kibble on sidewalk... here... find this.. oh now find this, move around, praise for behavior when car passed and dog did not lunge...

 

[PreciousSheltie]

Very good tip I am sort of on that same page with the slowly increasing as tolerated that she can still listen to me with those distractions. I shall try the meal feedings outside though! Thanks!

dogs unable to understand "don't do that" concept. It is much easier for them "do that- get cookie"... so stop thinking in terms " I do not want my dog to lunge/ bark.... start thinking in terms "What do I want my dog to do when xyz happens"...
one- observe when and why your dogs barks, usually there is a reason why dog barks... lets say mailman is coming to the door... second think what you want your dog to do when mailman comes to the door- lets say you want your dog to go to the mat... well train that behavior... teach your dog to go to the mat without distractions, then ask your friend to help you train the dog by coming to the door, repeat... introduce more distractions...
Mantra for distractions is distance, duration and intensity... start slow, far enough and at short periods, increase as tolerated...
chasing cars- take doggie breakfast kibble in your pocket, got outside, sit at the corner/ again watch for distractions, only as as close as your dog still able to respond to you/ hand feed kibble while watching cars... next day try coming closer... repeat ad nauseatum...
walk on the street.... when you hear upcoming car call your dog and start dropping occasional kibble on sidewalk... here... find this.. oh now find this, move around, praise for behavior when car passed and dog did not lunge...

 

[take4roll10]

When Bailey was a puppy, she had issues with cars as well. I live in a very busy neighborhood, so it made walking her a challenge. I taught her the "watch me" command. Whenever, we went for a walk and she was eying a car, I would say "watch me", then I'd praise her and feed her treats until the car passed. It didn't take her long to associate the car with looking at me. I don't even have to say "watch me" anymore. Now, she pretty much ignores quiet cars and will only look at me if it's a really loud car or truck. She doesn't get treats every time anymore. Only once in a blue moon. She still has trouble with motorcycles, but we don't encounter them that often.

This is a behavior that is easier to nip in the bud when they are puppies, so train her now!

 

[KarenCurtis]

Not that its getting way out of hand yet but one thing Precious doesn't seem to like (or love) is barking at cars zooming by and trying to chase after them. She wasn't interested in them before and only recently started doing this to the point where I can not take her there because she goes too crazy and have to take her on more secluded streets for daily walks.

What are some of your ideas to curb this barking/car chasing behaviour? I haven't had enough time to spend on her barking problems yet (doing our training with more distractions, moving slowly over days closer to streets with more cars to ensure i still have her under control and listening without you know dumping her beside a busy road).. But what are you thoughts on this? 1) I have heard people say to yell "NO" but can actually excite the dog from yelling 2) using spray bottles (I have never used this method and dont ever want to as I don't want to create fear in my dogs) 3) using loud cans filled with pennies (once again.. i do not want to use because she's already so small, I don't think its any good distracting her with more fearful noise to make her stop barking 4) ????

I do the grueling long committed way to training my dogs though I don't know if its the fastest way, does any one have any insights on how to better deal with this new behaviour??

I recently watched a Cesar Milan show where he was walking a herding dog (I forget the breed) down a moderately busy road. Every time a car was close by, he had the dog sit. I tried this, it took several weeks for me to get the timing right, I wish I could direct you to the episode, but I can't. All I can say is it worked and is working beautifully. We put in alot of time on this. I still have to do it, but it worked. The car has to be very close by, but not on top of you yet, if you know what I mean. There should be no anticipation of waiting for the car, and no comments from you about the oncoming car. Just a sit command when the car is about to pass by, and until it passes fully by- use treats at first and slowly take them away when the dog gets it. Use a very short leash. If your dog doesn't get it at first, don't worry, but say nothing and keep walking, trying this. When I walk Sandstorm, I don't use treats, I have a very short leash, and when I have him sit, I hold the leash straight up and I am infront of the dog. SS knows what is expected of him now when a car passes. This takes a great amount of practice, but it saved us from miserable walks- SS used to spin, lunge when a car would pass by, and I was afraid he would jerk the leash and somehow get into the road. It was also very disconcerting for passing motorists. Good luck, there will be other suggestions- nothing else worked for us. Every dog is different. I don't walk SS on a real busy road, but a moderately busy one.