I’m at a loss!!

Ann said:
It's funny what sets them off. Mine have learned each others' bad habits so we have all kinds of triggers...the teapot, filling the teapot, the electric can opener, the phone ringing, emptying the ice cube tray, aluminim foil., the oven timer beeping..the list is endless. I wish I had a solution for you but I'm an epic failure at diverting the madness.
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I’ve just really come to believe it’s genetic. Shelties were originally used to identify danger or anything out of the ordinary while the farmer was away. Some of these little shelties were dropped off by boat in remote places in the Shetland Islands to help keep predators away from the sheep. I can’t help but think that fine sense of identifying possible threats is what’s behind all of this household madness. I’m trying really hard to use a “thank you for telling me” now go do this other behavior style of management but good lord is it challenging!!!
 
Ann said:
It's funny what sets them off. Mine have learned each others' bad habits so we have all kinds of triggers...the teapot, filling the teapot, the electric can opener, the phone ringing, emptying the ice cube tray, aluminim foil., the oven timer beeping..the list is endless. I wish I had a solution for you but I'm an epic failure at diverting the madness.
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:yuckyuck
 
I'll throw in my two cents since I'm in the middle of crazy town with Benson. I'm starting to think he isn't stressed or scared at the goofy things he barks and runs around about. I'm thinking he just likes doing that. Cracking eggs in the skillet, then throwing the shells in the sink? Really?? That's not even running the disposal! Now when he sees eggs coming out of the fridge, his eyes get bright, he stands there, one paw raised, ready to start the crazies.
I get that the disposal makes a big scary sound, however I noticed when he had his treat ball going, running the disposal didn't even make him look up. Food processor, blender both make him bark and run. Ok, they are REALLY loud. I get that.
Loading and unloading dishwasher has so far not been a trigger. He will, however, stand in front of it, looking at the white door and listen to it fill, tilting his head from side to side. When it starts to actually run he will usually bark at it. But not always ;)
Thankfully when I canna take it no more (read that with a scottish accent like Scottie from Star trek LOL) the trusty squirt bottle still works. When I get it out and say knock it off! he stops-usually by trotting away from me in high dudgeon and talking back as he does so!
 
Ann said:
It's funny what sets them off. Mine have learned each others' bad habits so we have all kinds of triggers...the teapot, filling the teapot, the electric can opener, the phone ringing, emptying the ice cube tray, aluminim foil., the oven timer beeping..the list is endless. I wish I had a solution for you but I'm an epic failure at diverting the madness.
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Oh my...I agree! So many things set mine off, most of them are kitchen related. Moving the instant pot, opening the instant pot, using food processor, moving flour canister, using kitchenaide, ringing phone (thanks Riley....he got Finnie on that lol)! Funny they don't bark when I make coffee. I think they bark when I use the appliances because I do raw and most times I'm making something for them and it's excitement. Much harder to stop when you have more than one, the others teach everyone!
What works best for me is just putting them in a down stay (it's also harder to correct with 2)...stops the barking immediately.
 
Last night when I came home and after I took the dogs out Piper wouldn't stop barking (it was supper time) and Finnie was super excited so I thought ok...I'm going to try turning my back until they settle down. Well Piper barked and barked...Finnie jumped on me a few times then he started to settle while Piper barked more and then started to spin and bark. I finally turned to face him, thinking maybe if I look at him he'd get the message. Finnie stood beside Piper as if trying to convey the message...hey dude, cool it...just relax...but nooooo he kept barking! Finally I yelled ENOUGH!:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO: And he looked at me like why didn't you just say something??
Honestly, it's impossible to work on a behavior with 2 dogs lol especially when they're smart Shelties who know when I come home, they eat supper lol.
 
Hanne said:
Every time I think "wonder if Minnie is a Sheltie at all"
- she is totally indifferent to such things :yes:
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Fillion and Koko don't do any of this either! I wonder if Koko is REALLY Benson's Grandpa!
Fillion does go nuts over people rolling out their large trash bins when we walk, but nothing in the house other than vacuum cleaner.
 
Shelby goes crazy whenever there are any reflections (thank you pet store guy for convincing us to use a laser pointer to play when she was a pup).

Anyway there are a lot of reflections in the kitchen (dishes, aluminum foil etc.). So we started by having her do a down stay and then she would get a treat (carrot). Then we started extending the length of the down stay and continue to reward with a carrot. Now whenever we are in the kitchen she will just lay down on her own and patiently wait until we tell her free and then she gets a carrot. She will not get up until we say free, even if we forget to free her she will just lay there waiting. It took time and a lot of consistency but it worked.
 
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