When your sheltie picks someone to yell at…

Sharon7 said:
I wonder if you could do a distraction with tossing a toy or something like that? I don't know if that would reward the behavior or be a distraction to stop the barking... just a thought.
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well, I do treats but seriously, she’s hysterical sometimes and she’s much more interested in yelling at him than playing or getting a treat. I think she’s worried he’s going to leave. It’s the weirdest thing but Mindy does fine when we leave together. When one of us leaves, she can’t stand it.
 
I don't know if this will help you, and it certainly will seem counterproductive, but it works for me. I have six barkers at various triggers that are annoying....when I fill the coffee pot or kettle with water, for instance, or take a pot off the stove. A trainer suggested tossing a handful of treats on the floor around the room to distract them. I bought a box of Little Stars which are teeny tiny treats and I've been doing that. By the time they find them all, I'm done with my task. When they realize I've been doing something they 'should' be barking at and look bewildered, I praise them. And whadaya know, they don't bark at those things as much even when I don't throw the treats.

I wondered at the wisdom of rewarding bad behavior, but the distraction factor really does seem to work. Perhaps if you husband tried it a few times it might help reduce the behavior. Naturally you don't want him to have to toss treats whenever he wants to speak, but maybe it would help break the habit.
 
DianeP said:
Having had two girls and two boys, yes, the girls have both been more bossy! Mindy definitely picks up on the patterns and back chains from there. It is so frustrating. I think it might all have to do with Mindy thinking he’s going to leave. Sigh…
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I agree with Lisa! I was watching a problem Pom being super barky at their owners if the just did one thing to set her off. Just grabbing keys, putting on a coat set her off. The solution was to totally change the routine. Grab keys and sit on the couch and flip through a magazine. Go to the door and open and shut it. Grab their coats and put it on only to walk into another room to take it off. After a while the dog got totally desensitized. Really remarkable how it changed the behavior! No more barking! The owners were thrilled! Just a thought…
 
I like the desensitize plan. Shelties tend to be OCD anyway--they sure love their routines!

I've resorted to personalized threats for Benson when he starts his barking at me routine. Bark bark bark! Oh! you want to brush teeth?
or Bark bark bark OH! you wanna take a bath do you? Or go for a ride? He gets out of there in a hurry LOLOL It only took a few times of actually brushing teeth or walking to bathroom or car for him to relate barking with bad stuff ;)
I'm so sad going for a ride is so awful for him. It's one of the few check boxes for perfect Sheltie I couldn't tick off...the crazy barking is another one LOL (not normal sheltie barking--the crazy kind)
 
ghggp said:
I agree with Lisa! I was watching a problem Pom being super barky at their owners if the just did one thing to set her off. Just grabbing keys, putting on a coat set her off. The solution was to totally change the routine. Grab keys and sit on the couch and flip through a magazine. Go to the door and open and shut it. Grab their coats and put it on only to walk into another room to take it off. After a while the dog got totally desensitized. Really remarkable how it changed the behavior! No more barking! The owners were thrilled! Just a thought…
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Just as we do when training a sit stay or other obedience training...dogs anticipate ALL the time! Gotta change up the routine and even then they anticipate. As frustrating as it can be that is the fun part in training, learning how dogs think and how your dog in particular thinks and what works for him or her.
 
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