AntiBarking

[Cherubhugs]

My dog barks excessively. We just purchased one of those collars that prevents barking. He barks loud so the first time he cried. I felt like such a bad mom. It does seem to be working though. He is barking less and less.

Has anyone else tried this and had success?

 

[ryanelguiri]

I personally wouldn't use one of those shock collars. I found that when Ella barks excessively, it is generally her warning bark because she has heard something that Renae and I haven't.

When she was a pup, she constantly barked, so I taught her the bark command, and also the quiet command. If she is barking without stopping, I simply get up and give her the sit plus the quiet command. She kinda does a few little low level growls at whatever it is, then stops.

I don't do much training with negative reinforcement, but that is just me.

 

[Jan244]

Spencer is a barker also. I looked into shock collars, but I couldn't justify using one in my own mind. I did order an Ultra Sonic anti-bark thingie. I never got a chance to try it since right before it was delivered, Spencer was diagnosed with epilepsy and there's no way I'm taking any chances with him now. I do have a friend who used a shock collar on her Rotti and it worked great.

 

[romeosangiovese]

I use the good ol' coins in a can trick.
Works like a charm every time! Reinforces the "quiet" command if you've taught that.

 

[Cherubhugs]

I found out that I am pregnant so my husband is insistent on getting him trained before the baby is here. My girl is much more tame. She only barks when she plays or when dad come home. They are polar opposites!

My male barks all the time and he just doesnt listen to me. I am thinking of looking into behavior classes. He barks when I sneeze, the phone rings, I vaccumn, if i just want to call somebody, constantly barking outside (I actually think that somebody is throwing big rocks into our yard when he barks and that upsets me!) This is really loud, barking.

I dont think I will continue the collar training, it just seems so cruel.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Caro]

What collar are you using? I would never use a shock (electronic) collar on a sheltie unless you have tried all other methods first - they are already a timid breed and yo ucan do damage. The are more responsive than other breeds to sonic collars. Citronella can be a problem if they have a large mane (the smell just hangs around). There is another one that sprays cold compressed air onto their skin - a lot of people I know rave about - I haven't tried it but am seriously thinking about getting it.

My male reverts back to bad barking whenever we have thunder storms, plus I think at the moment my neighbour is stirring them up. I was advised (by a sheltie trainer) to put a collar on my dogs when I am at home and when they bark put on their lead without talking to them and bring them inside or to the 'time out' area. It works, altho doesn't cure it.

 

[TaraLynn]

I found out that I am pregnant so my husband is insistent on getting him trained before the baby is here. My girl is much more tame. She only barks when she plays or when dad come home. They are polar opposites!

My male barks all the time and he just doesnt listen to me. I am thinking of looking into behavior classes. He barks when I sneeze, the phone rings, I vaccumn, if i just want to call somebody, constantly barking outside (I actually think that somebody is throwing big rocks into our yard when he barks and that upsets me!) This is really loud, barking.

I dont think I will continue the collar training, it just seems so cruel.

Thanks for the suggestions.

First of all, a very big congratulations to you and hubby on the bun in the oven!! I hope everything goes smoothly for you both!

As for the barking...yes, I know all too well how you feel, although I haven't even considered a shock collar. To me that's like putting a restraint on a human when they're in danger. GENERALLY they are barking for warning...also because they are herding dogs and it's just in their nature to bark. Caliber picks and chooses where and when he barks, but when he does - where are your earplugs?? It's very aggravating. He barks at my place, and mostly at night, but I think it may have to do with the fact that he's "guarding" our house. We're kind of in the country...kind of, so there may be little critters running around that I can't see. But when we're in the city at my sisters he's quiet. So now what I've started to do is say "Enough" in a nice stern voice, bring him in...have him calm down for 5 minutes, and then bring him out on a leash...and he doesn't do it anymore. It's not working as well as I hoped, so I'm going to try the pennies in a can. I tried when he was younger, but it had no effect on him...probably because he was more curious of his surroundings then he was aware. One can only hope. Goodluck tho! Hope it works out for you!

 

[Roxie's Mama]

I use the good ol' coins in a can trick.
Works like a charm every time! Reinforces the "quiet" command if you've taught that.

That's what I use too, a crushed pepsi can filled with pennies. I just pegged Roxie in the butt with it one time when she was barking. Works almost instantly. She is not a barking sheltie.
I also use it for everything else I don't want her to do, like nipping running children.
*Editing to say....I don't have to hit her with the can, that was only necessary the first time. Now I just have to rattle the can and she understands perfectly.

 

[romeosangiovese]

It's always a good idea to find out WHY your dog is barking. If it's in the house, is is for attention? Or guarding, as Taralynn's Caliber seems to do?
Mine barks for attention out of frustration coz he's not getting what he wants fast. That's not acceptable, so I shake the can!

Typically when dogs bark for attention, you can just ignore (this can take hours) and not even look at them and not even yell at them (negative attention is still attention). They will bark harder and louder at first (especially if they've maanged to get any attention from you before when they've barked), but they get the hint eventually and will stop.

You can shake the coin can in this scenario too. Pair shaking the can with a verbal cue like Quiet. The rattling startles the dog out of its barking fit. Don't forget to praise/treat when the dog IS quiet. I've also on random occasions praised and treated Romeo for just lying around or playing with his toys and being a quiet dog.

If we go by the clicker trainnig theory that praising/treating a behaviour makes it more likely to happen again, and ignoring a behaviour will eventually extinguish it, then I think it makes sense to praise/treat when you find your dog sitting quietly and playing by itself. We tend to forget/not even notice when they are being good!!

 

[TaraLynn]

I've also on random occasions praised and treated Romeo for just lying around or playing with his toys and being a quiet dog.

...then I think it makes sense to praise/treat when you find your dog sitting quietly and playing by itself. We tend to forget/not even notice when they are being good!!

That's something our obedience trainer told us to ALWAYS do!! And it's never left my head! Always reinforce the good behavior!! And yes, that means laying quietly!! I always make sure to have a Tupperware container tucked in the corner or on the table in each room of my apartment(this way I don't startle/distract him by getting up and out of the room) and make sure to slip in a few treats here and there for just doing nothing but simply laying quietly at my feet(or wherever...which usually never happens...who needs to spend money on slippers when you have a perfectly good Sheltie to do the job!?!!) I find that 99% of the time he's quiet in the house. Unless he hears the dog downstairs, or the dog next door barking...even then it's not even full out barking it's just what I like to call "huffs". It's just outside I have the problem. But it's still early...I'm pretty confident we can get it under control...but it's hard when I can't see at night...and I don't want to make him think he's doing a bad thing by warding off other critters.