Bark, bark, bark, bark, bark...................
- Thread starter Laddie's Mom
- Start date
take4roll10
Moderator
Your breeder's suggestion is what I would do. You're not rewarding them for barking, you're rewarding for them for coming to you when being called. As long as you give them the treat when they come to you and are quiet, it shouldn't be associated with barking. Eventually (and hopefully), they'll figure out they get attention and a reward for being quiet. The key is to not give them any attention for barking.
take4roll10
Moderator
Shelties are barkers, pure and simple that is part of their personality. After 30 years with 5 shelties I have come to the conclusion that there is no easy way to stop the barking, they are herding dogs it is instinct to bark at moving, noisy things.
I was posting when you posted this... I have to agree. While some bark less than others and some can be trained not to bark as much; especially if training starts when they are puppies, shelties are known to be barkers. They are considered one of the bark-iest breeds. They're herding watch dogs, it's in many of their genes. I have worked on barking with my dog since the minute she entered my house. Not much has helped and I tried almost every thing. Socialization has helped a lot, but there are some things I just can't get her to stop barking at. It has turned from training to management. You can't win them all.
Maybe having a bilingual dog helps. Melody knows "Shhhhh" and "Quiet" but she also knows "Callate" which is far more effective being in her native language of Spanish.
Nothing works around food except a down-stay while I prepare the dish.
Nothing works when the two mini goats tease her by butting the fence. They find it amusing. She does not.
Nothing works around food except a down-stay while I prepare the dish.
Nothing works when the two mini goats tease her by butting the fence. They find it amusing. She does not.
Shelby's mom
Forums Enthusiast
I agree with everyone else. I think we just learn to accept the barking and deal with it. Some of us better than others (like my DH).
Shelby will bark at most anything. We actually had to put shutters on our windows so she would stop barking at everything outside. Blinds and drapes she would push her head around. That has helped a lot. If the doors or shutters are open she loves to watch out the windows, but once she starts barking they get closed and then she gets quiet. I usually ignore her barking and then she stops but DH tends to yell at her which I think just reinforces her to bark.
Outside she barks at the kids playing, cars going down the street, even the train going past the house. Fortunately for us all our neighbors have dogs and they tell me they don't mind her barking. If she barks like crazy then she must come in the house and all fun is over. So she knows what it means when I say "I am going to out you in the house" and gets quiet.
I am worried what will happen this year b/c the people across the street from us rescued a dog who barks at nothing. They put him outside (alone) and he just stands there and barks non stop until they decide to let him in. I feel bad for him but on the same token he then gets Shelby all worked up and she then starts barking at him. And then the vicious cycle begins. I am afraid it will be a long summer....
Shelby will bark at most anything. We actually had to put shutters on our windows so she would stop barking at everything outside. Blinds and drapes she would push her head around. That has helped a lot. If the doors or shutters are open she loves to watch out the windows, but once she starts barking they get closed and then she gets quiet. I usually ignore her barking and then she stops but DH tends to yell at her which I think just reinforces her to bark.
Outside she barks at the kids playing, cars going down the street, even the train going past the house. Fortunately for us all our neighbors have dogs and they tell me they don't mind her barking. If she barks like crazy then she must come in the house and all fun is over. So she knows what it means when I say "I am going to out you in the house" and gets quiet.
I am worried what will happen this year b/c the people across the street from us rescued a dog who barks at nothing. They put him outside (alone) and he just stands there and barks non stop until they decide to let him in. I feel bad for him but on the same token he then gets Shelby all worked up and she then starts barking at him. And then the vicious cycle begins. I am afraid it will be a long summer....
Try predator movement up the valley behind us. You can hear the dogs chain bark all the way from right to left as a coyote or lion moves. Shay's dialed in watching. Melody just stands and barks incessantly. But since we all count on the dogs to track the predators we cope. Thankfully, though, we are on a 5 acre parcel so neighbors are certainly not near.
Emmasmom
Forums Sage
Shelties are barkers. Period. They bark at anything and everything. Mine know that if they want their meals, they stop barking. They don't get until they do. If they want outside, the door doesn't open until they stop. If they are barking outside and I want them to stop, I bang on the window or the door. Natalie will watch the window when Liam is barking to see if I am going to appear. She knows the rules best of all the dogs. If I have to, they come inside. It depends on the circumstances as to why they are barking. Liam will bark at anything and everything. Sometimes I let him go ahead, sometimes I stop him. I have taught him to stop barking on command and it usually works.
Chris
Premium Member
I may be the only person to say this, but I revel in my Shelties' barking! I live in the country, on a hill surrounded by woods. Over the years, I have come to know the "Deer on the property" bark; the "Hawk! Run, chickens!" bark; the "Here comes the UPS man!" bark; the "Look! It's midnight and the full moon is out!" bark; the "Squirrel! (Not really, but if I can get you all to run out the dog door, I can swipe your food.)" bark; the "It's morning and it's time to eat!" bark; and the "Stranger at the door! Be alert! Danger!" bark; and Colonel Underpants' "I know you said it's ok, but I'm still suspicious" woof.
Inside barking is managed by saying "Thank you. That's enough." Usually it quiets them down unless there's someone at the door. Or we'll say, "If you're going to bark, go outside."
Occasionally Layla or Bitsy Boodle will engage in what I call "General purpose barking," but it's rare. I know I'm blessed to live where barking isn't an issue -- and to have the opportunity to learn my Shelties' language.
Inside barking is managed by saying "Thank you. That's enough." Usually it quiets them down unless there's someone at the door. Or we'll say, "If you're going to bark, go outside."
Occasionally Layla or Bitsy Boodle will engage in what I call "General purpose barking," but it's rare. I know I'm blessed to live where barking isn't an issue -- and to have the opportunity to learn my Shelties' language.
Mignarda
Forums Enthusiast
I may be the only person to say this, but I revel in my Shelties' barking! I live in the country, on a hill surrounded by woods. Over the years, I have come to know the "Deer on the property" bark; the "Hawk! Run, chickens!" bark; the "Here comes the UPS man!" bark; the "Look! It's midnight and the full moon is out!" bark; the "Squirrel! (Not really, but if I can get you all to run out the dog door, I can swipe your food.)" bark; the "It's morning and it's time to eat!" bark; and the "Stranger at the door! Be alert! Danger!" bark; and Colonel Underpants' "I know you said it's ok, but I'm still suspicious" woof.
Inside barking is managed by saying "Thank you. That's enough." Usually it quiets them down unless there's someone at the door. Or we'll say, "If you're going to bark, go outside."
Occasionally Layla or Bitsy Boodle will engage in what I call "General purpose barking," but it's rare. I know I'm blessed to live where barking isn't an issue -- and to have the opportunity to learn my Shelties' language.
I've noticed over the years that when a dog first suspects a stranger presence he starts out with a low, rumbling growl, followed by two or three expulsions of air that sound like "mfff, mfff," then, finally, when he's convinced that his suspicions are correct, somes out with a full-throated kind of yodeling which is finally followed by genuine barks.
This, incidentally, is one of the reasons I like having a dog about. It's a fantastic early warning system, and has the advantage of frightening any would-be intruders away.