Barking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rambotherat]

Rambo has only a few bad habits.

1. Tries to dig a hole in my bathroom throw rug (I think this is really quite cute, but I know it won't be when I buy a new rug that I care about)

2. His shoelace fetish (simple fix- put the shoes away)

3. BARKING---- it's really getting out of hand. But, he doesn't just bark to be barking. There is always a reason that he is barking. Someone starts the shower, the microwave goes off, the washer changes cycles, and heaven forbid if the doorbell actually rings!

What can I do!

 

[dmeyer123]

Shelties can be big barkers. I use a shaker can with Lexi, when she gets out of hand. A spray bottle sometimes works (not for mine, they think it's a game). Yelling does not work. They just think you're barking along!

 

[BarbV]

If I had the answer, I would write a book and retire!

Fact is, most Sheltie's bark. And oftentimes for reasons that we cannot understand.

Bacca never barked until I brought Indy home. Indy barks at everything. Hairdryers, lawnmowers, dogs walking by, my son......so now sometimes he even gets Bacca riled up. Funny that he doesn't get upset over the coffee grinder though....Silly pups!

I've tried both positive and negative techniques. I think to stop Indy barking would be a full-time, month long session of intensive training, and even then, I'm not sure. I think he would just find something new to bark at! Seriously! So, I think it comes down to finding the least obnoxious things for you for your pup to bark at......

 

[mbfrench]

With 4 dogs in residance,and 3 of which are shelties,if I had the barking problem many of ya'll have I don't know what I would do.

The only time Trapp & Japser get over the top in the barking is when we are playing fetch,or playing tether ball outside.When someone drives in the driveway,or comes to the door.But to me that is expected behavior,and it is not curbed in any way.I'ts just the way shelties are.

Other than that,I do not have the reactions to blow dryers,microwaves,sneezing,pulling tissues from a tissue box,etc that many folks have.

I think if I did,I would be doing some real serious back tracking on how to desenititize from certain items.

I guess we have been lucky. From day one of being home,these guys have been taught to hush. It was very repetitive,every day,but has paid out well in the long run.All I have to do is put my finger to my lips,and say hush.I can in mid bark shut Earnhardt up.He knows I mean business. Trapp & Jasper sometimes give me a look,but again they know I am not kidding,and will hush.

 

[Emmasmom]

Liam is my barker - he barks at everything, including my Dad just standing there looking at him. If I really raise my voice with Liam, he does stop. But this is something I am working on with him. I have found, if we are outside, that if I kick the ball for him, it distracts him and he loses concentration on what he was barking at. Emma is different. No matter, what I do she will continue with her little yips (they sound so cute though), until she is ready to stop.

 

[Ann]

We have one barker...coincidentally, his name is Barkley!! He lives up to it every minute of the day. He is noise triggered, and barks at every noise he hears, even routine ones in the house. You can try several things, although I will tell you none of them have worked for us.
Positive reinforcement: when you say "no bark" and he stops, treat him.
Ask him to sit when he barks. When he's quiet, praise and treat.
Fill a soda can with coins and shake it when he barks (mine just barked more at this)
Wave aluminum foil at him...it's distracting (again, mine barked at the foil).
Try a thundershirt. This helped, but only briefly.
Give up and get earplugs.

 

[BarbV]

Ann!

Killing myself here! Yes, I've considered the "give up" approach many times, but some over-achiever in me still wants to keep on trying!

Because Indy is such a food hound, I went back to treats a couple of days ago....and I'm starting to see progress! It doesn't stop him from starting, but it does help once he's started.

First I have to distract him and get him to come. Unfortunately, I think he thinks his getting treats for the come instead of the no-bark. Still a work in progress.

 

[Ann]

My problem is multi tasking. I can't answer the phone, conduct an adult conversation (usually with a business contact), throw treats, hiss STOP BARKING and sound intelligent. Sigh. I've taken to just saying "would you like to say hi to my dog?" So professional....

 

[Emmasmom]

My problem is multi tasking. I can't answer the phone, conduct an adult conversation (usually with a business contact), throw treats, hiss STOP BARKING and sound intelligent. Sigh. I've taken to just saying "would you like to say hi to my dog?" So professional....

Love it!

 

[mbfrench]

My problem is multi tasking. I can't answer the phone, conduct an adult conversation (usually with a business contact), throw treats, hiss STOP BARKING and sound intelligent. Sigh. I've taken to just saying "would you like to say hi to my dog?" So professional....

Omy goodness...that is just to funny.