Jumping on door and barking aggressively when being let out

Joris Gutowski · Nov 22, 2011

We have always had collies and I understand their behaviors really well--then the time came for little dog to enter our life -- having trouble speaking sheltanese! Harley is a rescue dog with lots of scaredy cat issues. But his biggest issue is when he is let out, he flys back and hits the door with his front feet hard, and barks like he is going to kill someone. I have stopped letting him out after 10pm for fear the neighbors will turn me in for his barking. I have tried sushing him, ignoring him--he is better and only barks for a couple minutes now, but oh my. He also won't come to his name unless you are sitting down and then he jumps up and sits next to you or behind you. We have had him since end of April and he is better about lots of stuff, so am I slowly wearing him down or can you give me some clues on how to deal with my nutty dog.

Mikos_Mom · Nov 22, 2011

Welcome to the Shetie Forums!!!

Shhsh'ing with a sheltie is kind of like trying to stop a freight train with a feather.

When you let him out, do you go out with him? If you want him to stop the behaviour of banging into the door and barking, you need to train him to do something different. The only behaviour he knows that gets him back inside is what he's doing. TEACH him to do what you would prefer. (ie. sit at the door quietly)That may take a while, as it takes longer to teach new behaviours over old bad habits, but shelties are smart and eager to please, so he should pick it up pretty quickly.

Additionally, it would be good if you could preempt the behaviour before he has chances to reinforce it over and over and over again. So, if you can't go outside with him for some reason… call him in before he has a chance to do his routine of BANG!.. Bark Bark Bark.

As far as training him to come when called is concerned… that's pretty basic. Treats, treats, treats, praise, praise, praise… Treats and praise for coming to you when you're standing up… and treats and praise for coming and sitting in front of you when you're sitting down. (the latter will likely be easier once you've established the "come" command while you're standing)

p.s. I'm curious to know what you feel the main differences are (besides size!!) between collies and shelties!!

jomuir · Nov 23, 2011

I've had trouble w/our rescue boy Forrest charging the door and practically knocking down anyone in his path. Now I won't let him out until he sits and lets the other dog out ahead of him. I even make him come back inside if he charges the door and runs outside. :eek2:

He's slowly getting used to learning some manners, but it's an ongoing thing for us.

Our other dog does the banging on the door thing, to come inside. She bangs at the door, and I don't know how to stop it, since I'm not usually out there when she does it. Luckily for us, it's not loud enough to bother anyone (well if the neighbors can deal w/the barking the door thing is like nothing lol)

Joris Gutowski · Nov 23, 2011

Harley

Yes, the banging on the door is my worst fear, in case he breaks the glass. He is really strong when he does this. Just wish I knew what had gone on at his other home before they gave him up (he is 1yr old) and maybe I could understand better what is going on in that sheltie brain.

SheltieChe · Nov 23, 2011

jomuir said:
I've had trouble w/our rescue boy Forrest charging the door and practically knocking down anyone in his path. Now I won't let him out until he sits and lets the other dog out ahead of him. I even make him come back inside if he charges the door and runs outside. He's slowly getting used to learning some manners, but it's an ongoing thing for us.

Our other dog does the banging on the door thing, to come inside. She bangs at the door, and I don't know how to stop it, since I'm not usually out there when she does it. Luckily for us, it's not loud enough to bother anyone (well if the neighbors can deal w/the barking the door thing is like nothing lol)

well, I see that you do know the answer- you have to be there, when she does it and ask for behavior you want to happen and you have to be there every time for some time, i.e. be consistent for that new behavior to be successful.

OntarioSheltie · Nov 23, 2011

Joris Gutowski said:
We have always had collies and I understand their behaviors really well--then the time came for little dog to enter our life -- having trouble speaking sheltanese!

Hahaha, sheltanese, that's a good one! :lol:

SheltieChe said:
well, I see that you do know the answer- you have to be there, when she does it and ask for behavior you want to happen and you have to be there every time for some time, i.e. be consistent for that new behavior to be successful.

I think Miko's Mom and SheltieChe have it right. Go out with her and teach her an alternative behavior. :smile2:

Mikos_Mom · Nov 23, 2011

Sorry... I misunderstood and thought that the banging and barking was just to come back in... I didn't realize he was doing it to go out too.

I make Miko sit EVERY time I open the door for him to go out. The door doesn't open until a calm sit happens. He's gotten so good at it, that now all I have to do is stand by the door and wait a second and a half and he sits on is own and waits for the door to open. :biggrin2:

Consistency is really important... but he'll get it. Shelties are smart!!!

Joris Gutowski · Nov 30, 2011

Yeah this little dog is really making me use my brain. I have him sit before he goes out, he then goes out nicely, turns and attacks the door. I only let him out side door, so he can't do damage to sliding door. If I step out with him he dances around me barking and attacks door when I go in. By letting him out telling him no, and then shutting door and ignoring him, it is getting better. We went on a trip and he went to kennel-suite for first time. Was worried, but he did really good--Yeah! Just hug him and try to figure him out. Thanks for your insights.

Joris Gutowski · Feb 3, 2012

Still barking and jumping at door

Harley is better, doesn't sound quite as angry when attacking door now, and only does it for a moment, then runs off barking like a nut. I read a note in the hint from Heloise that a neighbor had problems with a barking dog and got a sonic device that when dog barked, they went outside, told the dog no, and triggered the device and now have no problems. Has anyone else used these sonic devices? I don't want to use a bark collar, that is just mean to shock an animal--you wouldn't like that. I think this is what I will try, but beside this problem, he is settling in as an excellent boy--loving and just a nut. Thanks for any information!

Tagg · Feb 3, 2012

A friend of mine has 3 Min Pins that barked constantly when they were out in the yard. They had been kennel dogs prior to her getting them. Neighbours were getting ticked so she bought this thing that looks like a bird house. When the dogs bark it sets off a noise that only they can hear and they shut up immediately. After using it for a couple of weeks they turned it off but left it in place. The dogs, especially the worst one, continued to be quiet. Occasionally she will put in back on if she starts hearing barking or there is something going on in the neighbourhood. They actually tried it on the German Shepherd across the street and it quieted quickly too. Don't know if what you are looking at is the same but I can tell you that the thing Jacqui used worked like a charm.