I don't know if this is somehow related to the advice to socialise a lot before 14 weeks but this week Tess has started barking at things she has totally taken in her stride so far - the washing on the line, the washing machine (clearly we've not washed enough clothes over the past 6 weeks!), the cat (which she has pretty much ignored until now!), this morning we were doing our usual 'do nothing' on our walk and she started grumbling about something or other - there was nobody at all around and I certainly couldn't see any reason for it. Does this sound normal and, more importantly, what should my reaction be, if any?
Re: Almost 14 weeks barking at random things ... Yes - it's normal, as they gain maturity and independence, they start to be a little defensive/protective/aware/alert to changes. We are taught to ignore them and give them a treat as soon as they are calm and normal and relaxed again. A jolly hockeysticks, nothing to see here approach. It certainly worked with Gypsy, who went through this phase from 5 to 8 months.
Re: Almost 14 weeks barking at random things ... Thank you! She is such a good girl so far, her recall is wonderful (away from joggers, other dogs, the cat etc.). I'm guessing she may become a little more 'challenging' in this respect at some point too?!
Re: Almost 14 weeks barking at random things ... [quote author=zanacal link=topic=10571.msg156616#msg156616 date=1429044589] Thank you! She is such a good girl so far, her recall is wonderful (away from joggers, other dogs, the cat etc.). I'm guessing she may become a little more 'challenging' in this respect at some point too?! [/quote] Tatze did, Gypsy didn't. At the end of a walk Gypsy simply comes to me for her lead put back on, she knows it's time to go and is looking for 'what's next'. I always have to call Tatze back, she wants to prelong the walk
Re: Almost 14 weeks barking at random things ... I always walk away from Tess so she has to follow me and not the other way around and she's letting quite some distance get between us now. When I turn and look at her she stands still and looks right back at me - I'm sure she's waiting for me to call her so she'll get a super treat, instead of just trotting after me and getting nothing! We shall see Thanks again!
Re: Almost 14 weeks barking at random things ... [quote author=Boogie link=topic=10571.msg156614#msg156614 date=1429044467] Yes - it's normal, as they gain maturity and independence, they start to be a little defensive/protective/aware/alert to changes. We are taught to ignore them and give them a treat as soon as they are calm and normal and relaxed again. A jolly hockeysticks, nothing to see here approach. It certainly worked with Gypsy, who went through this phase from 5 to 8 months. [/quote] Oh dear, another 2 months of this could possibly occur? Maisie has always been super observant - she often stops to watch people coming in and out of their houses, and if someone is doing something, forget about moving on, we have to observe. Can be awkward standing there waiting for someone to go into their house with your dog staring at them! But she's had a few fear period moments in the past month… barking at statutes… she wasn't expecting this girl on the beach who was sitting on a log and she actually barked at her a bit as if to say "what! I wasn't expecting you! Who are you! Scary!". I try to just chat to her like normal and move her along. Sometimes it happens when it doesn't seem like there is anything to freak her out. She became deathly afraid of something on the street a few weeks ago and was afraid to go outside for a whole day and I had no idea what triggered it.
Re: Almost 14 weeks barking at random things ... Wierdly Bouncer is not a Barky dog at all which is nice. Unfortunately he makes up for it by destroying everything in his sight.
Re: Almost 14 weeks barking at random things ... [quote author=zanacal link=topic=10571.msg156618#msg156618 date=1429045306] I always walk away from Tess so she has to follow me and not the other way around and she's letting quite some distance get between us now. When I turn and look at her she stands still and looks right back at me - I'm sure she's waiting for me to call her so she'll get a super treat, instead of just trotting after me and getting nothing! We shall see Thanks again! [/quote] Personally, I C&T for my dogs checking in with me, whether I've asked for it or not. With Willow, who is the more independent of the two, I even C&T her looking at me from a distance (I either wait for her to come get the treat, or I throw it to her). She's never that far away, but since I've started doing this, she definitely sticks a lot closer, even if she starts hunting. I don't get a chance to do it at a distance with Shadow. He is aptly named and is almost always under my feet
Re: Almost 14 weeks barking at random things ... Thanks, I'll bear it in mind as she gets more independent - at the moment, because we've always done it like this and she's still quite young, she follows me and checks in with me almost constantly ... and she gets a crazy amount of treats on walks, most of them high value because she's new to being out and about! I'm sure it won't be long before she wants to leave my side more and more.
