Mabel has never been vocal in fact we wondered if she could actually bark. She never barks when we are out. Just lately she has started barking at home. It has always been in the conservatory I'm pretty sure it's at her reflection. She's big and scary now she 8 months old. Unfortunately today she sat barking in the hall. I just cannot see any reason for it. I want to stop this before it really gets to be an issue. I don't want to blame all her behaviour on restricted exercise but it did start at about the same time. I had read somewhere that when they bark if they are told off they take that as a bark and do it again and it becomes a habit. My tactic was to ignore her that's not worked. Maybe I should C&T for silence. The other idea I had was actually putting the bark on cue, not giving the cue would then eliminate the bark. Any ideas,tips very welcome.
Nope, can't help - ignoring it hasn't stopped Chepi. In the evening she gets worried about the reflection in my back door and will low growl for ages; in winter I have to cover the glass. I have heard about barking or speaking on cue, I think Obi's mum might know about that.
With Tatze I go and 'investigate' the cause for her barking (nothing that I can see!) then tell her all is fine. She seems satisfied with that, as if - once I have acknowledged 'it' then I will deal with it if needed. The only time this doesn't work is if the cause is a cat - then, no chance!
Pilatelover I'm with Boogie on this one. I always check the cause and then tell all is fine and make Juno come away to play or a fuss - although she so rarely barks we just look at her to begin with and ask if that was her . My last dog, an Italian Spinone, I did teach to bark on cue by C&T and asking him to speak but I really can't remember how I got him started, I think it was when he barked.
Do you think she is alert baking? If she is, well, some dogs do that - lots, in fact.... I don't much like the sound of the reflection thing, just like I don't like to see a dog dog focussing on shadow, lights etc. If you think she is troubled or frustrated, have another look at her routine. Maybe time to learn a new trick or up those clicker training sessions? I have never got Charlie to stop doing anything by putting a behaviour on cue. It has allowed me to guide him in terms of WHEN I want the behaviour in a chain of behaviour (eg leave water, deliver ball, then shake) but putting something on cue in itself has never stopped a behaviour for me.
MaccieD and Boogie I have gone and investigated just to make sure telling her everything is fine then I call her away. I'll continue doing this. It's not as though she does it all day long and it does tend to be when the sun is on the conservatory. Thanks both of you.
JulieT thank you for your reply. She barked in the hall this morning and I thought I'm going to try something completely different so we went in the garden played fetch then carried on with a little training. Seems to have made a massive difference. Straight to sleep on the sofa no sitting barking in the conservatory. I've also introduced the shell game which she got straight away. She is now on 4 x 20 mins exercise a day building up to 30 mins in next 5 weeks. On lead walking just isn't enough, she's like a coiled spring. Although with my strategies in place it's all good. I've only got 5 1/2 weeks of on lead walking left, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Hydrotherapy went well again this week. I'm no expert but the therapist said she is outstanding putting far more weight on her front legs than expected at this stage and very keen to play. She choose a sponge bob square pants floating toy this week, apparently that's what it was anyway
Have you throught about the possibility her seeing a mouse? I once read that it can be a cause of sudden barking when a dog wasn't at the first place! Finn is also barking at himself in the reflection of a glass door. When we are watching tele, he is laying with Euan at our feed and watch also.... When Finn thinks he sees a dog or other animal he starts to bark, because who is having the guts of entering his territory! Annemarie
We must have had a fox or other creature in the garden last night because Chepi went a bit wild at her 6.30 wee this morning. Barking and frantically following a scent. The only cure was to bring her inside. Because it's warm I always have the back door open and she notices every noise; she particularly reacts to people putting wheellie bins out as they rattle right alongside my house down an ally. If I go in the garden she is much less likely to bark OR if she has a kong - is this a clever ploy??? Anyway, she just stopped barking at a bin noise and came in when I called her, so LOTS of praise. Is this a break through
Jane and Annemarie, I'd never give any thought to a mouse or anything else for that matter. When she sees a cat she's not too bothered but a bird, blossom or butterfly she gives chase, no barking though. Our garden has hedgerow at the end, as the houses are built on old farm land the builders decided to keep a percentage of greenery for wildlife. I heard my neighbour scream last year when she saw a field mouse in he garden. It could be a combination of everything. It's not a problem as such and plan to keep it that way . I was talking to a lady a while ago whose golden retriever barks all day long up and down the garden path and every time the TV is on. She just laughed and said oh well what can you do. I can't live like that.
That sounds good - although Charlie can seem disappointed when clicker training is over, and have a little "burst" of being annoying (mainly consisting of bringing me everything in the house that is not nailed down :rolleyes: ) I really can tire him out if I do enough clicker trick training. I don't think that the odd bark at things or noises outside, or people at the door etc, is a big deal - so long as it stops before it drives you nuts. But if it's not just that, I'd say giving her other things to do instead of barking sounds like a good strategy to me.
Finn is not allowed to bark either. Since Finn started barking, Euan started too and he never did! When we watch television and he starts barking, we tell him not to, or send both dogs to their crates. They know then it was wrong what they did, but they keep on doing this. It was more that I read an article on a sudden start of barking to think about a mouse in the house.... Finn chases every living animals, small ( butterflies) or a bit bigger (cats) who are in our garden. I hate it when he starts barking. I never get used to it! Annemarie I
Rachael (Oberon) gave me some really good advice on training a quiet cue. One of my dogs had a whinging problem while I was eating. It worked really quickly now no whinging and the cue works if they bark. Here is the link http://thelabradorforum.com/forum/let-s-get-training/clicker-training/4970-what-am-i-doing-wrong hope it helps.
Jen Thanks for the link, I've had a quick skim read of it. Sounds good, today it seems to have stopped with the increased training if it stays the same brilliant if not I now have a plan B.
Does anyone's have their hackles up? My seven month old pup has started barking at every noise but with her's up. Don't want to make a fuss of it but wondered if it is linked with coming into season
No she doesn't, sorry don't know the answer, she just sits and barks it's only a few. I'm now convinced it's a play with me bark it starts with a little growl but it's exactly the same growl she makes when she plays with certain toys. She is completely relaxed. She comes in from her 20 minutes walk raring to go. I've got a new routine and it seems to be working. Once she is off restricted exercise it will be interesting if all this stops.
