My younger shih-tzu , she is three has always barked at adverts which have animals in them. I tried to stop her with a tin of stones ( I would rattle them every time she barked) this didn't work. She wasn't too bad but now she barks at animals in soaps, films etc. She even barks at the Felix cat advert and thats not even a real animal. Is she too old now to stop her doing this. If not, how do I go about it. Now she is older the bark has got louder.
Thanks for any suggestions.

hi,
have you you taught your dog to speak and cease on command. If you do this you dog will understand the command to be quiet. at the moment if it barks and you speak to say shut up your dog may think that you are barking too along with it.

If you want a quick method but not cheap rent a remote master plus and teach your dog come as a reinforcement command. They are £160 to buy but you can sell them again. It comes with a vido with helpful hints on using it for training but once you sorted this one out I doubt you will use it again so just sell it on this site to someone who needs one.

Check out the site for someone who rents them if you do not wish to teach speak/cease on command. It is good fun and cheaper or give your dog the remote maybe he does not like the programmes same as me.

Hi Lulu,

I just heard the other day that dogs who recognize other animals on television are smarter than average. Who knows? The fact that she actually recognizes the image of a cartoon cat is rather amazing. Anyway, it's clear that the thrill of this has long since passed for you. :-)

In line with the other response, train her not to bark. She is definitely not to old to learn, "old dogs can't learn new tricks" is a complete myth. Keep plenty of small treats on hand and when she starts to bark, distract her and give her a treat. When she starts to bark again, do the same the moment she has been distracted and is quiet. Only giving her the treat when she is quiet is the key. Gradually extend the time she is quiet before you give her the treat. At the same time, you can give her a command, like "silence" or whatever you want. Preferably use a different word than you have been using up to now. And use whatever food she absolutely adores beyond all else as the treat. Eventually she will start to look at you for a treat when she sees an animal on TV .. and then you gradually extinguish giving her treats and substitute praise instead.

If you want to speed up the training just tape a couple of programmes with animals in it. Play the tape when you are ready for a training session with your dog. I think this is the quickest way to get her to stop barking. You are teaching her what "silence" means as well as teaching her not to reacte to images on the TV.

Stacey

Hi Lulu, Just had the problem turn up last week and had a look at the dog and owner. The key came when the owners said she said Shush then would say Quiet then eventually shouted at the dog and the dog just got lounder. There was no understanding by the dog of any of the normal be quiet comands so the dog thought the owner was barking along with it and she was actually giving the command to bark if inadvertantly by watching.
We taped on video the worst offending adverts and then chose to watch a boring channel. The owner then changed to the video and the dog shot at the TV. Then without saying anything or looking at the dog and with the remote she changed the channel again. I told the owner to totally ignore the dog and just get up without looking at the dog and walk out. If she is watching a programme and the dog dives in when an animal comes in with the remote turn off the TV and walk out. This dog would sit at the begining of Coranation Street waiting for the cat. Once the owner ignored the dog it took her out of the equation by her giving her dog Tell Commands and in a week the dog is quiet. The owner did miss a few programms but she taped them so she could watch them later. Peace now reigns.