Our 14 month old (who came back to us as she was a handful for her owners) is becoming more and more vociferous. She emits high pitch barking whenever she wants things which is most of time, food, play, drink,going out etc. It is like she is talking to you. At first we laughed about it but sometimes it gets a bit much. Trouble is it tends to wind the others up. We love her to bits but could do with just a bit less noise.
Any suggestions most welcome. i have tried aboistop to no avail.
thanks
Sue

only thing i can suggest which worked for me (although i have a teeny mini dachshund not a gsd!) is spraying him with a jet of water every time he barked - gives them a shock and they shut up, then divert their attention onto something else! the other thing that may work is a shaker can i.e. empty coke can with pennies it - shake or throw it on the floor next to her, works on the same shock principal...
or try making her sit/ lie down when she starts barking to divert her attention.
you have prob tried this but that's all i have tried for barking and it worked but someone more experienced will be along soon i'm sure, in the meantime EARPLUGS!!! :)
wishing you a peaceful wednesday
Lu

Thanks Lu
Have tried the water but that does not deter her either. I will give the shaker idea ago though. In desperation, will try anything so any other suggestions appreciated.
Can't wear ear plugs in the day tho' as i have to wear them all night due to hubby snoring:)

I think the only thing to do is to ignore her completely until she is quiet ...then do what she wants. We had to do this with Hudson ..he used to yip and yap very loudly when he was in th garden and wanted to come in ..and of course , we used to let him in...

After a while he got louder and louder and more and more insistant. Eventually we decided to wait it out ..the first day it took him over an hour to be quiet ..thn we let him in . The next time it took him about half an hour ..etc etc. He did have a slip back to the over an hour session on one or more occasions , but generally the time period got less and less. He now sits quietly by the patio doors and waits to be let in

:)

Melody

ignoring is a good one too - archie hates it - i use it now when he tries to nip - works everytime cos he loves loves loves attention! the only thing is the waiting for them to shut up which can be really hard.

the other thing that works is making them sit before everything. i think it's called grounding in america. basically before any interaction with the dog u just make it sit and wait for a few seconds. eventually they get the idea. now if archie brings me a toy he sits at my feet until i am ready. i saw a difference in only a couple of weeks with him, no more barking to play or be fed cos he knows it doesn't work. i read somewhere that dogs like to have a "job" to do so that is archie's job - sitting quietly! (wish it was my job!!!)the only time it doesn't work is when i'm hoovering or if something startles him - i imagine this is because he is barking out of fear rather than sheer excitement and i understand that but no barking just for fun!!

i reckon if u combine it with the ignoring, it should work - i'll keep my fingers x'd.

ditto about husbands and earplugs!!!

Hi Sue

Being the owner of a 14 month old gsp I can empathise (sympathise!) with the noise issue - Roscoe has a vocal range that an opera singer would be proud of, but he only uses it in excitable situations - lawnmower coming out, basketball he can't get his teeth round.

What has worked for me is to speak to him in a quiet and questioning voice - why are you making a noise? why are you barking? are you being noisy? He stops and listens - you know how gsp's hate to think they are missing out on anything! Teaching him to sit before doors are opened and food is put down has also calmed him down in general. Shouting "BE QUIET!!" definitely didn't work! He's a lovely little chap and the training is paying off - he's my first dog (yes I know I'm mad for getting a gsp as a first dog) and it has been a joy seeing him develop.

I hope this may be of help - I'd love to hear more about your little girl (Rosce's picture is on the gpointers site) and anything else that can help me understand more about gsp's.

Terri

Hi Terri
Gpointers is my sons site so i have seen Roscoe. His head is just like Poppy. We have 6 gsps and 2 gwps. Must be mad!!! They are all livel and complete nutters in their own way but Pops is the only one who 'talks' to us. My children show some of ours and we have made some great friends through Gsps. Do you show Roscoe.
Sue

Sue
Have sent you an email as it's gsp related not this thread really, Terri

Hi Sue

Some very good posts on this all valid

There are a few breeds that are quite vocal GSP are certainly one of them Weimarners another and one of the most Vocal are Cavaliers. very cute at first but then the noise starts to grate.

However this case doesn't sound like the chatty cavalier but more like attention seeking, probably caused through the fact you have over dogs and she wants to draw attention to herself if you are patting or fussing one of the others and could be age related as she may be challenging for pack leadership.

Can I ask a few questions is the dog from working stock or show? is she is living indoors or out?

Like all attention seeking behaviour any acknowledgement is seen as apositive even if you are shouting or yelling at the dog to stop therefore you can use two main methods.
Noise aversion therapy
Rather than the tin with the stones in their is a product called training discs made by Mikki they are a set of 5 discs on a ring that make a jangling noise if they are set correctly in the first place the dogs feels disapointment when they hear it, therefore you must follow the instructions but they are more effective and off course easier to carry than the can. They cost £6.99
Separation Therapy
Every time she starts the vocalisation do not look or speak to her just grab her by the collar and put her in a separate room where there are no other dogs or people. when she stops the noise let her out and praise repeat the exercise till she gets the message.

Best wishes

Doglistener

Thanks Doglistener
She is from show lines and is kept indoors.She is quite insecure in that wherever i go in the house she follows me and yes i think it is attention seeking, and we do have bitches with not tto big an age gap. (I did not intend to keep her but when she came back I felt she had been through enough and did not deserve to be pushed from pillar to post
I have tried the tin thing and she does not like that at all so when we go to blackpool show next week i will see if i can get some of the discs. i will also try the separation therapy if you are sure it will not exacerbate her anxiety about not being able to see me
Sue

Sue

I also think there may be a case of over bonding does she follow you to the toilet etc.
Especially with your comments that you felt sorry for her therefore you may give this one a bit more attention because you feel she needs the comfort as you perceive she has been through enough?

If that is the case then with all your dogs do the following these 4 rules it will also increase you Alpha standing and reduce theirs.

1. Ignoring the dog for up to five minutes after every separation before
calling the dog to you for praise and reward.

2. Gesture eating. Eating a biscuit or similar which
appears to come from the dog's bowl before feeding the dog.

3. Taking charge of the walk (the hunt), preventing the dog from
pulling or choosing the direction.

4. Taking control where the dog perceives danger for the pack
(eg when visitors arrive or it sees other dogs)

If you want me to post the full extended version of this program please ask

On top of this gradually desensitise her with time outs or a regular basis so she doesn't get so clingy.

Best of luck

Doglistener

Thanks
i have read some of this in the book and did try albeit not too consistently, as it is hard when you come in and all the dogs are hyper together but will try harder this time
Sue

Hi Doglistener,
I was wondering if you could post the full extended version of the program please?
I have a cocker spaniel, 10 weeks old, and she will whine, yap, bark, etc whenever she wants something, doesn't get her own way etc etc.. she also nips and bites *alot*, ive tried ignoring her but she just finds another part of me to chew and it hurts as her teeth are so sharp. It doesn't help that the rest of the family will give her the attention she is asking for (either by picking her up to try and stop her yapping, or yelling at her to shut up in my brothers case), i thought i could show them all this program and maybe they'll stop undoing the training!
thanKs
KC

KC - the main thing with dog training is consistency. If you have members of the family not obeying the rules then you are on a hiding to nothing and a troublsome pooch.

Nipping and biting at this age is the norm - not acceptable, but the norm and all members of the family must show that it is not acceptable.

Ignoring bad behaviour does work - but sometimes you need to do more. Cockers are wonderful dogs but can be stubborn and will try it on - if they get away with it - woo-hoo:D as far as they're concerned.

For the biting - I found that putting then out of the room away from anyone each time it happened worked really well. I don't support the making eye contact as it suggests you are willing to battle with them and that's not the kind of relationship you want with your dog. You want them to want you because they look up to you - not because they are in a constant battle with you.

hth

Pam n the boys