trying to help a friend with a rescue dog who has a lovely temperament but has taken to protecting the house by barking at any noise. She is not aggresive in any form but I think she is the pack leader, they have tried the usual no furniture, ignoring her, bed downstairs, praise for not barking - when husband comes home she is fine and will settle, but whilst the wife is home on her own she is 'on guard'. Would not imagine that it would go any further than barking as when someone comes into the house she wags her tail with joy and comes to lick your hand with affection when you sit down. tried aboistop collar but not bothered by the spray. Not too happy with noise's (mobile phones) so will try the noise version of aboistop - has any trainers any more suggestions on getting her down the pack order? / or anyone gone through this ? as I think this is the cause of the barking do you agree?

My view would be that the dog is territorial rather than anything else - for example the fact that she comes over and licks hands doesnt really tally with her thinking she is leader in the house. My dog is territorial and i used a clicker to reward for any period she barked and was then quiet. I started clicking and treating (or you could just praise and treat, but she will get it quicker with a clicker) say, 2 seconds after barking and stopping (so rewarding for that short period of quiet) and gradually upping the criteria so that she was rewarded for 3 then 5 and so on.

I introduced the word "Quiet" and say it firmly but not shouting. After some weeks, if she didnt' obey at once, I would say "ah ah - Quiet" and then praise verbally and maybe play a short game when she obeyed. If she ever carried on barking she got put out the room for up to 2 minutes (no more or she would have forgootten).

I was able to train her from the age of about 10 months as she didnt' need it before. Although a guardign breed, she aslo loves people and will never bark at the front gate, only at the back of the house and at noises she can't "see", or cats, or the neighbours. I now have her used to the neighbours and no barking through a training programme, just teaching control, lots of click and treating when she demonstrates self control, etc.

It's not alwasy easy to explain over the net but hope it gives you some idea. I think it wont stop her barking completely, but will give that control which most people need :) All dogs are different but your friend's dog sounds quite similar to mine so I wish you both luck if you decide to try it.

Lindsay