Hi everyone,

I'm writing about Cassie our 9mth old Norfolk x, she is driving me and probably my neighbours nuts with her persistant barking whenever she goes out in the garden. At first I though it was just when she went out at night but it's actually anytime of day, every single time she goes out and this is a real problem when she goes out at 6 in the morning as it must wake everyone up. I've tried going out and speaking gently to her "it's ok" etc....I've tried shutting the back door and not letting her in until she stops....She doesn't appear to be barking at anything in particular but I know it's only a matter of time before my neighbours come knocking at my door as they've already been moaning about it (I don't blame them) to a lady over the road..

Hope someone can help.

Many Thanks

Debbie

Try taking her out on a lead and don't leave her unattended in the garden, this way as soon as she starts barking you can correct her.

Hi Debbie,
I managed to cure one of mine of this bad habit by bringing him straight in again every time he did it. It took him a while to twig that he only got to go outside if he was quiet.
Hope this helps.
:)

I've tried this but because Cassie is so tiny it ends up as a game of chase me round the garden :)

I've also tried taking her out there on the lead, in fact I did it for about 2 weeks, didn't make much difference, she stopped for a couple of seconds and then started again..including growling at me!! Maybe I should persevere with this for a bit longer.

Many Thanks
Deb

If she's on the lead she won't be able to turn it into a game of chase, and you can simply take her back indoors, calmly and without saying a thing, as soon as she starts ...

Barking can in itself be self rewarding, so unless it's her way of telling you she wants to come in, bringing her in (and rewarding her for coming with a really tasty treat, or a game with a favorite toy reserved ONLY for times like this) every time she starts to bark can help......  Do not go chasing after her as this too is fun and rewarding for the dog - which may be what she's waiting for :(

i read somewhere that a way to stop this was to squirt the dog with water when he barks. I tried it and it seemed to work, but the dog then has to come in and shake itself all over the place. Hey ho.

tried that one too, but my lad loved it!!! tried to catch the jet of water!!

Yes, but did he stop barking during the water catching? :D

If he does then keep squirting the water and saying very calmly, quiet, good dog quiet, and call him to you for a pet.

I don't really use the water treatment as a punishment, but as aqn attention getting method, to get a word in edge wise.

Oops I better watch out as those who know me will start using this method on overly talkative moi :D :D :D

Also having a lead on the dog so that you can pull them to you when they go off on a barking spree is useful, as it will distaract them from the object they are barking at, and give you control, so that you can shut them up, and then be able to praise for the correct quiet behaviour.

I found for a dog that runs outsdie to bark having a smallish area nearest the house fenced in is handy, as you can march out, grab them by the collar and send them in.  If you send them back in house every time they bark, then in order to be outside they will come to realise they had best keep quiet.

Having five dogs of a breed that like the sound of their own voices and living in a suburban street means I have to try as much as possible to limiting any barking to legittimate and short periods.

Doh!!! very true - of course he stopped barking - was worried though that it would become a game to him ie bark, play with water etc, so stopped doing that one - but thought I'd give it another go this morning, as he drives me nuts barking when I'm preparing my food, one squirt was all it took!!! His crate is in the utility, so putting him in there wont help, and I dont want to shut him in the living room on his own, and weather not always good for him to be outside!! thanks for pointing out the obvious tho - fingers crossed!!!

try in a firm voice the word cut then when he or she barks shout cut it has worked so for me (staffie and greatdane)