Hi

I know that there have been messages posted before on the subject of barking but hopefully you will be able to give me some advise on my problem with my Westie.

Mitzi has just starting barking at everything we do in our house.  She has only started this for about a week now.  She is 14 weeks old.  If we go into the kitchen she barks at us when were trying to prepare food. If were eating our dinner she barks at us non-stop.  The slightest noise she is now barking at everything.  At first we would use the command 'No' but now we understand that this is a word that is used quiet often and she may get confused.  We now tell her 'Quiet' but she will not pay any attention someone suggested the word 'Enough' but again she will not listen to us.

I don't know why she just ignores us...are we confusing her with different words??? Is there something we should be doing as well??

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

Suzie

First things first - your puppy doesn't speak English - she doesn't know what these words mean - but what she does know is that when she barks - you give her attention!  Stop paying her any attention, and if you're preparing her meal turn away and ignore it as well, and she'll soon work out that it doesn't work any more......  Beware - there will be an 'extinction burst', as with all ignoring a behaviour that the dogs has already learnt works, the dog thinks 'this isn't working any more, better give it some more wellie' - but if you keep it up - not even looking at her, she will stop this annoying habit ;)

Hi Suzie,

She's discovered her voice now and also discovered that when she uses it she gets lots of attention   Using different words will confuse her simply because she doesn't know the meaning of ANY words yet.  Different commands need to be associated for different behaviours.  However that is not your current problem - main thing to do meantime is stop giving into her barking by speaking/looking/making any contact with or to her. 

If she's not only getting nowhere with barking but actually finding herself worse off (ie deprived of ALL attention) then she'll get the message more effectively than any single word command.  Later you can teach her a chosen word for silence but stick to hard and fast rules of ignoring her demands meantime.

Good luck, Regards Teri :) 

Hi Teri and Digger

Thanks so much for your advise when reading what you both wrote it totally makes sense....I can understand exactly what your saying, we will try this at home and I will keep you both posted...Im sure by us ignoring her will make a difference as we have not done this before.

Thanks for the advise

Suzie

Your welcome Suzie - just remember you have to keep it up and ensure the whole family back you on it ;) (that's usually the hardest part LOL)

Keep us posted,
Regards Teri

Also make sure you avoid eye contact and watch your body language, also even talking to each other about the Westie, as dogs may realise you are talking about them (ie "oh god the dog's at it again"). They can be so clever!!

The only time this will not extinguish, is if the barking is actually rewarding, in itself. You may have to try this recommended method first though as it should work very well from the description's you have given, it does seem as if the barking is for attention rather than self rewarding (if that makes sense).

Lindsay
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