Hello all

My springer pup is six months old, I have her since she was eight weeks old.  I'm not sure what to do with this new 'thing':  she barks at the neighbour when he saws wood in the garden.  Hackles go up and she barks and barks.  She even barks at them when they just move around.  She even barks at them, when she is in the livingroom and she can hear or see him in his garden.  I worry how that will be in the summer, when they are much more out than now in January?  My impression is, that she is spooked reasonably easy.  I did and do socialise her.  Is this only a temporary puppy thing or do I have to activly do something about that?  At the present I normally ignore her completely when she barks inside or when outside I try to distract her with a game to take her mind onto something else.

Thanks for advice

Bagpipe

PS  The fence between us is a concrete one with wholes in it (this typically bloomy pattern)  so she can see as well as hear what's going on.

Bagpipe, I wouldn't be too worried about this.  It is not a sign that she was undersocialised or of any other problem.  It is just a new thing to her and is startling her, and she is trying to scare it off.  Or perhaps she's excited by it and wants to go to it and investigate but she can't because of the fence.

Can you open the fence between you - is there a gate or something?  If I were you, I'd check with your neighbour first that it's ok, and then when he is sawing wood, take her round there to his garden.  If you can, let her off the lead and let her go and explore your neighbour and the wood/saw, so that she can see it is nothing to be afraid of.  Maybe even give your neighbour some treats to give her.  Tell your neighbour to just ignore her if she barks and she will eventually be quiet (you don't want him yelling at her or giving her even more reason to bark at him).

That may or may not work.  Another thing I would try is - when she is barking, go outside with a clicker and some treats.  As soon as she is quiet and not barking, click and treat.  Keep doing that and gradually make her wait for longer, silent, before you click and treat.  You could also ask for "Watch me"s outside when your neighbour is sawing. 

Hello 1-2-3

That she barks to scare it off sounds very right.  I can't open the fence, there is no gate.  But the idea to go and speak to them whether I could come in with my pup when they are about is worth trying.   They are new neighbours (moved in last summer).  I also will try the clicker, although she is not that bothered with click/treat if used outside. Must get hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh value treats!

Thanks for reassurance

Bagpipe