Hi All

Isla my 5 month old sheltie is very active off the lead (probably be good at agility one day!).  I have two other dogs a JRT and a Westie and this last week or two as soon as I let them all off their leads Isla, instead of running around and doing her own thing is constantly leaping on Lucy the Westie and won't give her any peace.  I put up with this behaviour for a few minutes and if if persists then I pop Isla  back on the lead hoping that she realises that she won't be allowed off until she behaves.  However every time I let her off again she starts off barking (in fact a very high pitched yap yap) again and Lucy is getting fed up with it.  So for most of the time she is spending more and more of it on her lead.  I suppose the answer would be to take her out alone but that is not much fun and doesn't address the problem!

Anyone  got any ideas of how to break her of this habit?

Thanks

Snowflake

someone else will prob reply and give you more advice but you need to take her out on her own as it sounds like she is barking out of frustration because she isn't allowed to play, not being rude but you are probably 'just the escort' and not nearly as much fun out or as important as your other dogs.
If you are out with just her you will be the main source of entertainment and you can get her focused on you and to look to you for games and fun rather than Lucy and it will be easier to stop her 'mugging' Lucy other times.
Chris

I think what tatty-ead is right about exercising on her own, but I have also heard that Shelties are very vocal when excited and especially during exercise and play, so it might be a breed thing :)

Hmmm - think you could be right and tis a breed thing - remember watching the agility at Crufts this year and noticing how fast the Shelties were and ..... how very vocal!!

Snowflake

We go to training with 2 Shelties and yes, they pretty much bark non stop!

Absolutely 100% a breed thing, and don't I know it.
As soon as my lot are off lead they all do it, one of them is worse than the others, she will just run around the fields barking at everything and nothing. The moment they are back on lead, peace resumes and they behave like little angels