Further to my query last week about my Aussie pup barking at strangers, I was advised here by other Aussie owners to try giving her liver cake (or similar) to distract her from barking. Talking to the instructors at training Monday night, they said don't do it because that is a secondary technique (?) and I should be using a primary technique (?) such as a citronella collar or a screech alarm. Don't think that I can use either of them as a) puppy goes in water so the citronella collar (if used when off lead) would get wet :) and as she often barks when I take her out late at night, I don't think that the neighbours would be very pleased with a screech alarm :D . Should I ignore the instructors' advise and use the liver cake anyway ?

Daisy

Hi Daisy,
Well, it was me who gave the advice so......... all I can say is, do what works for you. I too instruct, a puppy class and good citizen class and would never use or tell other owners to use citronella collars or screech alarms without trying something more simple and gentle first. Your puppy is 9 months old, and still learning. I have used a citronella collar on my old aussie boy who had a temperament problem and used properly, it did have some good effect, but it was for something totally different when all else had failed... I personally think distraction is the way forward in your case, she is young and you don't want to frighten her half to death. Saying that, it depends what you as an owner feels comfortable with. Hope this helps a little if not get back in touch.
Will you be at Manchester Champ Show by the way??
Gabrielle

Thanks for the advice - Gabrielle. I favour using the treats, but will get 'Well, I told you so ' if it doesn't work :) Thanks for the reassurance tho'. We won't be at Manchester. I would love to, but it is too far away. Pup is not for showing (she is a mismark and we are doing obedience and agility with her). She has a very sweet nature, but we want to hit this problem on the head, as we had a severe barking problem with our older rescue dog, which took a long time to sort out. Another problem with the citronella collar is that he might set it off :)

Are you showing at Manchester ? Do you know our breeders, the Dowsons ?

Daisy

Hi Daisy,
Any problems, just e-mail me and we will see if we can help. Having a barking dog isn't easy, and you are right, you need to sort it sooner rather than later........ Don't be disheartened if it doesn't work, give it a few weeks and then will think of other alternatives. You have to live and work with the dog, not the trainers.........
Will be at Manchester Show in the afternoon, but not showing as both bitches are due in season hopefully so haven't put an entry in.
Yes, I know the Dowsons well, they don't live too far away so I see a fair bit of them at shows etc. Did you have a puppy out of the Oscar x Spice litter??
Gabrielle

Yes - born 29/4/02 - she is really cute, I think that it is a real shame that she can't be shown (we knew this when we got her of course) and that some breeders would have had her PTS (she has too much white in the wrong places). I know that the Dowsons are showing one of her brothers and I have seen that one of her sisters has been shown successfully as well.

Enjoy Manchester. Thanks for all the advice.

Daisy

Hi Daisy!
I wouldn't use anything too harsh at this stage, as pup is fairly young, but old enough to learn! I do think though, that if you are giving her treats whilst she is barking, you are actually praising her for doing it. I think Aussies can be 'vocal' - my last aussie certainly was, and I used a waterspray which did improve things after a while. Eventually, I just needed to say to him 'quiet' or 'that's enough' and he would know. It did take a good while though!
Some people say if you have a barking dog, teach it 'speak', then when it barks you can tell it 'enough', thereby teaching them that yes, there are times when you can bark, and other times when you have to be quiet, and they will learn the commands. I haven't tried this method myself, but have read about it more than once, so it must work.
Shame you can't show your pup, but you can do lots else with her! I actually met Colin and Glynis this summer at the Bala sheepdog trials - they had a few of their dogs with them, some were looking for homes. One was a lovely black tri boy about 18 months old.
Hilda