We have 2 miniture schaunzers, and Cora the youngest has always been abit of a barker when out. If she sees another dog she will bark all the time. I have tried everything, I don't shout back at her, I call her back which she does immediatly and use some other method to distract her, which works for a very short time only. She will not go near another (strange dog) and never has. She was socialisede well, as a puppy the same as Heidi, and she is okay. They are both extremely well behaved, but the barking is a bit of a pain, the only thing is the people I meet know her and don't bother, neither do their dogs. Any suggestions from anyone or will I have to just put up with it? Maureen

I have found for me what has worked best is a bottle with a spray nozzle that can be adjusted to give a good jet. this is filled with water, and when the dog barks, or better still is about to bark, a squirt of water is aimed at the face. this should have the effect of startling the dog into momentary silence, at which point the dog should be praised for being quiet.

The sequence of events should go something like this, dog barks, you say quiet, if dog does not respond then he gets squirted, as soon as he is quiet he gets praised.

I have four Elkhounds, and live in a Suburban 3 bed semi, and have found this gives me the control I require to keep my dogs from being a vociferous nuisance to my neighbours, and myself :D

Timing is important for best effect, and of course it won't work if the dog loves having water squirted at its face! Seriously you must at no point make a game of it or show amusement, otherwise you will undermine the effectiveness of this as a tool.