I need earplugs!

[JackieMaya]

I don't know what the deal is, but today Maya and Pooh Bear are driving me crazy with their barking! Pooh Bear kept barking at squirrels in the back yard. Every time he would bark and wouldn't stop, I would go to him and make him go inside for a time-out. He had LOTS of those today. Saying "that's enough" works sometimes, but when he gets going, he gets mommie-deaf.

And then when we came inside, Maya and Pooh Bear were upstairs on the sofa looking out the window and barking at everything that moved outside. I had the front and back door windows open too, so I suppose they could hear more things outside. Finally, I shut both the front door and back door and made everyone come downstairs for a nap. Peace and quiet at last! Sheesh!

Of course Jackie the princess was quiet the whole time.

[Sharpeigirl]

I feel your pain JM! Sassy has had one of those days today! It's like shut up for 5 seconds!! Everything has set her off!! :drinking: :drinking:

[Guest Anonymous]

I feel your pain. Mine have had days like that (and with two beagles oh god the headache) but today they have been good.

[DogPaddle]

The boys sometimes get into barky moods - no idea what causes it. *shrug*

Anyway I hope the mood passes for yours soon. I know how frustratrating it can get.

[JackieMaya]

Jeese Louise! Jackie and Maya and I are downstairs watching t.v. while I'm on the computer. Pooh Bear is upstairs on the sofa looking out the window. All of a sudden he starts a barking frenzy. I just went upstairs to see what he was barking at. There's a frickin squirrel in the birdbath about 20 feet from the front window. It's not bad enough that he barks at them in the back yard. Now they're even taunting him when he's inside! Pooh Bear REALLY has an obsession with squirrels!

[courtnek]

you need to train in a "SILENCE" command. when they start up, yell SILENCE and stare at them - hard....when they quiet down, give them a short obedience run (sit, lay down) and then special treats. after a while you can stop the obedience run."silence" alone will quiet them down,and then they can be treated just for that.

Laurel was making me, Kyle and the neighbors nuts baying at the squirrels (I feel the heartache of the 2 beagles.....sheessshhhh) so we started her with this. I let her bay at strange noises, but not squirrels anymore.


8)

[Sharpeigirl]

What do you do if no amount of yelling will stop them!! Sassy will just out bark me if I tell her enough..

[JackieMaya]

I can get Maya to quit barking, but Pooh Bear is still a challenge in that area. That's really the only bad habit he has left, which isn't too bad considering I've only had him for a month and a half.

I just need to get rid of every single squirrel in the neighborhood, and then he'll be fine! :tard:

[courtnek]

for the hard core barkers, grab by the nape (loosely, dont hurt) and stare at them, in the face directly. say SILENCE and do not look away until they do. this sounds harsh to some, but doesnt hurt them and its how a dog mom would do it.

[JackieMaya]

courtnek napisał(a):

for the hard core barkers, grab by the nape (loosely, dont hurt) and stare at them, in the face directly. say SILENCE and do not look away until they do. this sounds harsh to some, but doesnt hurt them and its how a dog mom would do it.

That's a good idea in theory Court, but when Pooh Bear does the barking is usually at the back of the yard (it's a big yard). My arm isn't that long! LOL! I was doing similar to what you suggested when Pooh Bear would be inside the door and the girls were outside chasing squirrels. I would loosely grab the nape of his neck and say "SHHHHHHHH" but I wasn't looking in his eyes. I'll try the stare-down next time and see if that helps.

[ESSlover]

courtnek napisał(a):

for the hard core barkers, grab by the nape (loosely, dont hurt) and stare at them, in the face directly. say SILENCE and do not look away until they do. this sounds harsh to some, but doesnt hurt them and its how a dog mom would do it.

Thats what I do when Carse gets overly wound up and play-bitey.. I grab him there and stare him straight in the eyes and tell him to calm down. He's starting to get it. :lol:

[Sharpeigirl]

Court,

I've tries the scruff shake thing with Sassy, and of course my grandparents hate it. They tell me to leave her alone. It's like she needs to zipp her mouth for a bit!!

[courtnek]

not shake, hold. just grab by the nape, hold firmly and stare in the face. give the same command every time. do not release until the dog has complied, just repeat the command. some will squirm, shake and try to get loose. dont let go. stare and command. once they've obeyed, then make them sit, and treat. it takes time, but they get it.

8)

[AllAmericanPUP]

luckily we have some smart squirels around here :lol:

they have learned to stay the heck out of our yard or they will get eaten..i've found a couple dead ones in our yard...maggie may be old but she can still get a squirrel :lol:

[JackieMaya]

AllAmericanPUP napisał(a):

luckily we have some smart squirels around here :lol:

they have learned to stay the heck out of our yard or they will get eaten..i've found a couple dead ones in our yard...maggie may be old but she can still get a squirrel :lol:

I have gigantimungous trees in my back yard, and my whole neighborhood is VERY wooded. So the squirrels keep going from tree to tree. I never see them on the ground when the dogs are in the yard, but they're terrible about taunting the dogs from the trees. Jackie has killed a few that weren't quick enough.

By the way, I just went outside with the kids for a while, and every time Pooh Bear would start barking, I would walk over to him, grab the scruff and say "SHHHH" and look him in the eyes. And that would shut him up until he saw the next squirrel. Oh well, at least I got some exercise! I also filled in the Grand Canyon that they dug in the yard. Can you say ouchy back?