Help with Barking at Ball Games - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Ponyup · 08-04-2006, 06:57 AM

I'm kinda in a bind right now. I have a pretty good little boy & the only time he barks is when he's playing. He gets so darn excited & starts barking & carring on. It's really cute because he gets this little smile on his face & I know he's having an awesome time. However, there is a problem. I've been taking him to my husband softball games & sense my husband is his main play buddy when he sees him run out of the field or throw the ball or hit the ball he goes nuts because he wants to get the ball. I really don't care that he barks because he's a dog, however, I know that it bothers other people. One of the guys on the team heard a guy on the other team ask if any one had a be-be gun to shoot my dog with. Had I heard him he would of been toast.

Anyway this wouldn't be a huge problem except my husband & I are both playing a tournament tomorow & it's all day long so he has to go. I'm afraid he's gonna be a little barking machine & I just hate to bother people. I know there are no quick fixes, but if anyone has any idea how I can start breaking this habit I would appreciate it. I'm already trying stopping the play until he stops barking. The only problem is my husband won't get on board with this. He still plays whether hes barking or not. I told him he has to stop that ignore him til he sits quietly & then continue. So I need advise on training my dog & my husband.

Ponyup · 08-04-2006, 01:03 PM

Bump

Dougal&Little · 08-05-2006, 02:33 AM

Hi You're doing the right thing by not playing with him when he's barking. But they're terriers - barking is part of playing! Sadly my DH isn't particularly well trained so can't offer any tips there.

Clicker training works on my yorkies but not Stu

As to your dilemma for the tournament. Will you have a crate you can put your pup in? When he gets to excited you could put him in the crate for 5 or 10 minutes as a puppy time out. Maybe drape something over the crate so he can't see what's going on.

If you do that a couple of times as soon as he starts barking I can just about guarantee that he'll figure out "barking = boring crate so I'll stop barking". (it'll mean a few trips backwards and forwards to the crate and back but it's totally worth it!)

Hope this helps (and you got the advice in time for your tournament!)

simonandhallie · 08-05-2006, 11:09 AM

Oh My this sounds just like Simon. Whenever he sees a ball being thrown he assumes it's for him and time to play. I wish I knew what to do about it too.

Ponyup · 08-07-2006, 07:55 AM

The tournament turned out okay. He was bad the first game, but after that he was too tired & hot to bark so his barking was only when a ball actually came near him. I really hope that this is something that will settle down with age. I would really like to take him to games with us. I was more worried about him getting heat stroke at the game. I couldn't get him to stay in the shade & lay down. We kept water out for him, but he was to distracted to drink, but he would drink gatorade so we kept giving him that when he looked thirsty. Also some little girls at the game kept wetting him with washclothes. I think he's okay now, but he still very worn out...he's done nothing, but sleep since the games. But he's eating & pooping normal so I'm sure he's just worn out.

Erin · 08-07-2006, 10:41 AM

I'm sure he's tired!

I caught this too late, but I was going to suggest bully stix and frozen kongs. Also tiring him out first! Also, our Target carries these pop up dog crates for like $25 and it's like a tent. Then maybe he won't see as much. The wash cloths are a great idea. I tie a wet scarf around Loki's neck, get him wet or let him run through the sprinkler, and keep him drinking water (he can drink right out of the bottle without a lot of spilling - so talented

) Oh and ice cubes and doggie ice cream. I found some good stuff at our local doggie boutique, although it was mostly fat free vanilla yogurt and I could probably make it at home!

08-04-2006, 06:57 AM	#1
Ponyup YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 1,236	Help with Barking at Ball Games I'm kinda in a bind right now. I have a pretty good little boy & the only time he barks is when he's playing. He gets so darn excited & starts barking & carring on. It's really cute because he gets this little smile on his face & I know he's having an awesome time. However, there is a problem. I've been taking him to my husband softball games & sense my husband is his main play buddy when he sees him run out of the field or throw the ball or hit the ball he goes nuts because he wants to get the ball. I really don't care that he barks because he's a dog, however, I know that it bothers other people. One of the guys on the team heard a guy on the other team ask if any one had a be-be gun to shoot my dog with. Had I heard him he would of been toast. Anyway this wouldn't be a huge problem except my husband & I are both playing a tournament tomorow & it's all day long so he has to go. I'm afraid he's gonna be a little barking machine & I just hate to bother people. I know there are no quick fixes, but if anyone has any idea how I can start breaking this habit I would appreciate it. I'm already trying stopping the play until he stops barking. The only problem is my husband won't get on board with this. He still plays whether hes barking or not. I told him he has to stop that ignore him til he sits quietly & then continue. So I need advise on training my dog & my husband. __________________ Ponyup Mom to LOGAN

08-04-2006, 01:03 PM	#2
Ponyup YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 1,236	Bump __________________ Ponyup Mom to LOGAN

08-05-2006, 02:33 AM	#3
Dougal&Little Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New Zealand Posts: 851	Hi You're doing the right thing by not playing with him when he's barking. But they're terriers - barking is part of playing! Sadly my DH isn't particularly well trained so can't offer any tips there. Clicker training works on my yorkies but not Stu As to your dilemma for the tournament. Will you have a crate you can put your pup in? When he gets to excited you could put him in the crate for 5 or 10 minutes as a puppy time out. Maybe drape something over the crate so he can't see what's going on. If you do that a couple of times as soon as he starts barking I can just about guarantee that he'll figure out "barking = boring crate so I'll stop barking". (it'll mean a few trips backwards and forwards to the crate and back but it's totally worth it!) Hope this helps (and you got the advice in time for your tournament!) __________________ Dougal (card carrying member of the Teapot Club) & Dixie (aka Evil Wee) Dougal's Facebook Dixie's Facebook

08-05-2006, 11:09 AM	#4
simonandhallie I Love My Monkeys! Lewser Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Clifton Park, New York Posts: 10,902	Oh My this sounds just like Simon. Whenever he sees a ball being thrown he assumes it's for him and time to play. I wish I knew what to do about it too. __________________ www.simonandhallie.com Simon 's Layla/Hallie 's Luigi & Jack

08-07-2006, 07:55 AM	#5
Ponyup YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 1,236	The tournament turned out okay. He was bad the first game, but after that he was too tired & hot to bark so his barking was only when a ball actually came near him. I really hope that this is something that will settle down with age. I would really like to take him to games with us. I was more worried about him getting heat stroke at the game. I couldn't get him to stay in the shade & lay down. We kept water out for him, but he was to distracted to drink, but he would drink gatorade so we kept giving him that when he looked thirsty. Also some little girls at the game kept wetting him with washclothes. I think he's okay now, but he still very worn out...he's done nothing, but sleep since the games. But he's eating & pooping normal so I'm sure he's just worn out. __________________ Ponyup Mom to LOGAN

08-07-2006, 10:41 AM	#6
Erin Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Suburbs Posts: 2,635	I'm sure he's tired! I caught this too late, but I was going to suggest bully stix and frozen kongs. Also tiring him out first! Also, our Target carries these pop up dog crates for like $25 and it's like a tent. Then maybe he won't see as much. The wash cloths are a great idea. I tie a wet scarf around Loki's neck, get him wet or let him run through the sprinkler, and keep him drinking water (he can drink right out of the bottle without a lot of spilling - so talented ) Oh and ice cubes and doggie ice cream. I found some good stuff at our local doggie boutique, although it was mostly fat free vanilla yogurt and I could probably make it at home!