[celstu1]

Hi Gracielove, thanks for the advice! My dogs are 7 years old and are trained in basic commands, like sit, lay, down. This barking from Fletcher is new behavior that started in the last 2-3 months. I wanted to know a more 'gentle' way to get him to stop this behavior. He's a very nervous dog and speaking firmly to him makes him slink away with big sad eyes and his tail between his legs. I don't want to make him MORE nervous.

Last night when he started doing this. I calmly picked him up, put him in the gated living room and left him there for 5 mins. I told my husband and step son that this is what we are going to try to see if it works. After 5 mins we let him out. He was quiet for awhile then started again when we were getting dinner ready, so my step son picked him up and put him in the gated living room again. After 5 mins we let him out. We had to do it 3x last night, each of us took a turn doing it. He got quiet in the living room just sitting on the chair watching us and we left him for only 5 mins each time. It did seem to calm him down. That was great!

Thanks for the advice!