[deliciousyorkie]

When I first got my dog, I was quite shocked at how quiet and calm she was (got her at 3 months from the breeder -- she was living with her parents). As time went on, I am finding that our dog is getting more and more nervous and anxious towards any noise. For instance if she's sleeping on the couch and I accidentally drop a pen/remote or other similar object bolts upright and she looks at me extremely nevrously.

When she sees the neigbours cat she goes absolutely bonkers. Same when a light breeze rustles the leaves. Our property backs out into a bush so there's all sorts of critters (hedgeogs etc) out there - if she hears ANYTHING she goes into a barking fit and won't quiet down till I yell at her.

It's started happening at night also now. I'm not able to sleep properly because I'm constantly on edge about being woken up in the dead of night.

Is there anything I can do to reassure her that the above things are not a serious threat?

I don't mind her barking if a stranger comes to our door or simliar (since this is actually useful behaviour); but I could do without the piercing bark every time a leaf moves on a tree in the neigbours harden.