We have the same problem with Sammie and Gracie. We talked to our trainer who told us when this happens, you need to take control of them. She told us to call them by name and make them sit - use a treat as a lure. It is hard to get them to do it at first because they cannot seem to hear when they are already barking and excited. Just be persistent, no matter what they are barking at, get their attention, make them sit and give them something else to do like play ball, go in a different room. Reward them when they are quiet. She also said if you have them on a leash and they bark at anyone, YOU remove THEM from the scene. You be the one to take the pups out of the situation that is causing them to bark. If you are outside for pottying or just a walk and they start to bark at a neighbor, car, schoolbus, birds, take them immediately into the house or turn and start walking back toward the house - get them away from the situation. Our pups are almost cured of their barking now. We now have progressed to the point of being able to say "look at me" when they look like they are going to bark and they immediately calm down. We are working toward the day when they don't need us to tell them to calm down. We will get there.
__________________  Gracie's Mama |