How to control or stop barking

[Mom2BabyNatalie]

Originally Posted by marcerella02

Layla's babysitter has a barker and she just got a citronella collar which sprays a smell that dogs hate every time she barks.. the dog has completley stopped barking and she has been using it for 2 weeks... at least 10 hours a day...

I've never heard of these, but I wonder if it would work for Mia... she's still growling, barking and biting at everyone in the house (besides me, haha!) -

I realize she's doing it out of fear and insecurity, so I don't yell at her or punish her... she's been here only a few days but just when I think she's calming down, she bites someone else (in the family of course... I wouldn't take her out while she's still acting this way... scary for her and MAJOR liability for me!!) - -

Even though I know WHY she's behaving this way, I feel like I need to acknowledge and detour the unacceptable behavior before she becomes too "set in her ways" to mend them.

As you can see from the little video I just posted, she's a FABULOUSLY HAPPY girl when it's just me with them... but when everyone else comes home, she goes on automatic defense.

I have been using the "coins in a can" trick, but being so fearful already - the loud noise just frightens her more and she barks louder.... I tried, only once or twice, using a soft mist spray bottle... but she just shakes it off and keeps barking.

Does anyone have a link where I can learn more about these citronella collars?

Mia is just 2.5 lbs - can you use such a thing on very small dogs?

[luckylady]

I was just about to post a thread about Lexie. We just came back from an outing to PetSmart/Petco and as usual it wasn't to fun. Lexie barks and freaks out EVERYTIME she sees another dog in an aisle! And there is no stopping her except to move to another aisle....and if there is another dog in that aisle, we have to move to the next. It's nuts! Lucky is fine.......until she gets started, then he usually joins in. We can't take her anywhere without this happening. So, do I need to take a can of coins/rocks with me or maybe we should break down and get the no-bark collar as she barks at anyone that moves outside too...in the backyard, on walks. UGH! Any other suggestions on how to control this or why she does it? I think it's just her feisty personality, but it doesn't make taking her anywhere much fun.

[marcerella02]

Originally Posted by luckylady

I was just about to post a thread about Lexie. We just came back from an outing to PetSmart/Petco and as usual it wasn't to fun. Lexie barks and freaks out EVERYTIME she sees another dog in an aisle! And there is no stopping her except to move to another aisle....and if there is another dog in that aisle, we have to move to the next. It's nuts! Lucky is fine.......until she gets started, then he usually joins in. We can't take her anywhere without this happening. So, do I need to take a can of coins/rocks with me or maybe we should break down and get the no-bark collar as she barks at anyone that moves outside too...in the backyard, on walks. UGH! Any other suggestions on how to control this or why she does it? I think it's just her feisty personality, but it doesn't make taking her anywhere much fun.

this might seem like the WORST idea.. but what about obeidence class?? it sounds like she needs to be socialized with all types of dogs bit and small and the trainers will be able to help you work with that... i'm not sure i'd recommend petsmart for that.. but perhaps a dog trainer who is further trained in that type of issue..

[chachi]

Originally Posted by Mom2BabyNatalie

I've never heard of these, but I wonder if it would work for Mia... she's still growling, barking and biting at everyone in the house (besides me, haha!) -

I realize she's doing it out of fear and insecurity, so I don't yell at her or punish her... she's been here only a few days but just when I think she's calming down, she bites someone else (in the family of course... I wouldn't take her out while she's still acting this way... scary for her and MAJOR liability for me!!) - -

Even though I know WHY she's behaving this way, I feel like I need to acknowledge and detour the unacceptable behavior before she becomes too "set in her ways" to mend them.

As you can see from the little video I just posted, she's a FABULOUSLY HAPPY girl when it's just me with them... but when everyone else comes home, she goes on automatic defense.

I have been using the "coins in a can" trick, but being so fearful already - the loud noise just frightens her more and she barks louder.... I tried, only once or twice, using a soft mist spray bottle... but she just shakes it off and keeps barking.

Does anyone have a link where I can learn more about these citronella collars?

Mia is just 2.5 lbs - can you use such a thing on very small dogs?

Dr Fosters and Smith has them

[Ashley V]

Originally Posted by luckylady

I was just about to post a thread about Lexie. We just came back from an outing to PetSmart/Petco and as usual it wasn't to fun. Lexie barks and freaks out EVERYTIME she sees another dog in an aisle! And there is no stopping her except to move to another aisle....and if there is another dog in that aisle, we have to move to the next. It's nuts! Lucky is fine.......until she gets started, then he usually joins in. We can't take her anywhere without this happening. So, do I need to take a can of coins/rocks with me or maybe we should break down and get the no-bark collar as she barks at anyone that moves outside too...in the backyard, on walks. UGH! Any other suggestions on how to control this or why she does it? I think it's just her feisty personality, but it doesn't make taking her anywhere much fun.

Smokey is the same exact way!! It's miserable having to not be able to take him places and when I do he acts up! I thought about trying the citronella collar thing cause I don't think th coins in a can would work. I think it would make it worse because he sees everything as a toy.

[Mom2BabyNatalie]

Originally Posted by chachi

Dr Fosters and Smith has them

Thanks, I did check them out but it says for dogs 6 lbs and over... so that won't work.... I'd never use a "shock collar" either, so if anyone comes up with anything else that has been successfull, I'd love to entertain ideas.

[yorkiegirl83]

Originally Posted by Mom2BabyNatalie

Thanks, I did check them out but it says for dogs 6 lbs and over... so that won't work.... I'd never use a "shock collar" either, so if anyone comes up with anything else that has been successfull, I'd love to entertain ideas.

Have you ever read the book "The Loved Dog" by Tamar Gellar? It has lots of practical advice in a positive reinforcement only way of training about everything under the sun in dog behavior.

We love it at my house

[Sassymae]

This is wonderful Advice!!!!
I will definetly be Trying the can soon

[chantilly lace]

Tilly drives us mad with high pitched yapping. I have tried the water bottle and it only worked for a day or 2. I am going to find a small tin and try this......

[Maxi]

Hm if can with coins dont work how about trying to teach your dog to be quiet on command? I did it with Maxi. First I thought him to bark I would say Voice Maxi and he would bark I would praise him and then I would say Maxi quiet! and when he finally got quiet I praised him. When I kept on repeating he got the idea. Now I am able to control his barking, when unwanted. When he hears something outside I say Thank you I heard it and please now be quiet and show my finger on my lips like shhhhh and he gets quiet. Good luck!

[Boosted Panda]

Chloe has a barking problem I can't shake. I have the Citronella collar on her and she just kinda grunts, but I don't like it on her for long periods because its for 5lbs and over and shes just at 5.5lbs. I will try the can thing with coins. My room mate is starting to hate Chloe

[val]

I bought a loud bike horn, it doesn't work for our bigger dog, but Nelly our yorkipoo, just seeing it scares her. It's hard when we are gone but while we are home, if anyone comes to the door or walks up the street, she won't bark just by seeing it. Hope this helps.

[luckylady]

WOW!

It really works and I am amazed! We have lived with Lexie's barking for quite some time trying anything we could think of to get her to stop. Frantically urging her to be quite, calmly urging her to be quiet, removing her from the reason for barking, and so on and so on. Nothing was working I would never do a shock collar and was beginning to lean on spending the $$$ on one of the citronella no-bark collars when I saw this thread. My first thought on the canned coins idea was, "Sure, it will quiet her for about the 2 seconds that I have her attention for and then she'll just continue her barking." Boy was I wrong! I tried it for the first time Friday evening....one shake of the coins along with the word "QUIET" and she was off running under the table. She didn't like that noise at all! (Now she knows how we were feeling LOL )
Anyway, what is even more amazing is how quickly it is working. I used it again with the mailman Saturday afternoon; boom, she was off the couch as far away from the can as she could get, and today, even just the word "Quiet" gets her attention and has her looking for that can. I think that I have even noticed a couple of instances where she may have normally started barking.....and she didn't!
Never in my wildest dreams did I think that this would work so well and so fast! I am totally amazed & pleased. I know we are not completely "there" yet....the biggest hurdle and test will be when we take her on walks and/or to PetSmart where there are bound to be other dogs (a major reason for her barking). We're thinking a small tin Altoid can with coins in it will be good to have for those outings.
I have every confidence now that her barking will soon be (and stay) under control thanks to "the can of coins"! PRICELESS!

[MsFamousHepburn]

Originally Posted by ARCHIE

It can be controlled but after 4yrs of barking it will take patience.
Try putting coins in a can and leave the can where you can reach it
when needed. When your dog barks shake the can and say NO BARKING.
You may have to do this 20times a day for weeks but the message
will penatrate eventually. When he knows it's unexceptable behavior
he should stop. If you sitting watching TV and he barks you must get
up and shake that can. You can't do it sometimes and sometimes not do
it. It will confurse the dog. He has to put the noise with the barking in order
to understand it's not allowed.
When people come into the house put him on a leash to control him.
He's only excited and does not know it's wrong difference. Buddy still
jumps and barks from excitment when visitors come. I just let him do
his thing and in minutes he's laying down somewhere. I have used the
can with great success.
Good luck and have patience. Remember it's been 4yrs of barking so
it may take time to correct the problem but it should work out.

Archie----THANK YOU! Our Xavier has only been with us for 2 days, but I thought I was going to never get any sleep again after tonight! He has been great about going in his crate; whines a little but generally stops after a few minutes. Well not the case tonight...he barked for 30 minutes before going to sleep and then woke up shortly after and began again! So I got up with him and tried to help him sleep...but he had other plans . Finally, I put him in his crate with his bed, pee-pad, and toys and he began to bark again!!! So I tried the coins in the can and after 5 minutes he fell asleep! THANK YOU!!!!!!!! I hope this solves our problem!

[jenbremad]

Originally Posted by marcerella02

Layla's babysitter has a barker and she just got a citronella collar which sprays a smell that dogs hate every time she barks.. the dog has completley stopped barking and she has been using it for 2 weeks... at least 10 hours a day...

This is my first time to post. I have 2 female yorkies and just aquired a 10 month old male. He is so precious, but is driving my whole family crazy with his bad barking habits. Even my females who never barked before are starting to pick up this bad habit. I am going to try the can and coins idea, but I also like the citronella collar idea. Where can you get these and about how much do they cost?