good job! i think soemtimes we forget we are adding to the problem. you are right by oooing and ahhing all over them when you come home you were reinforcing their barking. isn't it crazy how quickly they learn :)

Yes, I was really suprised how fast they learned. They still bark a little when we come in but they stop really quickly and it's only been a few days. I sooo hope they learn this fast with the door.

also if you know someone is coming over.. ask them to ignore the dogs when they are barking... ask them to just take their shoes off and walk into the house... not even making eye contact with the dogs.. if you can get their help with this it won't take them long to catch on :) sounds like you are doing a great job!

Hi all,

Sometimes how you use the penny can also makes a difference. My trainer actually gave us small chains to use for the noisemaker but it's the same. He told us to have someone ring the doorbell and when they bark throw the chains close to them, not hit them of course, and say "baa". This company uses that as a kind of growl sound to let them know you are boss and they are not behaving. It's supposed to represent a snap/growl combination that a dog would do to another. You may have better luck with the penny can if you throw it near them and not just shake it. When I was working with this consistently we were doing pretty well but I have slacked off on my training and they still bark, but whenever I get the chains back out they back down immediately.

I also agree with the "ignore" them behavior, I do that when I get home from work, no attention until they are sitting quietly at my feet. Good luck. Reading your messages makes me think I should get busy again, thanks.

I think desensitization might work. I know I saw a CD of doorbells ringing. The theory is that if they hear doorbells over and over again for a while a few times a day they get used to it and stop responding. Their own doorbell won't excite them anymore. The only problem with that is the CD will drive you nuts! LOL.

I saw on a show "It's the Dog or Me" on the animal planet channel to use a squirt of compressed air when they are barking at someone at the door. The trainer used a horn but didn't work so she tried the air and it seemed to do the trick on a pom pom. This show is really interesting. The trainer has been doing this for 10 years and it is in England. She not only trains the dogs but she trains the humans as well. It is amazing how we contribute to their behaviour without realizing it.

the show comes on at some ungodly hour, I just dvr it and watch it at my convenience, sometimes over and over. :thumbup:

I totally understand trying to deal with barking. It gives you and everyone around a MAJOR headache! Tuesdays are bad here.... the garbage truck, and tons of other people that are coming around. Taylor responds to the "Bark Can", but not always. I found if I whistle loudly he will stop for a bit. (I can do a MEAN whistle!) The thing that seems to stop him in his tracks for barking or his crazy mode is if I put my finger in my mouth, blow up my cheeks and pull it out, making a loud popping noise. (I think Grandfathers used to do this to entertain their grand babies. I was amazed! Now if I am telling him to be quiet and even put my finger near my mouth... she STOPS! Go figure! :confused:

Well that's a first for me, never heard that one.

Opps....I meant HE....Taylor is a HE! :) It amazed me too. We even returned one of the citronella collars because I thought it might be dangerous for his trachea. Who would have thought that popping your finger out of your mouth would solve things! :D

What is a cirontella collar? :confused:

We only have one, but she is a barker. We use the spray bottle, and if we are consistent, it works well. All she has to do is see the bottle. The only problem is that the bottle may not be where we need it. I am sorry that I can't help you with three. However, if one is the problem and starts it, consistency is the issue. Good luck.

Here is a Citronella Collar Amazon.com: Premier Gentle Spray Anti-Bark Dog...
I didn't like it because it had two prongs that dig into the neck so it will activate it when they bark.

yikes. not all brands have the prongs!

Thanks. I might have to check into that when Rascal get bigger. The one without the prongs!!

when i was in undergrad i wanted to take my dog with me (it was allowed at the school). But whenever I would leave to go to class he would bark up a storm and it was ridiculous because like everyone on my dorm floor heard it. I got one of those shock collars.. thinking it would be ok and workk but I WAS SO WRONG. first of all, even on teh lowest setting.. the little 7 pound dog would scream in pain and because he screamed the collar shocked him again & again & again.. eventually he just collapsed on the floor. i tried to take the collar off but at that moment he barked with happiness and because i was touching the collar.. I got shocked. It was horrifying, because if it hurt ME at like 105 pounds, i couldnt eve fathom how much it hurt for his little 7 pound body :( I really cant believe they actually still sell those things)


anyway, back on topic. whenever pebbles does something I odnt like i get the water gun (its this little tiny kiddie one) and shoot 2 sprays at her, all the while making sure she didnt see where the water was coming from. im trying to trick her into thinking that even if i am gone she will still get punished by some invisble force. lol she still doesnt realize its the water gun