Bark Control
 

I need tips on how to get my Yorkie to stop barking uncontrollably. I don't mind when she warns me that someone is at the door. But Grace barks to the point where it disrupts everything. Even if someone goes to visit my mother and she hears her bell, she barks as she runs down the stairs and literally jumps over a guard gate into my mother's house. She's incredibly adjile but she's out of control. Then when she confronts our guests, she just sniffs them.

Have you tried the can with pennies trick? You take an empty soda can and drop a few pennies in it. When he barks, shake it. When he stops, praise, praise, praise.

I will try anything. Thanks.

I am wondering just how old she is.
Also just how much soicalization she had... is it excitement that company is here or the what happens once they are inside??
I also wonder at what level of training she is.

Shaking a can will end the barking... maybe but will it stop the jumping over the fences.

JL

She is 5 years old. She socializes with everyone and everything. She's not too good with other dogs because she's a drama queen and throws up if I pay attention if there's another dog in the house. I think she is just very territorial. She does nothing to them when they come in. Just sniffs them and runs to get a toy so they can play with her.

So you agree with the can full of pennies?

I always say no bark when I shake the can also so they learn that command. Now I just say no bark and they quit. Dogs just bark to communicate. It is up to us to teach them when It is appropriate or not appropriate

I like the fact that she barks to warn us that someone is at the door but her bark is literally piercing and out of control. Do I have to use a can or bottle with pennies?

I use a can but I think either would work

If she is throwing up that not drama that anxiety....and it fear.... of dogs.

Humans she just just wants to have fun... which is great but not great if she sailing over gates....

No...I do not use interuptors the penny in can trick as it can scare some dogs ... you stop the action of barking and if you do not put in what you do want to happen you have a dog that will fill the hole with another bad action.
Can is not going to stop her sailing over that gate.

I rather try to catch them doing ans being good and reinforce that.

I think Terry Ryan has a great set up for reworking bad door greating behaviour... right now I am at work and do not have that book handy to check it and my memery is fogy from over work and lack of sleep.
I know the book is called culture clash and is avalible at dog wise.

I be more inclined to work her relax skills... teacher to sit on greatings also work on the nothing in life is free protocal so that she isnot taking things in to her own paws. I wonder to if the protocal for relaxation would also not be a good idea... if you want both let me know I have to be home to pull them off my computor.
I have my trained to bark or grr and I say thank you for telling me and shh now.

JL

What makes it work? Does the sound scare them? I'm all for it, just curious to what the catch is.

It didnt scare mine it just puts them off quard and interupts them. Some people spray with a water bottle to get the same effect

It scares them. you shake the can and they stop, you stop.. some dogs if they see you will then transfer and be scared of the owner. Some dogs will start ducking if they bark or cringe as they know the sound is coming.
Some will stoop barking and go growling which is then concidere aggresion and the dog is put down.
Some go to grr and its then stopped from grr and then the dog needs to comunicate through a bite then we have aggresion and a dog that can then be put down.

Catch is you are using fear to train but nothing is very learned out of fear that sticks or is pleasent.. Fear does not build a relationship.

Catch is it fast and it can work on some dogs some it totally destablizes and then you have a big mess.

Jl

I dont know mine are 4 yrs old and it worked for them and others on here also so I think you will have to take all info on here and decide whats best for your dog. Mine arent afraid of the can though tell you that

Sorry to nit pick but the startle resposne is a fear responce and if you dogs stopped cause you shook the can it was startled and there for fear was used.

It works and it is fast but is it the right way maybe not if your working with dogs that are not going to manage it well... we never know till we do it once or twice ans see the fall out... remeber that fall out may not be a good one and may show up later on in fear to other sounds or fast movment.
When it does not work and you have scared the dog you have to work around that and rebuild trust but it up to you what method you use and it always better then debarking.

JL

Mine dont display any fear of noises and like I said they are 4 yrs old and I dont evedn have to shake the can anymore just say no bark. I dont see it as any different than the no bark collars that put out a signal.( I dont mean shock collars as I would never recommend using one of those)