Need Help With Barking...

[nadinesky]

My yorkie is Schmoo and she is really really a wonderful dog! I live in an apartment building, and she recently has taken to barking. It started when I arrived home with our new son, that was a little bit ago. She barks only when someone is walking out in the hall, and recently one of my 4 neighbors have complained
I have a bark off on the door making high pitch squeaking sounds to no avail...it is not stopping her by any means. I am home 90% of the time and can stop her by yelling NO BARKING at her, but what can I do the other 10% of the time?
I cannot use a spray bottle on her, as my son thinks this is his toy and if I use it for a second, I have to endure crying from him as he wants to spray her down and "help" for the next 2 hours!
Any other suggestion is appreciated...someone told me about coins?? But not sure what they meant and how will that help when I am NOT here? That is the big question.
Please help, I am so frustrated that someone would complain as she barks for 10 seconds and stops and only during the day, otherwise you would never know she is here, suggestions please.

[Kirby]

She is a doll...nice picture!

You might want to try keeping her in a crate when you're not there and then turning on a loud fan. Not a rattling one, clean white noise to block out sounds. Make sure it's not directly on her. I have a fan next to my bed to use at night. It's actually a small humidifier I don't use with water anymore. I am interested in those white noise makers I've seen outside doctors' offices.

Using coins in a can is what some people use to discourage barking. When she barks, shake a metal can filled with pennies.

I'm not a fan of the no-bark devices. I bought one last year and it worked at first, but then it made her bark more. After researching, it makes sense that if she's already aggravated, an annoying sound would only aggravate her more.

I hope this helps. Let us know how it goes and good luck!

[yorkieusa]

She is so darn cute! I trained mine using "no bark" in a deep voice. When you leave, can you turn on the tv? That would help mask the noises of people walking in the hallways. I feel for you. If I lived in an apt bldg, I imagine mine would be barking nonstop. Do you put her in a crate when you leave? If she has a crate, you could also put it in a bedroom or the farthest room from the door/hallway wall. These are the only suggestions I have. I am not a fan of the spray bottle technique anyway. There is just something about it that I don't like. I know it has helped some people, but that is just me...

[BlueBelle]

Oh my gosh. She looks so much like my Sophie who by the way is a barker! I think, unfortunately, some dogs just like the sound of their own voice. Sort of the Town Crier attitude. Sophie's default is, when in doubt BARK! I tried those ultrasonic gizmos myself and she reacted the first time only and after that she didn't even notice. Very Frustrating! I don't think it is helpful to yell, or make other loud noises as it just seems to me they would think you were just joining in.
Good Luck

[MI Yorkielover]

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

She is so darn cute! I trained mine using "no bark" in a deep voice. When you leave, can you turn on the tv? That would help mask the noises of people walking in the hallways. I feel for you. If I lived in an apt bldg, I imagine mine would be barking nonstop. Do you put her in a crate when you leave? If she has a crate, you could also put it in a bedroom or the farthest room from the door/hallway wall. These are the only suggestions I have. I am not a fan of the spray bottle technique anyway. There is just something about it that I don't like. I know it has helped some people, but that is just me...

This is what works (most of the time ) for us, too. Coins didn't work, she would bark at the coin sound. She would run from the squirt bottle, I didn't like it much either. Sophie only barks when people are walking their dogs in front of our house and the no bark command reduces her voice to a small whine ( Aw Mom, why not?). I think the crate and fan ideas are good also. Sometimes I leave soft jazz on low for her when we're gone. Your little one is just darling

[nadinesky]

The coins in the tin are actually helping, she really really really does not like it, so that works while I am here, and hopefully she is getting the message while I am not...hopefully...I think she just thinks she is doing her job protecting us...yup a whole 3 pounds of protection, I feel much safer

[yorkieusa]

I hope she continues to improve for you. Let us know. OK?

[megansmomma]

OMgosh is she precious! Send her over here and she can bark all she wants.

But seriously~I use the Bark Repellar and it works great. There is a thread on YT with lots of members saying how well it works but I see that you are using the Bark Off which is similar and also the can of coins. Hope you have continued luck with your current method and that there are no more neighbor complaints.

[morgan111]

i also have had the same trouble with mine i have 4 adults and when 1 starts they all would follow suit ,i tryed sonic barking devices for the yard and house i also tryed the sonic collars ,water bottles a home trainer nothing worked ............... but then only by accident did this happen i dropped a can of my husbands screws on the floor and oh my goodness there was a scatter of yorkies and silence oh my goodness,then when she started again i shook the can and wow it was dead quiet .i now have 6 coke cans with about 8 or so screws in each one, i have 1 at the door 1 outside 1 in the kitchen and i tell you after all this time our house is finally quiet ,dont get me wrong they should bark to let let you no someone is there or when they are playing but not all the time and over nothing. dont no if that helps but we have been trying to figure it out since gracie was little that was 4 years ago .i can now say we have a quiet house even our friends have noticed the difference