Barking at animals - YorkieTalk.com Forums

izzy816 · 06-11-2007, 06:57 AM

I need help. We were at an art fair this weekend, and every dog he saw he would bark uncontrollably until the dog was no where in sight. He also does it when I take him out for a walk. I try to stop him, but I don't know how. I find myself trying to not let him see the dogs so he wont bark. Then yesterday I was in the backyard at family's house and a bird was making its sound and he just barked like crazy!! He also barks at everything he sees out of the window, squirrel, possum, bird and anyone walking past. He just started this a month or two ago. Im assuming some of this is normal. He's still a puppy, 9 months. Ive had him since November. We just started going outside in March because the weather here was too cold to take him out. Will he grow out of this once he gets used to being outside more? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

xxmxaxrxyxx · 06-11-2007, 07:10 AM

tootsie does the exact same thing...she just turned 2 yesterday...and it drives me up the wall!

chachi · 06-11-2007, 07:19 AM

Keep taking him on walks and exposing him to other dogs and people. Mine are barkers and used to do that on walks but kept taking them and they stopped. They stll bark when they are in the yard behind our fence but they got much better on walks

FirstYorkie · 06-11-2007, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chachi

Keep taking him on walks and exposing him to other dogs and people.

EXACTLY! The way to reduce his barking at other dogs is to expose him to more - many more - dogs, not less. If he sees enough of them, they will no longer hold so much interest.

Will he outgrow barking at things outside? Probably not, I'm afraid. Yorkies are barkers. (If you want a nice, quiet dog - try a Siberian Husky. Shed like crazy, will dig up your whole yard, but they are quiet). If you want to stick with Yorkies, try teaching a quiet command, shutting the drapes, and keep the stereo playing to help drown out noises from outside.

One other tip to reduce barking, but it takes some effort. When your dog barks, go investigate what he is barking at. That's what a momma dog ("alpha" dog to some) would do. The leader goes to investigate danger. Then tell him "thank you, that's enough". If he keeps barking, you are then (and only then) well within your rights to reprimand him.

izzy816 · 06-11-2007, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FirstYorkie

EXACTLY! The way to reduce his barking at other dogs is to expose him to more - many more - dogs, not less. If he sees enough of them, they will no longer hold so much interest.

Will he outgrow barking at things outside? Probably not, I'm afraid. Yorkies are barkers. (If you want a nice, quiet dog - try a Siberian Husky. Shed like crazy, will dig up your whole yard, but they are quiet). If you want to stick with Yorkies, try teaching a quiet command, shutting the drapes, and keep the stereo playing to help drown out noises from outside.

One other tip to reduce barking, but it takes some effort. When your dog barks, go investigate what he is barking at. That's what a momma dog ("alpha" dog to some) would do. The leader goes to investigate danger. Then tell him "thank you, that's enough". If he keeps barking, you are then (and only then) well within your rights to reprimand him.

LOL....I do not want a husky..too big!

Great tips, thank you! I do plan on taking him out more. I do walk him everyday but I need to have him around other dogs more. The whole barking thing is throwing me off because for the most part he is pretty laid back. He takes naps all the time and will cuddle up with anyone. He was so quiet up until a couple of months ago. This past month it has gotten worse. I would tell people, "Oh he's so quiet, doesnt really bark"...well so much for that!

My next challenge is the car rides...Im still struggling with that one too....it never ends!

FirstYorkie · 06-11-2007, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by izzy816

This past month it has gotten worse. I would tell people, "Oh he's so quiet, doesnt really bark"...well so much for that!

:

Oh, you silly girl! This is all your fault - you jinxed it by saying that.

Just kidding.

What's going on with the car rides?

FirstYorkie · 06-11-2007, 11:40 PM

Oh, one more tip about the outside barking. A good leader proceeds the dog outside, scans for "danger" and then gives an all-clear. As above, if he continues to try to alert you to danger (didn't know birds and squirrels were dangerous, did you?), it is appropriate for you to speak sharply to him.

It goes like this here: "Joey, sit. Stay". I go out, pointedly look in all directions and say "OK. Coast is clear". If he barks, "That's enough. I see those silly birds". That should do it. If not, "QUIET!". Still not quiet? He gets taken back in the house.

I believe that barking - in many, if not most, dogs - is self-reinforcing. The more they bark, the more likely there are to bark. I think it's important to interrupt and redirect as quickly as possible, especially as puppies. You don't want to allow them to practice undesirable behavior.

izzy816 · 06-12-2007, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FirstYorkie

Oh, you silly girl! This is all your fault - you jinxed it by saying that.

Just kidding.

What's going on with the car rides?

Yeah, Im a jinx!

Well, with the car rides, he gets really stressed out. Like, he cries and his mouth is hanging open with his tongue out. He shakes and tries to get out of his seat. He's only good for about 10-15 minutes tops. Yesterday I put him in the car for a 15 min ride to Petsmart. This time I put him in the seat next to me and I kept petting him...but he was still upset. Other YTers suggested that I put him in the car everyday for 5 minutes. Ive tried it but its hard to do it everyday. Im trying but I guess I need to be consistent.

micc1 · 06-16-2007, 05:06 PM

Sargie is 5 months old and I have had him a month or so. He is tenacious about a lot of things - very stubborn - but I see the same problems here on other threads. This one however is a bit different - he barks at other dogs (sometimes, depends on the dog), barks at people (sometimes, depends on the people), barks when he wants attention (don't we all). However, I have two parakeets. They never leave the cage and at first Sargie just looked at them, then started barking at them periodically, but now he's lost it. He barks at them at random times, and if I go anywhere near the cage, he gets frantic and barks and cries. If I give them food or water he grabs my clothing with his teeth (he stands on the sofa arm) and tries to drag me away. The other day he got so beside himself when I was changing something in the cage that he took a flying leap at it (and fell of course...thankfully wasn't hurt). If I hold him up to the cage, he just looks at them quietly, almost bored...then if he gets put back on the sofa, a foot away, he starts barking again. Sometimes he can be in another room and if he hears them chirp or squawk or make a racket in the cage he goes running in to police them. Or whatever he's up to. Because he is very jealous of my friend's Malteses (I can't hold them, or he goes after them) I thought it was jealousy, but then why does he go after them when I pay no attention to them? (Which is usually). Has anyone else has a problem like this with small animals (that weren't rodents?!)

06-11-2007, 06:57 AM	#1
izzy816 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Washington, D.C. Posts: 922	Barking at animals I need help. We were at an art fair this weekend, and every dog he saw he would bark uncontrollably until the dog was no where in sight. He also does it when I take him out for a walk. I try to stop him, but I don't know how. I find myself trying to not let him see the dogs so he wont bark. Then yesterday I was in the backyard at family's house and a bird was making its sound and he just barked like crazy!! He also barks at everything he sees out of the window, squirrel, possum, bird and anyone walking past. He just started this a month or two ago. Im assuming some of this is normal. He's still a puppy, 9 months. Ive had him since November. We just started going outside in March because the weather here was too cold to take him out. Will he grow out of this once he gets used to being outside more? Any advice is greatly appreciated! __________________ Peace and Love, Karla and Izzy! Check out Izzy on Dogster: http://www.dogster.com/dogs/433985

06-11-2007, 07:10 AM	#2
xxmxaxrxyxx Missing Yoshi Everyday! Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 15,110 Blog Entries: 3	tootsie does the exact same thing...she just turned 2 yesterday...and it drives me up the wall! __________________ Yoshi Mei Ling Ting Ting Ting Ki Sun Hye Yukio Kioshi

06-11-2007, 07:19 AM	#3
chachi I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 37,147	Keep taking him on walks and exposing him to other dogs and people. Mine are barkers and used to do that on walks but kept taking them and they stopped. They stll bark when they are in the yard behind our fence but they got much better on walks __________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431 Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427

06-11-2007, 11:40 PM	#7
FirstYorkie YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: American in London Posts: 1,739	Oh, one more tip about the outside barking. A good leader proceeds the dog outside, scans for "danger" and then gives an all-clear. As above, if he continues to try to alert you to danger (didn't know birds and squirrels were dangerous, did you?), it is appropriate for you to speak sharply to him. It goes like this here: "Joey, sit. Stay". I go out, pointedly look in all directions and say "OK. Coast is clear". If he barks, "That's enough. I see those silly birds". That should do it. If not, "QUIET!". Still not quiet? He gets taken back in the house. I believe that barking - in many, if not most, dogs - is self-reinforcing. The more they bark, the more likely there are to bark. I think it's important to interrupt and redirect as quickly as possible, especially as puppies. You don't want to allow them to practice undesirable behavior. __________________ FirstYorkie We Love Clicker-Training!

06-16-2007, 05:06 PM	#9
micc1 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2007 Location: norwalk Posts: 43	Jealous? Annoyed? Thinks they're Mice? WHAT? Sargie is 5 months old and I have had him a month or so. He is tenacious about a lot of things - very stubborn - but I see the same problems here on other threads. This one however is a bit different - he barks at other dogs (sometimes, depends on the dog), barks at people (sometimes, depends on the people), barks when he wants attention (don't we all). However, I have two parakeets. They never leave the cage and at first Sargie just looked at them, then started barking at them periodically, but now he's lost it. He barks at them at random times, and if I go anywhere near the cage, he gets frantic and barks and cries. If I give them food or water he grabs my clothing with his teeth (he stands on the sofa arm) and tries to drag me away. The other day he got so beside himself when I was changing something in the cage that he took a flying leap at it (and fell of course...thankfully wasn't hurt). If I hold him up to the cage, he just looks at them quietly, almost bored...then if he gets put back on the sofa, a foot away, he starts barking again. Sometimes he can be in another room and if he hears them chirp or squawk or make a racket in the cage he goes running in to police them. Or whatever he's up to. Because he is very jealous of my friend's Malteses (I can't hold them, or he goes after them) I thought it was jealousy, but then why does he go after them when I pay no attention to them? (Which is usually). Has anyone else has a problem like this with small animals (that weren't rodents?!)