My poor little whine bag...

[FirstYorkie]

Okay, this thread has been weighing heavily on my mind and I finally figured out why. It bothers me to think of punishing a puppy who is already stressed and is telling you about his distress the only way he knows how.

In addition to NEVER reinforcing behavior that you don't want (whining, barking), this is what I'd do. I would try to prevent it from happening. I'd try to make being left behind a GOOD thing. I'd start giving him/her their meals just before you left the room. I'd give them Kongs and then leave the room. I'd give a new toy - or rotate in an old one that they haven't seen in awhile - just before leaving the room. Give a small treat when you leave. In each case, I'd try to return to the room before the pup starting stress-vocalizing again. You want that time when they're alone to be a pleasant time; you don't want to leave them long enough that they get uncomfortable again. You should be able to gradually lengthen the time that you are out of the room without the pup fussing.

Give it a try and then let me know how it goes, okay?

Oh, I've also had pretty good luck with teaching Joey a "quiet" command by reinforcing small, but increasing, increments of quiet behavior with praise and small treats.

[KellyV]

Originally Posted by FirstYorkie

Okay, this thread has been weighing heavily on my mind and I finally figured out why. It bothers me to think of punishing a puppy who is already stressed and is telling you about his distress the only way he knows how.

Oh, I've also had pretty good luck with teaching Joey a "quiet" command by reinforcing small, but increasing, increments of quiet behavior with praise and small treats.

I don't think Pixie is stressed at all. Once she figured out we aren't going to respond, she quickly settles in and plays/chews on whatever toys I put in her pen with her. (Before the barking issue anyway). She's completely quiet during the day while I'm at work. My sister says she never hears her (she lives downstairs with my parents... unless she's lying! ), and will go and check on her at random times throughout the day. Most of the time she's sleeping or playing with her various toys. Her barking is just an attempt to get me to pay attention to her. I can hear her saying in a whiny puppy voice "But Mooooooommmm, I don't wanna be in here. I want to run around and chew on the drapes and chase the cats and knock ornaments of the Christmas tree when you aren't looking."

She rarely ever barks when we are in the room or playing with her. She may bark once or twice when we start playing, and that's it. She doesn't bark at the cats and she doesn't bark at whatever imaginary thing it is that some dogs see. She only barks when she needs to penned and I'm in a different room. So how do I teach/tell her to be quiet if she isn't barking right in front of me? If she starts barking, I walk in the room and tell her quiet, I'm just reinforcing the fact that barking is going to bring me back in the room.

And though I talk in present tense about my barking problem, she's "cured" so to speak. I can put her in her pen and leave for another room for any length of time and she doesn't make a peep.... Although now that I say that, it'll probably be 10 times worse... The ignoring tactic only worked for a couple of weeks too....
There's more than one way to train a dog. You had success with reinforcing quiet times (did your dog bark often bark in front of you?), others have had success with squirt bottles and I've had success with a penny can. Which, to those who think that's extreme... IMO, it's not. Extreme to me is using one of those barking collars - citronella, shocking, or otherwise. (The penny can doesn't bother her, I rattled it in front of her and she just cocked her head at me. She didn't run away with her tail between her legs!... Although she may have at first. I couldn't see her. More or less, it just gets her attention now.)

Jaspermom.... Have you tried anything? What has/hasn't worked for you?
To those of you that have used other methods... What didn't work? What finally quieted your barker?

[Jaspermom]

I keep hoping this is just a phase and as she gets older she will grow out of it!

[yorkieusa]

Well, I just think mine is spoiled rotten! She doesn't say one word when I leave of a morning. In fact, she usually just keeps on sleeping and barely notices I'm leaving; or she's ignoring me because she's mad!

[FirstYorkie]

There's more than one way to train a dog.
I certainly agree with you on that one! Apparently you found my post offensive and, for that, I apologize. Yesterday, you were still asking for ways to fix the problem (well, actually, you still are today) and so I answered you to the best of my ability.

Extreme to me is using one of those barking collars...
Agreed! A penny can is also less aversive than being sprayed with water or being shaken.

This is how you characterized the penny can when you starting using it:

So I then proceed to say "quiet" and then rattle an empty soda can full of pennies every time she barks. I think it scared the heck outta her! I felt really mean, scaring my baby like that...

You asked for alternatives and that's what I gave you. I'm sorry that my answering your question offended you.

[KellyV]

I'll admit I was a bit upset when I saw the words "punished" and "stressed", but I didn't take offense at it. I'm sure there are many instances where this would be the case, but knowing myself & Pixie, I know neither apply My husband and I make a point of reinforcing positive behavior and only using a stern No when it's warranted... It just didn't work this time!

I should have chosen my words more carefully in my first post... I'm sure the can did startle her, but as I was unable to see her, I'm not completely sure what her reaction is. All I know is she immediately stopped barking (for a few moments anyway, then she started up again). I could sit there and tell her No and Quiet as many times as I liked behind that towel and she didn't give a darn. I was just surprised at how quickly that can quieted her.

My additional calls for help are more or less to learn about what did/didn't work for other people... Maybe I'll need it in the future. The ignore tactic worked for a couple weeks before the barking started, now the penny can is effective... I may need some new angle soon! (Although, saying quiet before shaking the can seems to have helped. I can say Quiet now and she'll bark once or twice more then stop... Good enough!)

I rattled the can in front of her yesterday and all she did was sit down and cock her little head to the side.... Didn't scare her, just got her attention. Maybe it's my homemade version of a clicker now! (How much are clickers... $1 - $2 at a pet store? Mine cost me 6 cents and a soda can!)

[FirstYorkie]

Originally Posted by KellyV

I rattled the can in front of her yesterday and all she did was sit down and cock her little head to the side.... Didn't scare her, just got her attention. Maybe it's my homemade version of a clicker now! (How much are clickers... $1 - $2 at a pet store? Mine cost me 6 cents and a soda can!)

I've waaay over-monopolized this thread. Perhaps someone else can explain the difference between a clicker and an aversive penny can?

[KellyV]

Originally Posted by FirstYorkie

I've waaay over-monopolized this thread. Perhaps someone else can explain the difference between a clicker and an aversive penny can?

I know the difference... A clicker is used a training tool. It's meant to give the dog an audible "good dog", if you will, for performing a command correctly.
My aversive penny can is being used to distract/correct her negative behavior. Clicker = good dog. Penny can = naughty dog.

I guess I need to learn to clarify my posts... I just meant it's a training tool.