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12-05-2017, 06:54 AM | #1 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Mililani, HI
Posts: 35
| Barking when suspicious - all hours :( Help! My beautiful 3-year-old Yorkie/Silky mix Lucy is generally well-behaved. She’s even a therapy dog for visiting patients in hospitals (Facebook @LucyTheHappinessDog). My main issue with her lately, especially since we live in an apartment, is her loud, spontaneous bark when she suspects something. It can be any time of day and she’ll wake from a dead sleep, pop up off the ground, and charge the front door barking and howling. It only lasts a minute or so, but it’s still VERY loud and no mount of calling her name or trying to calm her helps. Sometimes it’s preceded by a few seconds of suspicious ‘gruffing’ as I call it. I’m sure you Yorkie owners know what I mean. So is there a fix other than a bark collar? Is this just their nature and nothing to be done? Curious of others’ thoughts and experiences. Thanks!
__________________ New daddy to my beautiful little bunny bean "Lucy" born 14 August 2014. |
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12-05-2017, 09:00 AM | #2 | |
Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md
Posts: 23,247
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__________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart! | |
12-05-2017, 11:28 AM | #3 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Mililani, HI
Posts: 35
| Well, I appreciate your concerns but I’ve had wonderful luck using the shock collar. I don’t plan on using it for discipline or punishment though so it’s pretty much out of the question for barking - at least until I do more research. Besides, if it’s good enough for the police and military, it’s good enough for my dog. She loves it, anyway. As soon as she hears the jangle of the clasps she goes nuts with excitement. A well-behaved/trained dog is a safe dog is an alive dog is a happy dog. I don’t agree that shock collars should be dismissed wholesale. But I know a lot of dog people feel that way. Hell, a Border Collie forum I’m on will ban you if you even mention it. Some people. Anyway, thanks, but I’m still looking for advice and help. Noise machine doesn’t help. She’s got hearing like a dog She’s hear through the noise machine. I can’t be the only one whose dog does this around here, right? (PS I’m only calling it a “shock collar” for shock value. My trainer would scold me all the time for calling it that. It’s an “eCollar” and you don’t shock them, you “stimulate” them lol)
__________________ New daddy to my beautiful little bunny bean "Lucy" born 14 August 2014. |
12-05-2017, 12:19 PM | #4 |
YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Lake Geneva, WI
Posts: 2,776
| I've had decent success with offering treats (to get Piper's attention) as Piper is totally food motivated. Also, I'll make a sudden, unusual sound like wooden spoon against metal tray, again to break the barking. |
12-05-2017, 03:46 PM | #5 | |
Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md
Posts: 23,247
| Quote:
__________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart! | |
12-05-2017, 06:37 PM | #6 | |
YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Lake Geneva, WI
Posts: 2,776
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12-06-2017, 05:40 AM | #7 | |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Mililani, HI
Posts: 35
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Different strokes for different folks. But I guarantee you it’s not fear that Lucy’s expressing with the collar. I’m sure you know your own dog’s emotions and I’m sure you know how you’d feel if a stranger on the internet were trying to tell you what they meant without knowing anything about you or your dog except a single fact of type of collar you use. Anyway, I’m not here to evangelize eCollars. Leaving a TV on is not out of the question, but the random barking happens at any hours and often while we are home watching TV. She’s a good guard doggie. Yes, she may have the separation anxiety bark/shrieks when we leave, but a TV wouldn’t do anything about that. And you’re right, the suspicion bark is only for a few seconds so it’s really not THAT big of deal, but it’s enough times during the day that neighbors COULD complain and we’d be forced to deal with it at some point. Anyway, I appreciate your input, but we should steer clear of the shock collar debate. That’s like talking about abortion or religion or Trump/Obama/Hillary. Best avoided, at least when it’s clear we’re on opposite sides of view. Have a wonderful day!
__________________ New daddy to my beautiful little bunny bean "Lucy" born 14 August 2014. | |
12-06-2017, 06:28 AM | #8 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Burbs of DC
Posts: 2,198
| So back to the original question... my Emma does the let me check out the scene bark as well . I don’t leave the TV or radio to save on energy however when I do see or hear Emma ready to pounce at the door I actually yell a firm NO and will redirect her . I do use positive reinforcement when she does what I want .
__________________ Owned by Troy(RIP) & Emma |
12-06-2017, 06:44 AM | #9 | |
Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md
Posts: 23,247
| Quote:
__________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart! | |
12-06-2017, 12:51 PM | #10 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: aiken, SC
Posts: 157
| Sorry OP, I don't have any advice but can completely relate. Max does a howl/ barking combo when he even sees someone walking past our house on the street. I haven't had any luck redirecting or quieting him. I thought for a while we would have to move into a townhome or an apartment for a year, so it was a real concern. I wouldn't want to have to deal with complaints. Hopefully someone else will have some advice for you:/
__________________ Love our Max! |
12-07-2017, 06:28 AM | #11 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Toronto
Posts: 4
| Maybe a shaker would help. My Lulu’s the same, her trainer made a shaker. An empty water bottle and mini size stones in it. Constant positive reinforcement is needed at the beginning. We actually practiced and had my son approach our front door and before she barks we redirect her attention by shaking the bottle. This snaps them out of their current state. Shakers are good for training, I dont like her jumping up and down during dinners asking for food- so I used the shaker to tell her its not ok- with a firm no ofcourse. Then after awhile- I just raise my finger with a firm No.. we dont need the shaker anymore. It doesnt work for all dogs... but I hope this helps |
12-07-2017, 10:19 AM | #12 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Canada
Posts: 1,903
| I came across this issue with Scottie. It happened when he discovered that the sound of his voice was kind of a ferocious loud sounding man bark (for such a small dog). We also live in an apartment so I understand your concerns for the noise. It was frustrating at that time for me too - I was pulling hairs because every single noise from the hallway would make him bark. I even read into e-collars because I was *that* desperate. But upon reading more about it, it really didn't feel right. Personally, I didn't want to use that even as a last resort. A few things I tried, which eventually made him stop (most likely, all in combination): 1) I played various Youtube sounds of doorbells, door knocking, elevator sounds, people talking, key opening door (you name it - they have all these sound effects on Youtube) and did some desensitizing training. Each time a sound was played, I'd give a treat right away before he barked. Then, I increase the time before he got a treat, if he remained silent. I did this on a very regular basis. It's helpful if you have a second person to play these sounds at the door, while you're somewhere else in your apartment to do the treat/clicker training. 2) I read a really useful post, explaining the usefulness of a dog who alerts you. She suggested allowing a dog to bark three times, then after that it's "enough"! http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...h-barking.html 3) I also read about many members who found a water spray bottle to be effective. Some would argue this is not positive reinforcement training and that it shouldn't be used. But, this was my last resort. My bottle sprayed a mist, not a stream of water. I believe it was the bottle or the spraying sound that deterred him. I actually only had to use the bottle twice, in combination with the command "that's enough", followed by a lot of treats when he stopped barking immediately, and he finally figured it out. I read about another technique that I didn't manage to be able to do: train your dog to bark on cue. And then train your dog to stop on cue. I think if I was able to do that, it'd be pretty useful. But it was a little more than I could handle. Also, we tried the penny in a can. That didn't do much for us. But every dog is different. Good luck!!
__________________ ~ laughter is an instant vacation ~ https://scottieandcasie.com/ :: Custom Pet Portrait Paintings |
12-07-2017, 12:32 PM | #13 |
Donating YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: SW USA
Posts: 2,505
| Barking I feel for you with Lucy and her watchdog ways. I have the same issue with my boy who responds to so many noises and I assume smells. He feels he owns the area in which we live and protects us from all comers. He goes so crazy and runs around the house, there is no stopping him, even for the food he loves! I have not tried the collar but tried treats and the mist spray, to no avail. All I can do is try and ignore him until he chooses to settle down. It is not only noise as a person walking by will evoke the barking with no noise. Luckily I live in a situation that does not annoy neighbors, but don't know what I would do if I lived in an apartment etc. We can't stay in hotels with him as all who walk by set him off and that is not tolerated! When there are fireworks outside, I did get some success with a very loud TV music channel, but that does not always work. So I am grateful for the advice given so far and for any other ideas you may have. I have learned some things on TV that annoy him and can be fast on the mute button, but new things I have no cure for! |
12-09-2017, 08:40 PM | #14 |
Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas
Posts: 27,447
| You might want to try one of those ultrasonic things that work when a dog barks. I know people who it worked for. They range from around $10 up to $150 from what I have seen. I bought a cheap one a few years ago and it worked at first, but some of the pups got immune to it. This one says it works best in single dog households. http://www.cabelas.com/product/PetSa...E&gclsrc=aw.ds
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12-10-2017, 10:42 AM | #15 |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Vandalia Il.
Posts: 18,806
| Lot of good replies I just gently stroke my little boy to reassure him. I’m always amazed at what he hears at night that I don’t hear
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