UUGGH-The barking is driving me crazy
 

Hi! I am new to the message board and am needing some advice. I have 2 Yorkies--Henry who is almost 2 and Rosco who is almost 1. We are really having problems all of a sudden with barking. Usually Henry is the one who starts is and then Rosco is quick to follow.
We just moved into a brand new housing development, and when we first came it was fairly empty. In the last few months more people are moving in-which means more people are walking around and more dogs are showing up.

The dogs are standing guard at our front windows and barking like crazy when anyone new walks near our house--and you might as well forget it if a dog is anywhere close by. I am getting fairly desperate now, because my husband is a computer programmer who works from home and they are really starting to disturb him.
I have tried spraying them with a water bottle-which hasn't really worked. I have resorted to putting them in the powder room when they start barking like crazy-which gets them to stop for the time being.

Can anyone help? I love my 2 boys (almost as much as my 2 "real" kids), but my patience is really starting to go.
I'll take any advice I can!:rolleyes:

Thanks!
Jessica

Is there anyway to obsure the view? Wish I could be of more help, but I would not no what else to suggest. My Dennis only barks if he see's or hears something and thank the good Lord Sahara just looks!

You could try shaking a can of coins when they bark. If worst comes to worst you could get a bark collar. I want to try the citronella ones

I'm currently having the same problem with my littly boy. He barks at every moving object while we take a walk. Sometimes he comes out of the front door barking and there is nothing there. I'm going to try the can idea but was wondering if a muzzle would work (if they make them small enough).

Try closing the curtains and turning on the stereo or tv to help block any outside noise.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: It works!!! We just had the best walk ever. Usually Rocky frantically barks at everything and anything. I got out a tea tin and put a few pennies in it. We went out the front door and as soon as he started to bark, I shook the can a little. He was so shocked and scared of it. I didn't do it very loud (I didn't want to draw all neighborhood attention to us). A couple of seconds later, I bent down and gave him a little love. We proceded on our walk. A couple walking the other way got his attention so I shook the can a little again and he stopped barking. He even let me stop and have a conversation with the couple and didn't interrupt. I can't tell you how amazing it was. We had the calmest, most relaxing walk ever!! Thanks for the tip.:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Thats great! I bet after you it a little while he will just stop the barkng all together and you wont have to do it anymore. Both of My yorkies are barkers but they dont bark during walks. I use the can with the change in it at home though and it works for me too

They do make the mesh muzzles small enough. When they first started barking like crazy I would put it on for about 10 minutes or so. They are still able to drink water with it on. But, now I just have to walk towards the muzzle and they stop barking. The mesh makes them comfortable and I don't feel guilty if they have them on for a short period of time. Gee I wish they had them for my human kids sometimes :rolleyes:

In your case, it sounds like they are socialized enough. They've been used to not seeing lots of people, and now they are seeing them all the time. I think you need to start taking them everywhere and allowing them to meet lots of new people. Let them meet all the neighbors, spend lots of time outside with them, etc.

Do you have a Petsmart nearby? The group training classes are really good for socialization. Even if you learned nothing (but you will) they are worth it for the socialization they get there.

After that part is taken care of, then you might be able to better control the barking--using all the other methods.

hth, :)