Barking Out of Nowhere - YorkieTalk.com Forums

maddiesdad · 06-21-2005, 12:24 PM

Maddie is about four and a half months old now and over the past week or so has started barking at inanimate objects. Houseplants, sofas, fans (that are off), tables, you name it, if it is impossible for it to pose a serious threat, she barks at it.

I'm used to her barking at strange people or dogs but in those case its a simple alert. A couple of barks and she's done. Lately though she'll bark at the closed window (with no noise coming from behind it) for a few minutes straight and then focus her anger on the potted plants.

This isn't an angry barking. Its almost the defensive kind of barking she usually reserved for loud foreign things. The thing is, none of the things she's barking at are new. We've had all of it since we got her.

Could this just be her finding her voice and something that will wear off?

Tom

Biddy's Mom · 06-21-2005, 12:30 PM

How odd. I noticed that my 2 have been barking more lately, but I think it's because we just started to open the windows, so the noises are all new to them. But, you say that Maddie barks at the closed window? Hmm? Maybe she is just finding her voice. Tucker didn't bark at all until he was about 4 months or so...

Mya's_Mom · 06-21-2005, 12:32 PM

Tell her NO !! Is she bored? When she barks are you calm? Do you cuddle her when she barks? Does she want on the sofa? Something off the table? The fan to turn back on? The window to open? She sounds like a chatter box that might just be playful.

sillyjacki · 06-21-2005, 12:43 PM

When my Scottie puppy, Piper first found her voice, she made it known that she hated anything new. Chairs, tennis balls, even blankets being folded. Hopefully it's the same with yours- just a phase!

kalamela2004 · 06-21-2005, 12:45 PM

My yorkies mom would bark out of nowhere too. Everytime she would go outside she would start barking. I guess to scare off the boogers.

maddiesdad · 06-21-2005, 01:03 PM

Well, it sounds like its just her finding her voice. There's really nothing outside of boredom that triggers it. Its usually after we've finished playing with her or when there's nothing else distracting her.

We've yet to acknowledge her barking. If it continues I'll start using a quiet command and treating/praising her when she stops barking. for now I'll try to use it as an opportunity to teach her the speak command.

Tom

lnovack · 06-21-2005, 01:04 PM

Gracie barks a lot too and that gets Sammy, my maltese, going. Last night Gracie took offense at a coiled up hose in the front yard and went berserk when I hooked it up to a sprinkler! She tried to bite the water and got soaked in the process. One night she woke me out of a deep sleep barking at a lounge chair that has been in our bedroom since before we got Gracie. I had to get up and cut on the light and show her it was nothing and she still kept barking. Go figure...

vainchick5 · 06-21-2005, 01:22 PM

Coco has only barked once or twice. She is 4 months now. I turn my back to her, ignore her, or put her on time out when she barks or growls. I don't want her to do that to other people, especially my nephew. Plus I don't want it to be a problem for neighbors. Some here on YT told me that their mothers turn their backs on them, if they are angry or disappointed. So when I turn my back on her, she just knows. She immediately comes to make up with me..it's the best part..

chewysmom · 06-21-2005, 02:34 PM

I am a huge proponent of letting dogs bark. That is what they are supposed to do. Yapping I don't like and will not stand for but my Chewy barks to let me know his bowls are empty or that he has been locked in the bathroom. Also when he is in his cage he barks to let me know he needs to get out and pee. Last night my son brought a box of cereal out to the living room and sat on the couch. Halfway there, Chewy just stopped looked at the box and started barking. BTW, Chewy is also 4 months and he is very curious and feeling more confident than ever. I really wouldn't worry about it. He's just talking to you.

06-21-2005, 12:24 PM	#1
maddiesdad Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 40	Barking Out of Nowhere Maddie is about four and a half months old now and over the past week or so has started barking at inanimate objects. Houseplants, sofas, fans (that are off), tables, you name it, if it is impossible for it to pose a serious threat, she barks at it. I'm used to her barking at strange people or dogs but in those case its a simple alert. A couple of barks and she's done. Lately though she'll bark at the closed window (with no noise coming from behind it) for a few minutes straight and then focus her anger on the potted plants. This isn't an angry barking. Its almost the defensive kind of barking she usually reserved for loud foreign things. The thing is, none of the things she's barking at are new. We've had all of it since we got her. Could this just be her finding her voice and something that will wear off? Tom

06-21-2005, 12:30 PM	#2
Biddy's Mom and Tucker's too! Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 2,134	How odd. I noticed that my 2 have been barking more lately, but I think it's because we just started to open the windows, so the noises are all new to them. But, you say that Maddie barks at the closed window? Hmm? Maybe she is just finding her voice. Tucker didn't bark at all until he was about 4 months or so... __________________ Jessica, Biddy, Tucker & Gertie

06-21-2005, 12:32 PM	#3
Mya's_Mom YT 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Brampton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 689	Tell her NO !! Is she bored? When she barks are you calm? Do you cuddle her when she barks? Does she want on the sofa? Something off the table? The fan to turn back on? The window to open? She sounds like a chatter box that might just be playful. __________________ Regards,Cyn Driving the grammatically correct insane, one posting at a time

06-21-2005, 12:43 PM	#4
sillyjacki Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 544	When my Scottie puppy, Piper first found her voice, she made it known that she hated anything new. Chairs, tennis balls, even blankets being folded. Hopefully it's the same with yours- just a phase! __________________ Jacki & Roxy Dogster My mom's company makes dog products!

06-21-2005, 01:22 PM	#8
vainchick5 YT 6000 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: CA Posts: 6,588	Coco has only barked once or twice. She is 4 months now. I turn my back to her, ignore her, or put her on time out when she barks or growls. I don't want her to do that to other people, especially my nephew. Plus I don't want it to be a problem for neighbors. Some here on YT told me that their mothers turn their backs on them, if they are angry or disappointed. So when I turn my back on her, she just knows. She immediately comes to make up with me..it's the best part.. __________________ Mommy to Coco and Rocco

06-21-2005, 12:45 PM	#5
kalamela2004 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: in the United States Posts: 39	My yorkies mom would bark out of nowhere too. Everytime she would go outside she would start barking. I guess to scare off the boogers.

06-21-2005, 01:03 PM	#6
maddiesdad Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 40	Well, it sounds like its just her finding her voice. There's really nothing outside of boredom that triggers it. Its usually after we've finished playing with her or when there's nothing else distracting her. We've yet to acknowledge her barking. If it continues I'll start using a quiet command and treating/praising her when she stops barking. for now I'll try to use it as an opportunity to teach her the speak command. Tom

06-21-2005, 01:04 PM	#7
lnovack YT Addict Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: West Virginia Posts: 308	Gracie barks a lot too and that gets Sammy, my maltese, going. Last night Gracie took offense at a coiled up hose in the front yard and went berserk when I hooked it up to a sprinkler! She tried to bite the water and got soaked in the process. One night she woke me out of a deep sleep barking at a lounge chair that has been in our bedroom since before we got Gracie. I had to get up and cut on the light and show her it was nothing and she still kept barking. Go figure...

06-21-2005, 02:34 PM	#9
chewysmom My Precious Pup Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 2,092	I am a huge proponent of letting dogs bark. That is what they are supposed to do. Yapping I don't like and will not stand for but my Chewy barks to let me know his bowls are empty or that he has been locked in the bathroom. Also when he is in his cage he barks to let me know he needs to get out and pee. Last night my son brought a box of cereal out to the living room and sat on the couch. Halfway there, Chewy just stopped looked at the box and started barking. BTW, Chewy is also 4 months and he is very curious and feeling more confident than ever. I really wouldn't worry about it. He's just talking to you.