To those of you who will remember me
talking about my little Shih-Tzu Nikki
(or anyone else for that matter) I have
a question. A few months back some of
you will remember I was having a little
difficulty socializing Nikki with other
dogs, one in particular (Rosco). Since
then Nikki and Rosco have been getting
along wonderfully. Unfortunately Nikki
has learned something new. Not new to
dogs just new to Nikki.
Ever since I've had Nikki (since she
was 6 weeks) she has almost never
barked. I can count the number of times
she barked on one hand. Since we live
in an apartment building this is
actually a good thing and I really
appreciate how quiet and mellow she is.
Since she has been playing with
Rosco, who barks at everything, she has
started barking once in a while, usually
when she hears someone in the hall. Not
that this is a bad thing but I kinda
miss my quiet dog that never barked. Is
there any way to discourage this without
calling attention to the behavior and
thus increasing it? It's not that big
of a deal really, I just liked having a
dog that never barks and I'm sure my
neighbors do too. I would prefer that
she didn't bark but I know it's natural,
that's how dogs communicate.
It's kinda funny but it's like Nikki
thought she was a person like us in many
ways until she met Rosco and started
discovering that she is a dog. I
realize that this is just my perception
because she is so smart and has such
personality that I just naturally treat
her like a person, like one of the
family, which of course she is. She is
like my best friend in many ways. Now
it's almost disappointing to see her
pick up dog behavior if you know what I
mean.
I don't want to make a big deal of
this and I certainly don't want her to
feel like she is doing something wrong
(because she's not) but I was wondering
if there are any simple tricks to
discourage unwanted barking? Or should
I just get used to it? I'm not sure if
I'm even explaining myself correctly.
Does anyone know where I'm coming from?
I'm not complaining about the barking I
just miss my quiet little dog that
didn't bark. -- Les

On Thu, 6 Jan 2005 03:33:28 -0600 bigdadd39 whittled these words:
Since she has been playing with
Rosco, who barks at everything, she has
started barking once in a while, usually
when she hears someone in the hall. Not
that this is a bad thing but I kinda
miss my quiet dog that never barked.


This is part of the normal maturing process and may have nothing (or
little) to do with Rosco.

Is
there any way to discourage this without
calling attention to the behavior and
thus increasing it?

Stop ignoring it and give her the reassurance that you are on top of
things. The more you pretend she isn't doing it the worse it will get.
Because what she is trying to tell you is that something has alarmed her.
She is getting old enough to start taking pack protection responsibilities
and here you are not giving her any guidance in the matter.

So what you should do is help her learn what things you want her to react
to and which are of no concern. For the next two weeks every time she
barks go and see what she is barking at - even if you know - even if you
have to drag yourself out of bed to do it. As soon as you get to the
door/window say something to her like "Thank-you - I've got it now" The
words don't matter, she won't know what they mean. You are just giving
her direct acknowledgement. Then if she is barking in appropriately just
use a lighthearted teasing tone - something that doesn't really say "good
girl" but says "I'm not worried, you silly thing" The next step is to
acknowledge her without going through the big show - just as long as you
actually DO know what she is barking at. Once she gets a pattern about
what things you think are important and which are not she at least will
reduce the alarm barking.


--
Diane Blackman
http://dog-play.com/
http://dogplay.com/Shop/

wrote in :

So what you should do is help her learn what things you want her to
react to and which are of no concern. For the next two weeks every
time she barks go and see what she is barking at - even if you know -
even if you have to drag yourself out of bed to do it. As soon as you
get to the door/window say something to her like "Thank-you - I've got
it now" The words don't matter, she won't know what they mean. You
are just giving her direct acknowledgement. Then if she is barking in
appropriately just use a lighthearted teasing tone - something that
doesn't really say "good girl" but says "I'm not worried, you silly
thing" The next step is to acknowledge her without going through the
big show - just as long as you actually DO know what she is barking
at. Once she gets a pattern about what things you think are important
and which are not she at least will reduce the alarm barking.


Always good advice from Diane.

Just wanted to add that I have a few code words/phrases for common
occurrences, like "it's the neighbors" or "peeps and pups out for
walkies" or just "peeps?" that will usually settle Zoe down. If she's
insistent, I will go look just to see what's up. I usually thank her for
barking.

If she's REALLY insistent, there's usually someone approaching the house.
Good girl!

--Catherine
& Zoe the cockerchow

"bigdadd39"
wrote:
Does anyone know where I'm coming from?
I'm not complaining about the barking I
just miss my quiet little dog that
didn't bark.

Well, you just have to keep her away from the kids who are a bad influence. :}

Seriously, she probably didn't realize she had a voice until Roscoe brought it
out of her. Now that she knows she can bark, she's probably not going to
unlearn it.

When she hears something and barks, it's her way of telling you, "Intruder,
daddy!" Sometimes all the dog needs is for the human to acknowledge it. If
she's looking at something out the window, you go and look. Oh yea, dog out
there, cool. Thanks for telling me. Hey, let's go do something else.

This is normal dog behavior. If she's barking non-stop, bothering you or the
neighbors, then you have a problem. But if she just barks occasionally and
stops easily, then I'd just recommend you learn to live with it.

Hey, at least Roscoe didn't teach her how to smoke or drink. :}

--
Family Dog Trainer
"It's A Dog's Life"
http://hometown.aol.com/dfrntdrums/m...age/index.html
Get Healthy, Build Your Immune System, Lose Weight
http://www.re-vita.net/dfrntdrums

AND YOU DIDN'T TEACH HIM HOWE TO TRAIN HIS DOG NOT TO BARK.