frustratedddd

Pepper · 07-05-2008, 12:51 AM

okay, so this is still about that whole Pepper barking thing, I'm soooo frustrated!
I live in an apartment complex so there's a whole bunch of kids and people...I can't go outside with her without her barking at something, weather its hundreds of feet away, or my own shadow. I've tried to ignore her and walk the other way, but she just barks more and tugs on the leash bakwards, I've sat in the grass while kids are playing 20 or 30 feet away from us and given her treats when she doesnt bark, but theres this one kid who is always screaming at me I don't know why...He's like 5 and is always like...HEY YOU!!! WITH THE DOG!!!!YOU!!! PERSON!!!!DOGGYY DOOOGGYYY!!! And then he'll come running towards us and I'm like....how is it your outside every time I come outside!!! I try to get him to not run up or shout but he won't listen to me. Is this just going to take a while for her to stop barking and lunging at people, or is there other thins I can do other than just ignoring her?? aaahhhhh!!!!! lol

jesirose · 07-05-2008, 02:12 AM

Well a 5 year old shouldn't be running up to you unattended. Next time pin a note to him that says "watch your child better".

Okay, not really. Talk to the parents and tell them you respectfully wish him to stay away until invited.

Pepper · 07-05-2008, 02:17 AM

yeah, I've tried...they don't speak english...and he's not the big problem its just the barking at everything...

TooneyDogs · 07-05-2008, 05:02 PM

You're getting too close. You have to work on this from a distance BEFORE Pepper works herself into a frenzy. If she's in a freaked out mode nothing you do will help.
As others pointed out in your previous post you need to watch her for the first signs of anxiety and stop right there. That's the closest you can get. Now you treat and praise for paying attention to you...not the distractions. This takes time....you may not be able to get within 20' for weeks and it's very important that you not rush this training. Moving too close too soon will only set your training back.

Pepper · 07-05-2008, 05:59 PM

Yeah thanks, I'm starting to understand that, Because I can tell when she's going to bark before she does, So I don't pet her or anything, I just do something to distract her like saying hush or quiet, and now I've been carrying her little cookies in my pocket and trying to go outside when only my neighbors are on their porch not all the screaming little kids running around by where she goes potty. I think it's more of a surprise reaction, because if she see's someone, and I catch her before she barks then she will be mainly quiet, but if we turn a corner and she see's someone she gets startled and will start to bark, but when she does that, I make her calm down and sit, and when she's quiet and happy again I give her a bite of her cookie..And I had another previous post, about her not going number 2 outside, well now she will =D So I'm very happy =P Thanks for all the help, I've pretty much learned persistence is key, and being patient is especially important to help her along. =]