[Dogstar]

Alpha, that simply isn't true- or perhaps you just go to matches for obedience, and nothing else? I can tell you MANY 'dog people' have trouble with barkers- not just pet people- or tehre wouldn't be so many big-name sheltie kennels which routinely debark their specials.

My collie, Malcolm, is a barker. This is decreasing with age and confidence, but he will probably, at some point, get a bark collar on him for proofing (he's a service dog in training, and I would be most loathe to wash him out simply for the barking when he's otherwise a very nice dog, or will be when the bratty teenager phase is over). Many, many collies are barkers- as are American Eskimos (another of my favorite breeds), shelties, finkies, and quite a few other breeds- many of which you won't see a lot of at obedience trials, which, while great fun, are NOT the only place one finds knowledgable dog people. Your dismissel of anyone who trains in a way you personally disapprove of is not very kind.

Have you ever been to a flyball tournament, for example? I don't think anyone would claim flyball people aer not dedicated dog people, but it's got to be one of the loudest events I've ever been to.

Training is definately the best way to stop barking. I employ something that I stole from another trainer (and can't remember who)- when Mal begins barking for attention, I give him the attention- we start doing puppy pushups. I *do* reward for them (he has an incentive to do the pushups- I *will* correct for blowing off a sit or a down command since I *know* he knows the behavior, but I also c/t for them). It's been moderately sucessful. (I figure it's the canine equivelant of "Mom, I'm bored!" "Why don't you go clean the basement then, Junior?" :P)

Unfortunately, this technique isn't going to be as sucessful with a pup who is barking at things outside the fence. In that case, I would go get her (don't call her), put her in a crate (basically on a time out), and then let her back outside after she's been quiet for 3-5 minutes. The downside of this technique is, if she's outside while you do something else, you'll be constantly interrputing the other task for a few days, and you need to stay where you can see/hear her (but she can't hear you, or you'll end up just with a dog that barks when she thinks you aren't there.)

At four months, I wouldn't resort to anything aversive like a bark collar yet- see where training and some maturity take you. I *would* make sure that I did something NOW though, before it becomes an ingrained habit that's more difficult to break.


Cait

[Alpha]

No way? Dogs bark at flyball tournaments, you've got to be kidding me

I'm speaking in complete relevance to the OP's post. Barking in the yard. In a high drive sport like fly ball, yes, of course your going to have excited dogs, like shelties, who I'm sure you know, but forgot to mention are notorious for barking.

I guess the dozens of dogs INCLUDING shelties and the breed the OP is speaking about (of which my trainer breeds) are just HUGE exceptions.

Your dismissel of anyone who trains in a way you personally disapprove of is not very kind.

You mean, I'm dismissing the thought of putting a bark collar on a four month old puppy? Not trully dismissing, I know people do it, do I agree with slapping an e-collar on a dog if they don't comply with your sudden demands, darn right.

I love of everyone by passes the important points to nit pick at what THEY CAN. The point of course being yet again, and I'm sure you will find some words that you can argue about, but here it is:

Dog savvy people can cease this behaviour easily. Sure the problem may exist, but it gets dealt with quickly. Like anything in dogs, there are exceptions, but I've yet to see or speak with someone, who was consistent in a method to cease the behaviour fail.

I don't know who your taking lessons from, hopefully not teaching, but I've seen my trainer and others do it, with breeds like you've mentioned, a few shelties specifically.

[luvdogs]

I suggest a dog obedience training for your pup. Or try to read some stuffs about excessive barking

[bluesbarby]

Nobody's mentioned the citronella collar (the one I got isn't called that though) which sprays a liquid. I can control Riley's nuisance barking when I'm at home but I found out from my neighbor that he does bark when I'm gone. He's an inside dog but you can still hear him. He only barks when he hears something he can't see or when he's being territorial. So I tried the citronella collar. He wears it when we're not home. Now when he barks it's usually just one or two barks and he settles down. Even without the collar on.
However, I tried many things first. We live on a hill about 150 feet above the street behind us. A couple of terriers live below us and if I'm in the backyard with Riley playing and they come out he will run to the edge of the hill and start barking like mad. No amount of distraction worked. So I took him down to the house to ask the owner if our dogs could get to know each other. I thought that would stop his barking. It helped. But there are alot of dogs in this neighborhood and if one dog starts they all seem to join in. I don't think I would feel comfortable using an e-collar though.

[woof2u2]

I feel that this is quite an emotive topic for some of you. But here I go with my opinion...Dogs Bark because they are dogs it is in there make up, some bark more than others due to breed, living conditions, owners etc.

I can only say what i feel personally without being too opinionated i hope ! What we must remember is one of the only ways our dogs can tell us anything is to use their voices, sometimes they are disagreeable ones. It sometimes takes a while especially with first time dog owners to tell which type of bark means what. Rox our dog has several types, he barks when traffic goes past, he barks when my mobile/the alarm clock/the ovens timer goes off, especially if he has been asleep and I am not responding to turn them off quick enough. His main BARK though is the one when someone knocks on the door which I agree with and respond by telling him he is a good dog and then quiten him down by saying gently but firmly, "thanks but now you have told me, be quiet". I do not shout, shouting just reenforces his barking, he just thinks i am barking along with him, great noisy game eh... I think someone suggested getting him to SIT/LAY DOWN, this we do when there is someone at the door to give him something else to think about, other than barking, also to try and stop the inevitable happening of him jumping all over the visitor. I have to say when we do agility Rox winds up so much that he barks a lot, this i dont stop in such a way as i do in the house, as i want him to be animated and keen to enable him to work well. I have him quite well obedience trained though which helps !

[Jen D]

The most barking I have heard is dogs that are tied out for hours straight with nothing to do. If I forget to bring mine in after putting them out they will bark to come in but they are not left out when I am not home.

[threedognite]

Purchase a no-bark collar. The best one I have found is online: www.gundogsupply.com
You can tell your dog not to bark until your face turns blue but this is what dogs like to do. The no-bark collar is a self correcting collar and you MUST read the instructions before using it! I would get this collar soon before you have the cops at your door.

[rawralphadawg]

I have a collie and she barks a lot. She's very set in her habits now (she's almost 9) and since I'm the only one that really interacts much with her (another reason for her barking), it wouldn't be long lived to try to teach her something now. I'm away at college most of the year now anyway.

However, if we did use a consistent method, I would definitely pick the spray bottle. I guess I don't understand how that's mean or how that makes your dog scared of you. I've used it and it works - when i used it. She's not afraid of me, she just doesn't like being wet. And I don't spray her in the face or eyes. Now just pulling out the spray bottle shuts her up for a while. We only used it when she was barking for no reason. I don't mind her barking at the door either, but we have a sunroom that she does everything she can do to be in and bark at our neighbors (we're also not allowed to have fences, way more distractions).

Another thing I've heard is good is shaking a canister with coins or something in it. I know that's been mentioned, and I would agree. As long as you don't throw it at the dog to hit him (duh, i hope), it provides an immediate distraction for the dog, stops his barking, and focuses attention on you. Then you can say "no" or "no bark" immediately after you have the dog's attention.

Different methods work for different owners and breeds I'm sure. I've never tried a shock collar or spray collar, mainly because I don't want to illiminated ALL my dog's barking, just boredom barking.