Hi I have a husky mix and she just barks at just about anything like curtains people and dogs. She even barks when just laying there on the floor. I've tired just about everything to make her stop but she just keeps on barking and it's very aggravating does anyone have any advice? What can I do to make her stop? I can't even have my friends over because she tries to kill them or something.
Barking
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
Joined
·
4,427 Posts
Some background on her would help with the answers. Is this a puppy? What have you done to address the problem? What happened, or is happening, with her current socialization.....problems?...were those fixed? Do you think this is alert barking, boredom (for attention) barking or fear barking?
My dog is 4 years old.
To try and get her to stop barking I've just been giving her attention for being quiet but at first I would make a sharp noise to get her attention and make her stop and then a few seconds later I'll give her attention for being quiet.
I have another dog that's five years old so she doesn't lack in socialization. They play all the time.
As for what kind of barking I think it's all three. If she sees someone walking down the street she'll bark. If the curtains move with the wind she'll bark. If I or anyone else leaves the room she'll bark.
I take both my dogs out three to four times a day and in addition to that we have a dog tie that we put her on for a couple of hours to get some extra exercise. She knows how to sit and lay down and even give me her paw. As for something to do she has toys and I play with my dogs sometimes and we give them bones but they don't finish them the bones just sit around and they chew when they feel like it.
Joined
·
4,427 Posts
OK, you're on the right track by giving attention for the quiet but, not just after a barking session....whenever she is quiet.
Socialization is much more than dog on dog interaction. It's teaching them how to cope with scary sights and sounds without barking, running away in fear...teaching them confidence. I suspect that part of the training was missing.
Most barking is because the dog doesn't know what else to do or how to handle the situation so, they just bark their heads off. Telling them to be quiet isn't real effective as you've discovered...it's not a 'real' solution to the 'problem' in the dogs eyes.
You can teach her to relax by taking over the 'problem'...physically stepping in front of her and the scary thing. That shows her that you're handling it now...she can relax...her job is done. Thank her for the alert and now ask for Quiet. This isn't a quick fix. It takes some time for them to understand you're taking over but, it goes fairly quickly if you're consistent about it.
Socialization is much more than dog on dog interaction. It's teaching them how to cope with scary sights and sounds without barking, running away in fear...teaching them confidence. I suspect that part of the training was missing.
Most barking is because the dog doesn't know what else to do or how to handle the situation so, they just bark their heads off. Telling them to be quiet isn't real effective as you've discovered...it's not a 'real' solution to the 'problem' in the dogs eyes.
You can teach her to relax by taking over the 'problem'...physically stepping in front of her and the scary thing. That shows her that you're handling it now...she can relax...her job is done. Thank her for the alert and now ask for Quiet. This isn't a quick fix. It takes some time for them to understand you're taking over but, it goes fairly quickly if you're consistent about it.
Joined
·
4,427 Posts
That's perfectly normal at first. You keep body blocking her. When she gets the message that you've got it covered she will start to back up...relinquishing the 'problem' over to you. In the meantime, you can ask her to do something...redirect her behavior. Send her to a mat, rug or bed (not out of the room). Just have her do something you want her to do anyway.
For example, would you like her to get away from the front door, not jump on people or bark at them when they enter? Then teach her to go to a mat or a rug or the top of the stairs, etc. That teaches her how to handle those situations..something specific to do...not just bark wildly. You must reward/praise heavilly for going to her spot (and staying there quietly).
For example, would you like her to get away from the front door, not jump on people or bark at them when they enter? Then teach her to go to a mat or a rug or the top of the stairs, etc. That teaches her how to handle those situations..something specific to do...not just bark wildly. You must reward/praise heavilly for going to her spot (and staying there quietly).
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
