She won’t stop barking!!

[MoonDust]

My baby’s a Pomeranian/Chihuahua mix, 8 months old and she’s just the sweetest thing. When I first got her I had no problems with her. She was quiet through out the night. Potty training really wasn’t too bad of a chore. With in 2 weeks she was pretty much trained except for the occasional accident. Unfortunately that’s where training stopped. She’ll tell me when she wants to go out and she’ll come when she’s called, but she doesn’t know heel & stay etc.
She’s a bit of a snob in certain things, but not too bad. I just chalk it up to her character.
The only thing now is that she’s becoming very territorial when it comes to people coming in to the house. She’ll bark incessantly. And not it looks like she’s thinking of going for the person. I don’t want my baby to be that evil dog everyone’s afraid of!
I tried blocking her view (the front door is almost all window), but that didn’t work for too long. I tried the squirt gun thing every time she barked, but again that didn’t work for too long.
So…. Any other suggestions?

[Gareth]

This may or may not work but, you could try it and see what happens.
Take an old soda can and put some coins in it. 6 or 7 should be fine. Make sure you have different coins to do it(dimes,nickels and pennies). Tape up the hole(s). Now everytime the dog barks, hold the can and shake it once or twice hard while saying your command. The noise is supposed to startle dogs. I've seen it work with an old friend's dog, it didn't work with my dog. He was too spoiled and alot older. The only thing I can say is try it and see if it works. Good luck with your little puppy-dog.

[Bainidhe Dub]

My baby’s a Pomeranian/Chihuahua mix, 8 months old and she’s just the sweetest thing. When I first got her I had no problems with her. She was quiet through out the night. Potty training really wasn’t too bad of a chore. With in 2 weeks she was pretty much trained except for the occasional accident. Unfortunately that’s where training stopped. She’ll tell me when she wants to go out and she’ll come when she’s called, but she doesn’t know heel & stay etc.
She’s a bit of a snob in certain things, but not too bad. I just chalk it up to her character.
The only thing now is that she’s becoming very territorial when it comes to people coming in to the house. She’ll bark incessantly. And not it looks like she’s thinking of going for the person. I don’t want my baby to be that evil dog everyone’s afraid of!
I tried blocking her view (the front door is almost all window), but that didn’t work for too long. I tried the squirt gun thing every time she barked, but again that didn’t work for too long.
So…. Any other suggestions?
As the mommy to a very insistant (and might I add exceptionally stubborn) basset, I feel your pain.

Custard's training went just wonderful, until the very bad day she decided that she wasn't going to listen to a darn thing I told her - and voicing her opinion *at all hours of the night*.

We tried a thingamajing my mom brought home that attached to her collar which emitted a high pitched beep when Custard barked, but it soon became very evident that Custard was going to drive us all batty barking at the beeping sound-which, incidentally didn't faze her one bit. We tried the squirt gun, which she thinks is great fun. All our vet could recommend was an obedience class, which was pointless, because she wouldn't bark during the class, not even when I told her to; in fact she was almost a perfect angel.

Eventually she's grown out of waking up and barking for Mom's attention, unless she really needs to go out, or barking while we're eating dinner or at other odd times. She's still a very vocal dog during playtime, but I guess that's her way of expressing herself. I think she finally got the hint that barking is ok only during playtime. It just takes a lot of patience (and determination with a stubborn dog lol).

Other than trial and error, all I can offer is just be patient, especially since she's just a baby. Show her that barking when strangers is bad, maybe by letting the people come in, and when she barks, tell her that's bad and confine her to a room (the kitchen is a good room since she's a small breed) where she is away from you. When (or if, depending on her stubborness) she stops barking, allow her back in with people. If she starts the noise, put her back. She'll learn barking makes you mad.

[MoonDust]

I've tried the confining to a room thing too! :bangyourh
She's the little yapping dog. If she doesn't find you worthy she'll yap & bark at you until you're gone or she can't see you anymore.
She not a vocal dog at anyother time though. when we play she just gets excited, but she doesn't bark or growl. She's a perfect angel the rest of the time. that's what drives me batty. I know she can be good.
I will try the soda can thing though.

[Rain Gnosis]

We just grab the dog, you might use a short lead instead. Don't yell at the dog, they assume you're barking with them! You might consider one of those spray collars that spray the dog's muzzle if it barks. Get it's attention with the penny can or sprayer and say "shhhhh". The most important thing is to be consistent and continue doing whatever for a period of time - train the dog by having someone stand outside and ring the doorbell or knock on the door.

Honestly we used a supersoaker on the cats and the dog. That gets their attention - a stupid little spray bottle doesn't. You might also consider using the spray air cans, they make a good hiss and cold air.

[MoonDust]

We just grab the dog, you might use a short lead instead. Don't yell at the dog, they assume you're barking with them!:eek: :scream: :twitch:

You might consider one of those spray collars that spray the dog's muzzle if it barks. Get it's attention with the penny can or sprayer and say "shhhhh". The most important thing is to be consistent and continue doing whatever for a period of time - train the dog by having someone stand outside and ring the doorbell or knock on the door.

Honestly we used a supersoaker on the cats and the dog. That gets their attention - a stupid little spray bottle doesn't. You might also consider using the spray air cans, they make a good hiss and cold air.
I see now it's all my fault. *sigh*

[~ Monk ~]

I second the suggestion of the can with coins in it. It seems to work really well whenever I've seen it used.

[Gareth]

Just curious, did you try the soda can thing? If so how did it work?

[MoonDust]

she thought it was a toy and I was asking her to play.

[Rain Gnosis]

Well, I wasn't trying to say it's all your fault :) Just that one thing that surprised me, and that I had to deal with, is not yelling because it sounds like barking to them. I still find myself trying not to yell, trying to keep my voice level and commanding.

Playing is better then barking! :) Why not try shaking the can and making her sit, using a short lead to help her sit if you have to, having the person come in and greeet her, and praising her really well?

[Gareth]

she thought it was a toy and I was asking her to play.

Sorry it didn't work.

[Semele]

Well with my mom what worked for one dog didn't work for the other, but it might just help. She uses lemon juice and water mixture and when they bark she squirts a little in the mouth. Her little Dauschhound shuts right up if he even sees the little lemon container. (I swear he puckers his lips at the thought!) However her Samoid licks it up like it is the best treat ever. So does my son incidentally! Worth a try.

Luckily for us our dog just isn't much of a barker unless on comand and then it frightens me because she sounds so mean!

Good Luck!

[MoonDust]

Well, I wasn't trying to say it's all your fault :) Just that one thing that surprised me, and that I had to deal with, is not yelling because it sounds like barking to them. I still find myself trying not to yell, trying to keep my voice level and commanding.

Playing is better then barking! :) Why not try shaking the can and making her sit, using a short lead to help her sit if you have to, having the person come in and greeet her, and praising her really well?I'm going to have to break down and pay for training. *sigh*Sorry it didn't work.it's ok. I'll try again
Well with my mom what worked for one dog didn't work for the other, but it might just help. She uses lemon juice and water mixture and when they bark she squirts a little in the mouth. Her little Dauschhound shuts right up if he even sees the little lemon container. (I swear he puckers his lips at the thought!) However her Samoid licks it up like it is the best treat ever. So does my son incidentally! Worth a try.

Luckily for us our dog just isn't much of a barker unless on comand and then it frightens me because she sounds so mean!

Good Luck!this sounds good, though she tends to not drink water as it is and I don't want to turn her off of water completely.