Cavalier Barking/demanding To Come Inside

[Michelleva]

Yes I'm back, Jake my 8yo cavalier is still barking at me demanding to come inside. He's been better but no where near 100% yet. I'm amazed this little dog has a voice left, sometimes he barks for a long time at me. I'd been out this morning, and when I came back, he was quiet, then he heard me get out of the car and the barking started. He was quite persistant today.

But he is learning because when he knows I'm inside but can't see me he barks madly, but if he can see my he shuts up, because he's starting to realise when he's quiet he's allowed in. My goal is to try and get his silent for 5 mins before he comes in, but we're not close to that yet. Are my expectations too high? Not sure.

But my question is, when he is finally quiet I go to the back door, he's absolutely throwing himself at the door in excitement. I make him sit, I open the door, make him stay and when I say so, he's allowed back in. But what he's doing while he's sitting is whining, almost whimpering. I've been trying to get him to be silent before comes in, but I'm struggling to get him to be totally silent. Does it matter if he's whimpering a bit when I let him in?

How do I let him know I expect him to be totally silent before he's allowed in, or should I not bother.

I just thought I'd point out that he never barks when he's inside, unless he hears a noise outside, then I investigate it, tell him its ok and to stop it now. He usually does.

[Reddii]

How do I let him know I expect him to be totally silent before he's allowed in, or should I not bother.

For me I wouldn't bother. I have a girl who sounds similar to your boy, she gets SOOOOOOOOOO excited when I get home it would be pathetic if it wasn't such an ego boost to think another animal is that excited to see me!! :D

As long as she is not barking and will sit at the door before I open it that is enough. I'd rather spend my time training/worrying about other things than controlling her excitement at my home coming. As long as she is quiet while I am out and the whining/whimpering behaviour doesn't begin to escalate it doesn't really bother me.

[denis_c]

I never have this problem with my dogs ,for a very simple reason, if I am home then they are inside. If I want them to be quiet, they come and lie down next to me. This way their need to be part of the pack is satisfied, and the reason why i got them in the first place (companionship etc ) is also satisfied. Often dogs left outside have no idea why they are and get stressed beyond belief as it goes against an instinct or two that they may have (pack drive).

[Reddii]

I never have this problem with my dogs ,for a very simple reason, if I am home then they are inside. If I want them to be quiet, they come and lie down next to me. This way their need to be part of the pack is satisfied, and the reason why i got them in the first place (companionship etc ) is also satisfied. Often dogs left outside have no idea why they are and get stressed beyond belief as it goes against an instinct or two that they may have (pack drive).

I don't think the OP is suggesting she leaves her boy outside, rather when she gets home he gets a bit over excited unless he can see her. I don't have a problem with dogs being outside as it isn't always practical to have them in the house every single minute you are there.

So long as you have established youself as leader they should be able to accept your decision and await your return patiently.

[Michelleva]

Reddii, you're right it is just excitement. He does love me, I'm his favourite human and he's never very far from me. But I have had the problem with him of excessive barking, which we've been working on. He's made some great progress. He's a rescue dog we took on nearly a year ago, so I guess some problems are undertandable. I will live with his whining, its not really a problem, I just didn't know if I should ensure he's completely silent before coming inside.

Denis, my dog is definitely not neglected by being left outside all day. Thats the life he came from before arriving here. If I wanted him to be miserable I would have left him with the previous owners. He is inside 99% of the time, I only put him out if I'm going out for a few hours and its a nice day, and thats when the demanding barking issue has started.

[denis_c]

I am so sorry:- I missed the context . :D

I wouldn't worry too much about the odd whine etc either. My mini poodle does a bit of that . She gets pretty excited when i come home, but I just manage to wait for her to calm down before I take notice of her. I can't avoid my old Lab though. He is 14 1/2 has cancer and if he jumps up an down well it is a good day.

Sometimes we get too carried away on leadership issues (they are important though) and just don't be delighted humans with dogs. I don't get carried away with the odd noise my poodle makes when i work her, and frankly in tracking it is a bit of a bonus . This way I at least know a little of what happening for her. She also grunts when I pick her up, does little cries when I ask her to do something that is conflicting (stay while there is a toy in front of her), and barks her head of when some one comes along and tries to steal the nature strip (well in her opinion). The difference is that she does the conflicting thing, and quitens when I tell her to do so. My opinion is that it is the whole picture that tells the story. :p

[Reddii]

I am so sorry:- I missed the context . :p

I wouldn't worry too much about the odd whine etc either. My mini poodle does a bit of that . She gets pretty excited when i come home, but I just manage to wait for her to calm down before I take notice of her. I can't avoid my old Lab though. He is 14 1/2 has cancer and if he jumps up an down well it is a good day.

Sometimes we get too carried away on leadership issues (they are important though) and just don't be delighted humans with dogs. I don't get carried away with the odd noise my poodle makes when i work her, and frankly in tracking it is a bit of a bonus . This way I at least know a little of what happening for her. She also grunts when I pick her up, does little cries when I ask her to do something that is conflicting (stay while there is a toy in front of her), and barks her head of when some one comes along and tries to steal the nature strip (well in her opinion). The difference is that she does the conflicting thing, and quitens when I tell her to do so. My opinion is that it is the whole picture that tells the story.

:D Well said.

[Michelleva]

Apology accepted Denis. Sometimes things written don't get read the way their intended. :D

Jake loves being outside when we are there, and he's fine while I'm not here, its just the second he hears me open the car door, he barks aggressively and loudly. Its like he's yelling at me, and saying something along the lines of I know you're home, let me in NOW. Because its a completely different bark he makes if he hears something, like a car or another dog. I'm trying to train him out of that demanding bark, by teaching him that doing that is not how he gets what he wants. But its a slow process.