Barking Puppy

[openarms]

I have a foster pup around 4 months old she's a Chiuhaua x very sweet loyal, very affectionate and snuggly. She is generally very well behaved. I had her in my front yard the other day for the first time and she barked at every single person who walked past her and cars going by! She would not bite anyone and when approached by my neighbour she continued barking but the closer she got the more coy and waggy tailed she became. I was really surprised by the barking as she is so quiet in the house and the back yard. Does anyone know why she is doing this? And more importantly does anyone know how i can train her out of doing this? Thanks in advance.

[Flying Penguin]

I have a similar problem, my little beagle is barking at everyone who walks past our house, until they are almost at the end of the street.

Edit: She only does it for selected people though, I think it might be if they are making noise.

Edited March 12, 2007 by Flying Penguin

[Stitch]

Sounds like they are fearful of the people passing by and are alerting.

Repeated walkies along your street, controlling your dog beside you on the lead, not letting them walk ahead of you but giving them a loose lead if they are walking correctly should improve your situations.

Correction if they want to bark at strangers, you should aim at them sitting, standing or walking calmly beside you.

You can only correct your dogs adequately if they are on a lead.

Repeat, repeat, repeat!!

[Akayla]

I had a pup once that would do exactly the same thing, and a breeder friend told me she was unsure and to pat her. I did and the problem went away very quickly. I would be careful though you dont want her to think you are rewarding the barking. Maybe pat her when you first see someone coming before she starts?

[Reddii]

I had a pup once that would do exactly the same thing, and a breeder friend told me she was unsure and to pat her. I did and the problem went away very quickly. I would be careful though you dont want her to think you are rewarding the barking. Maybe pat her when you first see someone coming before she starts?

We used to have a BC who would bark at planes and used exactly this theory - if we could get to him before he could see or hear the plane then we could stop the barking. Eventually he calmed down and didn't bark at the planes. Planes = good experience. If he barked at the plane we ignored him.

[Belijae]

Could be attention seeking...

I would be careful though you don't want her to think you are rewarding the barking.

This may have happened to her in this situation in the past.

Could also be 'warding off' the unfamiliar. It can be reassuring to the dog if you check out the situation (without paying her attention) when they bark so that they know that you've got it all sussed out and everything's fine, coupled with familiarising her with cars and people walking past isn't something to worry about - same sort of thing Stitch and Reddii are talking about. Rewarding quiet calm behaviour and ignoring/correcting (remember any attention - even negative - can reward) unwanted behaviour.

You could teach her the "enough" command, so that when you tell her enough she knows to stop barking.

Good Luck!

Edited March 17, 2007 by belijae

[sas]

Sounds like a lack of soclisation problem to me.....fearful.

I have a 6 month old foster dog here with me that is affraid of strangers, I ask them to ignore him and not make eye contact with him as this starts him defensive barking.....then he will approach them when he's ready.

I never correct a fearful dog from barking or growling as what you then create is a dog that gives no warning before it launches a bite/attack.....allow the barking/growling as this is warning tool.....but then go forth and work with this dog. Punish a fearful dog and you'll create a dog that you're not going to be able to rehome.

She would not bite anyone

Don't assume this as she'll prove you wrong.....dogs have 3 modes...flight, fight, freeze, if she can't run away and freezing doesn't work then she has no option but defend herself against what she percieves to be the 'big scary'.

I really would not be putting this dog with children who are unpreditable in their movements and especially young children who tend to grab (cuddle) small dogs and restrict their movement.

Plenty of positive interaction with people you trust will assist her confidence.

Are you getting her out there on short walks so she can get used to the big wide world?

I highly suggest that you contact the rescue shelter you foster for and arrange a behaviourist to come and meet with the dog to teach you how to handle this dog.

Edited March 18, 2007 by sas