Looking for help with constant barking

[Andre Boyle]

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Hi all,

I’m desperately looking for help with our 9 year old cockapoo. She’s always been demanding but in the last year she’s taken to barking constantly when she wants something or what’s attention.

We’ve tried ignoring it but she literally barks for 10 minutes until we give up and separate her from the thing/situation. We want to wait for her to be quiet so we can reward that behaviour but quiet never comes.

When we do ignore her she becomes aggressive and scratches at kitchen units, etc.

Seperate to this we have a 6 month old puppy who adores her but she dislikes. This is no doubt making her more demanding… but the barking predates the pup.

Any and all help welcome as we’re at our wits end.

Dre

 

[JoanneF]

Barking can be self rewarding so ignoring it isn't necessarily the best approach - she doesn't need to stop to get gratification.

Try this. Get an empty, washed out yoghurt pot smeared with wet dog food or squeezy cheese or even, erm, yoghurt. When she starts to bark, you can offer the pot to lick - she can't bark and lick at the same time. As she is doing that, repeat the word that will become your ”quiet” cue. After some repetitions and you think she has got it, give the cue and if she stops barking, give the pot as a reward (if she doesn't stop barking, stay at step 1 for longer). When she stops on your cue, you can gradually increase the delay between the cue and reward. Once it is reliable, you can start fading the reward to something more convenient.

 

[Andre Boyle]

Barking can be self rewarding so ignoring it isn't necessarily the best approach - she doesn't need to stop to get gratification.

Try this. Get an empty, washed out yoghurt pot smeared with wet dog food or squeezy cheese or even, erm, yoghurt. When she starts to bark, you can offer the pot to lick - she can't bark and lick at the same time. As she is doing that, repeat the word that will become your ”quiet” cue. After some repetitions and you think she has got it, give the cue and if she stops barking, give the pot as a reward (if she doesn't stop barking, stay at step 1 for longer). When she stops on your cue, you can gradually increase the delay between the cue and reward. Once it is reliable, you can start fading the reward to something more convenient.

Thanks, we’ll give this a try and see how we go.

Dre

 

[JudyN]

What is it she actually wants? Sometimes it works better to respond to your dog's needs (or desires - she probably won't appreciate the difference). She might become more settled when she realises she doesn't have to shout for 10 minutes to get a response. Also, consider what she would enjoy doing that doesn't take up your time - maybe give here a frozen Kong or a bone, or a cardboard box containing scrumpled up paper with bits of kibble in?

Try to think not in terms of rewarding her for being quiet when she does want attention, but in terms of her being happier with the amount of attention she gets. And remember that she is bound to feel more unsettled now there's a new arrival she's not keen on.

(Disclaimer: Being a sighthound, my dog has a built-in off switch - it might be harder finding the off switch in a spaniel...)

 

[Andre Boyle]

What is it she actually wants? Sometimes it works better to respond to your dog's needs (or desires - she probably won't appreciate the difference). She might become more settled when she realises she doesn't have to shout for 10 minutes to get a response. Also, consider what she would enjoy doing that doesn't take up your time - maybe give here a frozen Kong or a bone, or a cardboard box containing scrumpled up paper with bits of kibble in?

Try to think not in terms of rewarding her for being quiet when she does want attention, but in terms of her being happier with the amount of attention she gets. And remember that she is bound to feel more unsettled now there's a new arrival she's not keen on.

(Disclaimer: Being a sighthound, my dog has a built-in off switch - it might be harder finding the off switch in a spaniel...)

She’s always been demanding, the pup has just made her reduce the time before barking starts.

more often that not it’s for human food on a countertop. But she’s just sat barking right now at the back of the sofa (there’s nothing there). She’ll also just sit in the middle of the garden doing it until someone comes and givers her a cuddle.

she just it in her mind to bark and let’s rip.

 

[JudyN]

She does sound a 'character'

You could try teaching her a good 'settle' - see here:

It's also just possible she's in the early stages of dog dementia - unlikely, as you say she's always been this way inclined, but it's worth considering.

 

[Tinytom]

My neighbour has a sprocker about 18 mths old now and he barks alot sometimes up to 20 mins ...and yes the owner's are home when he does this. ..is it a spaniel thing ....

 

[JudyN]

Oh, and just to add - consider ensuring there is never any food on the worktop, and when it's unavoidable, e.g. when you're cooking, give her something to occupy her. It's a pain, but something that owners of tall dogs with stealing tendencies often have to do as a matter of course.

 

[terry004]

Barking can be self rewarding so ignoring it isn't necessarily the best approach - she doesn't need to stop to get gratification.

Try this. Get an empty, washed out yoghurt pot smeared with wet dog food or squeezy cheese or even, erm, yoghurt. When she starts to bark, you can offer the pot to lick - she can't bark and lick at the same time. As she is doing that, repeat the word that will become your ”quiet” cue. After some repetitions and you think she has got it, give the cue and if she stops barking, give the pot as a reward (if she doesn't stop barking, stay at step 1 for longer). When she stops on your cue, you can gradually increase the delay between the cue and reward. Once it is reliable, you can start fading the reward to something more convenient.

I'm gonna try this, it may just solve our problem...thanks