Part 0800.0005

[chelsea]

Any ideas how we can stop Skye barking at night please?

 

I know I probably cannot stop it altogether as a dog is always going to bark but it would be great if I could quieten her down quicker .

 

She's walked before bed so it's not a wanting to go out bark. Anything she hears, be it car doors, next door coming home, the milkman, a cat walking past and sometimes I can't even hear anything and she still barks The bark is very loud, she runs throughout the house barking until I manage to sshhhh her up

 

I've been very apologetic to our next door neighbour but she politely says she never hears her, it also means I never get a complete nights sleep.

[Space Chick]

It could be stress related at being separated and being in the dark. Have you considered a DAP collar or defuser in the room she sleeps in?

 

We use DAP collars with Henry at times when he would usually get stressed and they work a treat

[theherd123]

Have you tried teaching Skye to speak?

I know it sounds odd but I trained my dogs to bark on command and tbh the rest of the time they were very quiet.

 

Also do you have a crate which Skye sleeps in? If so can you cover it to block out the light and muffle any sounds?

 

Another thing which works is squishing them with a water pistol like its an 'act of God' so try not to be seen when firing at them!

[Chucky Mama]

I would perhaps practising a more controlled 'bark' and 'be quiet' during the day so that she is more responsive when you command her at night. You need her to warn you but it is annoying when they keep barking and she may be barking a lot when you are out for all you know. Is it possible to let her sleep where there is less chance of her seeing or hearing things. Our dog is shut in 'her' room at night for this reason. She is a fanatical guard and would wake us up more often if she wasn't shut in. If all else fails you could try her with an anti bark collar. I wouldn't use one on Skye yet though as she is still settling in. Water pistols are good.

[The Dogmother]

I'll echo that - Ruby is a great guard dog, but knows that two barks are enough, and she isn't allowed to bark in her crate (at night). I started by establishing a 'leave it' command (given in The Voice of Doom) and rewarded when she complied; this command works for all sorts of things, including calling her back (usually works, but depends on how 'locked on' she is!) when she belts off.

 

I hate those Herta frankfurters, but dice them up tiny and they are wonderful for training!

[Guest]

molly used to whine, howl and bark at night and it took several months of trying various things but I think she just needed to settle in. She doesn't make a sound at night now. It could be because we gave in over where she sleeps She sleeps on Ian's chair now rather than her own bed!

[chelsea]

I would perhaps practising a more controlled 'bark' and 'be quiet' during the day so that she is more responsive when you command her at night. You need her to warn you but it is annoying when they keep barking .

 

 

I think you are right CM.

 

Thanks everyone for their suggestions , I will have to put it down to being young, boisterous and still settling in.

 

She has the run of the house at night time. I haven't crate trained her as I thought it would be too much at once with us being her fourth home and we are still socialising her & training etc. Out of the 3 she is my most demanding Shepherd, but I am sure she will grow out of it. Am taking the radio to bed tonight for some "background noise" so she doesn't hear much outside.

[Chucky Mama]

She may be finding the run of the house at bedtime slightly too stressful as she will feel that she has to guard the whole house. 1 or 2 rooms towards the back of the house where there is less going on may be more manageable for her. See what you think, she is still getting the hang of things

[chelsea]

Never thought of that, thanks And a very good guard dog she is too! (she sounds HUGE )

 

Will close off some doors tonight and let you know how it goes.

[The Dogmother]

Fingers crossed for you Chelsea.

 

It took Ruby about 4 nights to get accustomed to her crate, but she's been good as gold ever since. A smaller area will certainly help to keep her calm.

[chelsea]

Well it worked.

 

We had radio 4 on (Skye's choice ) all night and I restricted her movement and not one bark until 6am which is when she wanted to go out and got me out of bed by chewing a toilet roll.

[The Dogmother]

great news!

[Chucky Mama]

Really good news. Just had a thought. If she is very sound motivated and it becomes an issue you can get sound desensitisation cds that can be used to encourange dogs to 'tune' certain sounds out. She may respond well to one. I wouldn't go over the top yet though as she is still feeling her feet and she may not need the extra help.

[chelsea]

Really good news. Just had a thought. If she is very sound motivated and it becomes an issue you can get sound desensitisation cds that can be used to encourange dogs to 'tune' certain sounds out. She may respond well to one.

 

 

That sounds interesting she responds well to most things so would be up for trying it. She's both sound and movement driven - I think she'd actually make a very good Police dog to be honest!

[poachedegg]