Barking - intercom, knocking, people coming in

gettingready

Ok, I got to the stage that I can leave the flat and Zara is not barking any more - and some of you may remember that I was practically houbound due to her constant barking if I set foot outsiode the front door and problems it was causing.

BUT can not get her not to bark when the intercom rings/someone knocks. NOTHING will distract her, she barks like mad.

She is very happy when people come over and it is always a "happy" bark but it is loud, lasts for absolute ages before she stops.

Any ideas how to stop that?

Zara is a 5.5 years old GS girl - the bark is... LOUDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

krlyr

This may help
http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles/2001c/manicbarking.htm

gettingready

Thanks but I am yet to fnd something that will temp Zara - she is not food motivated at all, fodd will never distract her (cheese, chicken etc etc - she likes it but she likes barking more)... sigh....

But so much truth in that article, whatever added (positive or negative) makes her barking worse...

Youdontseeme

How about using a squeek toy or maybe a whistle?

gettingready

Tried that too- she just tottaly refuses t be distracted in any way at all. The second someone knocks/buzzes the intercom - Zara goes off till they come in and then for a bit more doing het happy bark/dance around whoever arrived before she settles down.

No hope?

When I am not in, I always put my intercom on silent. Actually, I have it on silent most of the time now... just to avoid any "nuisance" calls that set her off - people trying to sell things, JW etc etc

I am on the first floor so if I am expecting someone and they buzz - I open and it takes a short bit before they come up - she just barks and barks and barks...

pawsies

Try a go to bed command?

Someone knocks = go to bed?

gettingready

Yup, tried that - she will NOT be distracted from her barking , no matter what....

pawsies

Does she only bark when someone enters the door? Does she bark at other times?

Could you get a friend to help set the scene so she barks but she doesn't get to see the person until she's quiet? Explain to your neighbours you're doing a bit of dog training and there may be a short term period whereby a dog is barking but hopefully the training will stop the barking long term?

Caroline_a

You probably know that you need a distraction. I had an issue with Oakley who never barks for anything except the odd pigeon flying past in the garden - however my Dyson sent him bonkers. I used to shut him outside when I was hoovering and eventually (how extreme is this!!) I ended up buying a Rhomba vacuum cleaner (which is lots of fun and works really well), but I didn't need another vacuum really!

Anyway, having tried everything, as you do, I used the compressed air Pet Corrector. It stopped him in his tracks, and he's not done it since.

Might be worth a go...

gettingready

Thanks again for all the replies.

When Zara starts barking - NOTHING will distract her. No food, no toy, no voice correction nothing.

The second the intercom goes/someone knocks on the door - she is off. And she does not stop till few min (!!!) after the visitor is already in.

That happens regardless if she knows the visitor or not. My neighbour from upstairs is her every single day, sometimes twice per day and still each time she knocks - Zara barks like mad.

As I said before, this is a "happy" bark, non agressive at all but it is very VERY loud....

What is compressed pet corrector??? Going to google now. As of course I have tried ul;trasonic, citronella and the works.....

What is REALLY weird that for years I had problems with her separation anxiety and howling/barking when left alone BUT that stopped within a day just like that. Only once I came back home and SHOUTED at her "Zara - BEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD" and that was it. Honest to God that was it. She stopped and hardly ever does it - before I was pretty much houbound as each leaving the flat was her barking/howling for hoursssssssssssssss And few month ago after that one incident she just stopped. Mind it, I never ever shouted at her before.

Bus shouting does not work with that intercom/visitors barking..... grrrr

Caroline_a

http://www.amazon.co.uk/pet-bliss-Pet-Corrector-200ml/dp/B001A36B8Q

There you go