Incessant barking

[Keiko]

I have an 8 month old aussiedoodle Oakley that has recently started barking (extremely loud) at anyone walking into the house including my husband and sons.  I know it is a startle/protective thing but it is very annoying and she won't stop.  If she is outdoors on our property she does the same thing when anyone with or without a dog walks down the street.  She barks like she is going to tear you up but she really is not at all aggressive in any other situations.  Any ideas would be very helpful.

[Adina P]

Do you/have you worked with a trainer at all so far?
What have you done so far to deal with the situation?
Does she respond to other commands like "come", "sit", etc?

[shelly]

I DO know exactly what you are talking about! Our aussiedoodle does this too... she sounds so vicious and mean. People have commented that they can't believe how she barks at them... they never met a dog who didn't like them...when she's not barking at them b/c she doesn't LIKE them. We tried to stop it so many ways.. short of a shock collar that I just do NOT want to do... I am thinking of having a behaviorist come this summer when I am off from work....maybe it's just her herding/protective instincts kicking in????

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

My ALD Roo started this about the same age. His brother Tigger would not bother except that Roo gets him started. Roo is now 2 and 1/2 and I am just beginning to get a handle on it. I have been working really a lot on greeting people properly ( not jumping up) when he is on a leash and reinforcing in various busy situations his sit, down, come, and stay.

I save the refrigerator treats ( leftover whatever meat or fish) for only coming when he is barking. I also keep a rolled up handtowel secured with a rubber band handy. Sometimes Roo will come to just my call, but if he is really excited, I need to get his attention by throwing the rolled up hand towel at him. I never hit him with, not because it would hurt him or be bad, but because I really really throw like a girl. It does usually go near him and cause him to turn just for a second, during that exact second I say "Roo come" really firmly and head for the refrigerator. When Roo gets to the refrigerator, He must sit, wait, and calm down a least some, then he gets his treat. That is the hardest part. I started with treating him a lot until he calmed as soon as he sat and have gradually worked to sit,wait, calm, then two treats. This crazy set of things seems to actually be working when nothing else has.

You might give it a try. You have to be pretty consistent and patient. Tigger got the whole no bark = refrigerator treat on the third time and now mostly when Roo barks, Tigger runs and sits in front of the refrigerator. Roo, however, is in his third week and still requires the occasional towel throw and always me calling and running for the refrigerator. I have a ways to go with him. But it is working. Roo is like that about everything though just very excited and happy.

[shelly]

LOVE it! Gotta' go find myself a hand towel... I've heard of 'throwing in the towel' but this takes the cake!! I can't wait to try it!

[L.M.]

I am no expert, but in regard to the barking when someone walks in the house....I FINALLY found a method that really worked for us. Our 1 year old Goldendoodle, Seamus, used to bark and jump and basically be rude to our guests as they would enter. We trained him to sit when people enter, but more importantly, we trained him to ALWAYS have a toy in his mouth when people enter our home. It took some practice, but he picked up on it rather quickly. Whenever anyone comes in, we hand Seamus a small toy (stuffed toy or really anything). This keeps him distracted I guess, so he does not jump, bark, or mouth when someone comes in. No toy in his mouth = the person at the door does not come in. I have to say, it really works like a charm. Now, whenever someone comes close to the door, he RUNS to his toy basket, grabs a toy, and waits for the person to come in. Last week he grabbed my shoe and held it in his mouth calmly as I entered...I guess I can't be too picky =)

[Robin, dalai, and Parker]

Yes, we are having a problem with Dalai incessantly barking around the pool. She will do this to get to her toy in the pool. She seems obsessed about her toy. I have been distracted with my 16 mo. old nephrew and sister visiting from Nevada so I'm losing focus on her training. I am thinking of getting a ebark collar and think this will work very quickly because she picks up on things very quickly. But know we have to make it a training exercise. Has anyone tried an ebark collar before? Whenever her behavior becomes a little much, I immediately focus on getting her more exercise, and that hasn't happend for a few weeks. She is getting along great with the baby, but hasn't been getting quite the attention that she is used to.

[Keiko]

Oakley has plenty of toys...we will give it a try if we are inside and know someone is coming over. It may be a little tricky when we are outside going potty since "playing" with a toy is not the objective at that moment. Thanks for your great idea..will give it a try!!!