My doodle is a weirdo

[Becka]

Sadie is now almost 8 months old and has developed an odd new behavior. She's always been very aware of any change in her surroundings and will bark her disapproval. For example, a sponge in the bathtub (instead of on the shelf), a suitcase in the corner (when my mom visited). She'll bark and bark until I tell her to stop and touch the offending item to show her that it's not a threat. Once, my neighbor left the door to our hurricane shed open and Sadie behaved as though thieves were in the process of removing her dearest possessions.

In the last week, she has expanded her repertoire to include people that seem "out of place." Last night at the dog park, a woman was sitting on a blanket with two tiny Chihuahuas (on the other side of the fence from us, in the little dog park) and Sadie barked and barked at her, though from a respectable distance. Apparently someone sitting on the ground was too "different" for her. The day before, she barked at some people who were sitting on benches in the park reading (because these benches are usually unoccupied--at least I think that's what it was). It's not a threatening bark, but more of a woo-woo-woo alarm bark, and she'll calm down if I walk her over to show her that someone sitting on the ground with two tiny dogs is not in any way a threat to her or society at large. Does anyone have any insight into this behavior? Should I be doing something to more actively discourage it? Is this just the beginning of all the neuroses to come?

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

I don't know about insight, but my Ripley does this. If anything is out of place, he will stop and bark at it. I have to do the same as you, go over, touch it and show him it's OK. He's about 4 years old, so I look at it as a quirky personality. He was a rehome, so I couldn't guess where it comes from, but it is the way he is.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Becka, I think they're ALL "wierdos".  My guys also have some very unique quirks.  The other night my DS came out of his bedroom and it was dark in the hall upstairs.  Murph was at the bottom of the stairs just ready to go up when he started barking like crazy....he was barking at DS.  Apparently he didn't recognize him in the dark (WTD...I thought they had some "bionic" sense of smell).  We had to put the lights on and show Murph that it was not a strange, serial killer in his house.

[PJ and Zach]

Oh how funny.  Your Sadie is normal!  :)  My guy is going on 5 years old, and has given me great amusement in those years because he is also a weirdo.  Get your video camera out and have it handy.  It will give you great pleasure later on.  I happened to have mine out on these three occasions... the first at an art fair in Texas in 2008, then a couple of times in 2010.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ5MAgn0xJ4

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

That video is just too funny!

[Becka]

That's a great video. There's a fairly realistic statue of a dog that we regularly pass on our walks, and Sadie thinks it's real every single time.

[sandy b]

Great video, too funny!!

[Christine & Shelby]

My Shelby had a phase where she did things like that.... my personal favorite was barking at a large political sign that went up along our walking path (for the party I don't affiliate with) and she barked, growled and steered clear of it.  Similar problem when she was younger with trash days.  I did what you are doing.... I'd walk up and touch the trash can/pile ... give her plenty of times to smell it/investigate it, etc. until she became ok with it. 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Weirdos here too.  You may want to work on the LEAVE IT COMMAND   :)    AKA   "  Mind Your Own Business" Command.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I've been working with our Murphy on this type behavior especially now that we can have the windows open again. He barks at every moving thing outside.  And oh dear, don't let someone walk by let alone a leave blow by. I started with "ssshhhh" and a treat, right near him. Then from further away I would say "sshhhh" and he'd stop barking by the window and come for his treat. then I'd work on sit-stay and treat until the monster had passed. Whenever he even twitched like he was going to go bark at something I would be ready with an Uh-Uh or sssshhh and then sometimes treat, sometimes not.  If he is inconsolable I just go over to the window and tell him  " I've got it, we're all good, you can stop now". That really usually calms him down, as if he understands english,  lol.

He is getting better so it seems to be working. I know not to tell them "it;s okay" or "you're okay" as tho you are consoling them as it will reinforce the behavior. But that's all I really can tell you about what I have read or done. Hope that helps.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I just read the post underneath from Leslie and Halas and curiosity led me to some of her previous Flyball videos .  I wanted to see it because it's not something I am familiar with.  In one of the videos one of the jumps is knocked out of place by a previous dog and Halas takes a look and decides not to jump it.  There is a comment below remarking that this is typical Doodle behaviour, they notice everything and this includes things that are out of place or strange.  Proof that your Doodle is no weirdo just a typical Doodle!

[Becka]

Sadie watches planes too! Low-flying ones and helicopters mesmerize her. I'm so glad that all of our doodles are weirdos!

[Julie, Boomer, Milo & Casey]

I couldn't even watch Anderson Cooper today because he was talking to a woman that was obsessed with her dog - Milo wouldn't stop barking at the dog on the TV screen.   He goes crazy if he sees a dog on TV...it wasn't even making a sound so I'm not sure how he even knew it was on there!