calliecritturs
Posted : 10/25/2010 3:37:16 PM
Absolutely what Jackie said ... even if you have to put a comforter or something over the top to make sure he doesn't make eye contact with you.
We always have our crates in the bedroom -- simply because I want to BE there to hear what they hear and then say "Ok -- that was Mr. John next door with his dog -- it's OK. That's enough!"
In other words -- I don't mind a bark or two IF THEY HEAR SOMETHING (and if he heard your voice from afar and thot something was going on then he went on alert and THEN it became 'Oh I got ATTENTION for this!';). In fact, my husband and I will often go 'check' (particularly if one of the other dogs heard it and looked interested) and come back and say 'It's ok ... it was just ____" (whatever you determine said in a very factual "it's HANDLED" kind of voice).
I don't mind being alerted to something going on outside -- that's helpful. But it's my house and I'm in charge (as is my husband) so let me know and then that's it. But all mine get is an acknowledgement that we heard and looked and that's ALL.
And honestly that pretty well puts the kibosh on unwarranted barking for us. If somebuddy persists I will stand (or David will) ramrod stiff, fists on my hips, in front of the crate with a displeased look on my face and say something brilliant like "Excuuuuuuuuuuuuuse me?? I said E-nuff!!!" (sorry, I don't talk cute doggie talk like "no bark" -- I say it as I'd say it to anyone and expect it to be understood and after a while they gain quite a vocabulary)
Dogs tend to bark for several reasons -- just chattering with other dogs in the neighborhood, boredom, and "alert" --
But unless you have serious reason for thinking maybe the dog needs to go out I wouldn't take the pup out. Most any attention like that is going to be misinterpreted as "play" or "attention"
But at the same time -- we always make sure the dogs go out when the last of the two of us goes to bed. Most any 'transition" time -- but as I said our dogs are crated in our bedroom when we're gone and they sleep in our room (uncrated -- but ours are past night-time accidents) during the night.
Don't just let the dog bark for 10 minutes before you initially go in and say "That's enough." and determining if the dog DID hear something. If you wait 10 minutes and finally go see what's got them riled up -- the moment to identify the cause is past. And if they heard YOU just say "Ok -- that was ME saying goodnight. Hush!" (or whatever)
But as JackieG says -- trying to find a 'solution' like taking them out repeatedly -- you're setting yourself up to be 'trained' to take the dog out on command. (theirs) Not fun!