My Barking dog !!!

    • Puppy

    My Barking dog !!!

    I own 2 shelties and yes I know they are barkers as I have had shelties for many years. The problem with this one( he's almost 2) is whenever y husband or I leave he goes around in circles barking like crazy. Tonight I went for a walk and he barked the whole time I was gone as I live around a channel and thats where I walk.Forty minutes of bark, bark ,bark. I took him for his walk already which he gets extremely excited and he howls when I take the other dog for a walk. There are too many people walking dogs around here so 2 at once is out of the question as I don't trust some of them.
    Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I have done the go out come in thing numerous times and it seemed to slow him down but it's picked up again. My husband says a shock collar but I just won't do that. I have also tried the spray bottle with water. He starts when I put my shoes on too. I sure would like to walk in the morning but hubby works nights and  I am sure he wouldn't appreciate a yappy dog.
    Thanks..
    • Gold Top Dog
    I would recommend you get the phamphlet "I'll be Home Soon," by Patricia McConnell.  It is available from Amazon.com and is very useful in dealing with separation anxiety, which this sounds like a case of.  
    • Gold Top Dog
    are you being consistent with trying to lessen his separation anxiety with the go out/come in thing? start slowly then gradually work your way up to longer minutes to get your dog used to your absence. maybe you can give him a toy to play with while you're gone. you can also try teaching him the command "quiet". in stanley coren's book "how to speak dog", you can tell a dog "quiet" by (he has to be on your left side when you do this) holding his collar with your left hand, then gently folding your right hand over his muzzle while saying "quiet" then praising him when he stops barking. (i've never tried this before, only read about it.)