Dog Community

Barking and Growling at me!!!

Posted : 4/4/2006 4:25:27 PM

I'm cross posting this - please disregard if you have already replied - thanks!

My 6.5 month male Havanese has just found his voice. He was so quiet that you'd never know he was around, until very recently. If we're eating and he doesn't get any table food, he will bark at us, and growl at us. Sometimes we'll be watching TV and he'll come over to me, look at me and bark. I think he's trying to tell me something, but I try to see if he has to go out, and that's not it. When he growls, it's not a teeth baring mean spirited growl, it's almost like he's just trying to get my attention. When he in his crate and needs to go out, he has a high pitched short bark, but these barks seem intentional, meaningful barks. I don't know what to make of it, how to respond or what to do. When he barks excessively, he gets a time out in the bathroom for 30 seconds, then he comes out, ears pinned to his little head and he'll sit quietly. Can anyone shed some light?

Thank you in advance.

Delaina Westing

Posted : 4/4/2006 6:05:46 PM

My yorkie puppy does the same thing when he wants attention. Has it worked for Winston in the past, barking at dinner and then you give him something? It worked for Cooper and so he continues to do it now. It is never a mean bark or growl, but more like "ME, ME, pay attention to me ..... I want something, give it to ME now!!". I think if you ignore him when he does it and it doesn't pay off for him in anyway, he will quit doing it.

My take on it anyway.....

LuvtheCooper

tiffy

Posted : 4/4/2006 6:07:04 PM

It sounds to me like this pup thinks hes in charge. My corgi did this and I thought it was soo cute, but after a monthe of this, it got old real fast. SWhe is now on the NILIF program and things are much better. She was also very submissive so her ears would go flat too.NILIF has really helped her to become more confident.

sarah crompton

Posted : 4/5/2006 10:03:43 AM

Simba my 5 month old Chow is exactly the same he will sit and bark at me when im cooking eating, anything i am doing that doesnt involve giving him 100% undevoted attention!!!!

Its a real pain in the ass, and ears!!!

I got some great advice for this problem when I posted back on the old board.

I find that ignoring him works no eye contact etc, if not removing him whenever he barks ie taking him to another room until he has calmed down. It does work but its a pain when your trying to eat lunch [8|]

Good Luck!!!!!!

Bella Rose

Posted : 4/5/2006 10:15:52 AM

I would just ignore him. My husband insisted on feeding my dog at the dinner table. Now the dog sits and stares at my husband and drools, and lays his drooly head in my husbands lap. He will sometimes whine and bark...at my husband. My husband now has to deal with eating every meal like this. He doesn't bother anyone else, because he quickly learned that no one else will feed him at the table.

The best thing you can do is ignore the behavior, don't reward him for demanding attention. Thats what works with my dog, although I have had a much harder time training my husband.....

christina

Posted : 4/5/2006 12:38:53 PM

Thank you for the quick responses! My husband is the culprit of feeding him when he's not supposed to, but we mostly eat in front of the TV - and that's technically within Winston's eyesight, but I've been trying to train hubby to stop. As for Winston thinking he is the one in charge, I don't know if that is the problem, he only does the bark & growl thing when I'm not paying attention to him and that's not too often. How do I know if he thinks he's in charge? What is the NILIF program? With other dogs, he's always friendly and playful. Winston ALWAYS wants to play. I enrolled him in doggie day care to let him work off some energy and interact with other dogs- his first day is tomorrow. I wonder if this will help.....thanks everyone...

tiffy

Posted : 4/5/2006 6:38:24 PM

NILIF- Nothing in life is free. What it basically boils down to is that your pup has to work for everything, including attention. If he wants some love, make him sit. Want dinner, down, etc.... If he gets what he wants when he wants, hes going to be a brat. Just like a kid, you can't give them everything.

willowchow

Posted : 4/6/2006 8:10:24 PM

Willow sometimes will do a low growl at me if I'm ignoring her. I then look at her and go, WHAAAAT?? and she puts her ears down and wags. [

] IMO, it's a pushy behavior.