Stop Barking at Me!!!

[BoxerRock]

Molley is the second Boxer puppy we've had in the last 2+ years so we pretty much knew what to expect from her. We've been very successful in stopping (redirecting) unwanted behaviour such as jumping, nipping, and so on. However, she does something that Carley NEVER did and we can't get her to stop it. She barks at us! She doesn't bark at anyone else, just me and DH. It always seems so random too. We realize that she's only trying to initiate play but it's usually not appropriate. She's our only 'child' and gets plenty of attention. We rotate her toys so she doesn't get bored with them. We've started taking her for walks now that she's had all of her shots. We believe that 'play time' should be initiated by us and we play and do short training sessions several times a day. It's usually startling because I'll be walking by with a basket of laundry or something and she'll just jump in front of me and start barking at me and jumping up and down in front of me like she has springs on her feet. I've tried standing still and ignoring her and she just keeps doing it, jumping all around me. If I walk away, she gives chase, gets in front of me and keeps doing it. I tell her 'no bark' in a stern voice, I've even held her little muzzle closed and told her 'no bark' just in case she doesn't know what I mean. I've tried to redirect her by giving her one of her toys but she just follows me, pushing the toy into the back of my legs or if I'm sitting down, she'll put the toy in my lap and stand there and bark. I've made her sit and as soon as she does and I go about my business, she starts up again. When she does it to DH, he just tells her 'knock it off!" but that doesn't stop her either.

It really bothers me when she does this outside because I'm sure that like us, our neighbors don't appreciate the sound of the constant barking. She sits at the gate sometimes and when people or dogs walk by, she just stands up and wags her little nub. She never barks at them! Any suggestions?

 

[Andie68.]

We had the same problem with Bruce barking at us when he wanted attention. What we did was the minute he barked at us we put him out of the room shut the door and counted to 10 (from the second the barking stopped) then let him back in again, if he barked again he was straight out the room for the count of 10 then allowed back in as he walked back in the room we ignored him. after a few times of doing this he stopped barking for attention as all it got him was put out of the room.

Hope this helps

 

[hanley]

I too have one thats really verbal & sometimes it will drive you nuts!

 

[SandyHG55654]

Diesel only does this when we tell him no! We then clap our hands and say no! again and it continues for a few times until he gets the picture and resigns to a little whiney backtalk and a sigh! Little brat!

 

[4everdogs]

Max (7 months old) has recently started this and it is driving me crazy. Before this he never barked - now he is making up for it. If I tell him no or he wants to play he starts barking. he has a very deep loud bark and is very persistant about it too. I tried to ignore him last night and he went on for over 15 min before I finally put him in his crate for a time out. When I let him out he went right back to barking. I will be watching this thread for any helpful advice.

 

[BoxerRock]

I tried Andie's suggestion (thanks, Andie) a few times and it DID get her to stop barking at me for the moment. The only problem was that when I'd close a door between us, whether it was shutting her in a room, or myself, she'd start jumping at the door and I really don't want my doors all scratched up. I've considered crating her when she does it but I don't want her to see the crate as punishment.

Yesterday, we had to go sign some escrow papers and we took her with us. My husband was holding her on his lap in the escrow office (they said we could bring her) and she started barking at me! I couldn't believe it! I'm hoping for more recommendations.

 

[Touzy]

Shae started doing this after he'd been living with us for a couple of months.. I think he was about 6 months old. But he seems to actually have outgrown it. (thank goodness) Boxers aren't know as barkers.. if they were I wouldn't want one - that's what poodles are for - haha (there is one on our block!!)
but I would be interested to see what the Moderators think.
"No Bark" is good. When Shae was doing it we literally crossed our arms and turned away from him. Eventally he would come around in front of us and do the 1/2 laydown thing with his little butt in the air and give a little whimper. Now that is too hard to ignore. But we would say.. Good Boy - no bark.
Hang in there! - and don't teach her "Speak"

 

[Jan]

If you don't like the barking you have to ignore it. Negative or positive attention will reinforce the behavior. When she barks, I would turn my head and look away. If she continues to bark you should leave the room for 5- 10 minutes. The alternative is to put her out of the room. If you are concerned about your doors, you need to put her in her crate for a timeout. A timeout isn't a punishment. Just say "oops" and put her in her crate and leave. When she stops barking, wait a couple of minutes and then let her out. Repeat as often as necessary. As long as you are consistent, it will work. If you keep giving her attention for barking, she will keep barking.

Good luck!

 

[SpruceBruce]

Our Bruce has started to do this as well; it's totally his way of getting attention even though I think he gets TOO much attention if that is even possible for a boxer! I've started the ignoring and time outs which seem to be working wonders for this absolutely annoying behaviour. Now if only we could stop him from barking when our neighbour leaves for work - funny thing is that it is only the one side; if our other neighbout leaves he couldn't care less.

 

[4everdogs]

I am at my wits end. Here is how last night was. Left for work at 9am and put Max in his cage. Got home a 3pm, and let Max out of his cage. He runs around the backyard and in and out of the house while I made supper and ran some laundry. After supper we went for a an hour walk and came home at 8pm. At 8, I sat down to watch some TV. Max starts barking at me, tell him no, I get a toy and try to play with him first tried fetch with a ball, then tried a stuffed animal - keeps barking - I get up and put him in his cage - he is completely quiet in his cage - let him out after 5 minutes. He starts barking at me again right away. So I put him back in his cage - he is quiet again - let him out after 10 min - barking at me again - back in to cage - quiet, let out of cage - barking at me again - back into cage. This went on all night! It has been the same thing all week. I just don't know what to do anymore. If he is not tired, I am more then willing to play with him, but he doesn't want to play anything unless I get up and chase him - which I refuse to encouage.