Need some advice on barking.

[rip3000gt]

Hello everyone, I am raising my first Newf puppy, Winnie, and I need some advice.

Some background info: I got her at 8.5 weeks and she is now just over 6 months. She went through puppy classes and did very well with it. Winnie and I live with my retired mom so Winnie is rarely home alone. During the day she puts Winnie outside where she has a fenced-in yard to play in. I am not home for 9-10 hours a day when I'm at work. In the morning before work I try to take her for a half hour walk, as soon as I get home I get her out and we play fetch until she gets bored with it and then we take another walk for about a half hour. Then we come in and this is when I start to have issues.

My problem is that as soon as I sit down and stop paying full attention to her she starts barking in my face. I don't know how to get her to stop. I try to ignore her but she will sometimes then start to growl and bark or put her mouth against me. (she never tries to bite) I don't know what to do with her and it is very frustrating. After maybe an hour she finally settles down and plays with some her other toys but it takes a while. I also want to note she mostly does this with me. I dont know if its because I am a male (she gets fixed this week) or if that has nothing to do with it.

My questions are:

What is the best way to get her to stop barking and acting like a crazy dog? - I try to get as much energy out as possible but it takes forever for her to settle down.

What are good ways to "correct"a bad behavior? - I keep reading to give a correction but no one ever says what they do. Obviously I want to use positive reinforcement but I also don't want to reward bad behavior.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone.

 

[DAWNMERIE]

I taught my boy who used it spit in my face to whisper



It worked wonders for us

I want to also suggest maybe you should do some reading before you spay your girl! Also want to add, she's a working dog...you can also make her work. Bring you each toy by name.....put them back, they are very smart wipper snappers and love to keep busy and work. Many things you can teach and they love it!

 

[Jeannie]

I would not get her spay at this young age. You need to do a search on this forum and read the reasons why. Studies have shown that spaying when they are young can lead to torn ACLs as well as bone cancers. No giant breed dog should be altered before 18 months of age.

 

[blaue_augen]

I am far from an expert, but here are my thoughts. I know you have tried ignoring her when she is barking at you to play, but it sounds like she is patient and determined. Have you tried turning you back to her when she barks or getting up and leaving the room? I know that's inconvenient, but don't look at her, talk to her or give her any attention when she barks. It seems she has learned that barking gets her what she wants, and you have to show her it doesn't. But maybe you can also show her that when she is lying quietly you do give her attention by rewarding her quietness with a few pets and cuddles?

I don't know what her growling sounds like, and I take growling seriously. But having said that Suki, my newf, growls to talk to us. At first it made me nervous that she was being aggressive or warning me of something. But I realized it's one of the ways she talks, and it is often her complaining voice. So it could be that your newf is just trying a different voice to get you to play.

And lastly, anyone nagging you gets annoying. I am sure the barking for attention behavior is frustrating you. It may take a while for her to unlearn that barking gets rewarded. Try to remember she wants your attention because she likes you so much.

 

[charlieinnj]

I know it's not an answer to your original post, but I have to echo Jeannie's sentiment. Why are you having her spayed so early? PLEASE reconsider.

http://healthypets.mercola.com/site...angers-of-early-pet-spaying-or-neutering.aspx

 

[ElvisTheNewf]

She's not outside all day alone, right?

I know she went to puppy class, but don't assume that means she's fully trained and you no longer need to work on things. Elvis is 5 and has been back to training several times. More than I'd like to admit, actually, but I realized that these dogs are never, ever considered to be fully trained. There is ALWAYS something to work on. Whenever Elvis acts us, we go "back to basics". We make him sit. We make him go down. We make him stay. We make him do what we call "doogy push-ups", where he sits, goes down, sits, does down, etc several times in a row. A mental workout for him does so much more than a physical one sometimes.

 

[2newfs4now]

I can only echo what others have said about delaying her spay. Sorry to say, I know first hand the effects of early spay/neuter. You might also want to consider more training. My first Newf went through five obedience classes; it not only helped make him a dog I could take anywhere but, it was a great bonding experience. Good luck with Winnie

 

[shellyk]

You might also want to consider more training. My first Newf went through five obedience classes; it not only helped make him a dog I could take anywhere but, it was a great bonding experience. Good luck with Winnie

This! Continuous training is bonding. Take a class with and have your mother go with you. It sounds like she spends a considerable time with your mother. Your mother can practice with her during the day and as they bond they will both be happier together.

 

[lacey9875]

She's learned that barking at you gets a reaction; now you have to re-train her. It's like a bad kid, any reaction is a good one, so ignore it. Get up and walk away from her. You might have to move around the house a few times. When she stops, then interract with her.

My Maggie did this. Now when she feels she isn't getting the attention she so rightly deserves, she will leave the room, lay down, where she can see me, but isn't facing me ( because she now knows you cannot look at me and bark ) and grumble. Lots of sighing and talking along with cutting her eyes to make sure I see her. :!rolling:

 

[Thehallk]

My Gilly was an attention-seeking barker and has always been very vocal. Verbal (or physical) correction made her more excited and more vocal. Ignoring her did not work. It went on for about a year before we were presented with an "opportunity" that created an intensive training situation - we took care of another dog and Gilly spent the entire first day barking at the other dog. The benefit of this was that we had so many opportunities to correct her behaviour in such a short time that it only took two days to fix the problem. We used "time outs" to VERY good effect. Every single time she would bark indoors (even just once) we would wordlessly grab her collar and take her to her time out out spot, which was the bathroom (and yes, we did sometimes have to physically drag/push her across the floor after she would flop down on her back), any space where she can safely be alone that you don't mind her associating with a bit of negativitiy is okay - so if you are trying to positive crate train her, I wouldn't use her crate. I would leave Gilly in there for only one or two minutes (at first, before she grasped what was happening she would bark IN the bathroom, so i would leave her in there until she stopped barking and then an ADDITIONAL minute). Then when she was quiet and presumably calm I would wordlessly open the door and let her resume whatever she wanted to do (no praise, no correction, just open the door and let her out). The first day we did this she was literally in the bathroom about 50 times. She started doing it less and less and by day 3 she only barked once or twice. She's now about 2.5 and i still give her a time out when she barks indoors, but this has happened maybe once in the last six months.

 

[rip3000gt]

Thanks for the responses everyone.

Blaue- her growling is not a mean growl but to someone who doesn't know her it could be intimidating. when she does it she is constantly waging her tail.

Elvis- No she is not out all day on her own. She really only goes out for bathroom breaks and that's about it. Then when i come home I take her out for her exercise.

As for more training, I plan on enrolling her in the next set of classes at PetSmart. She knows all of her commands but she can be picky when she chooses to listen when there aren't treats involved.

Its just nice to here that there are others who have had the same issues with their newfs. This is the first newf that I have had and everywhere you read, people say they are so lazy and well tempered. This may be true for the adults but the puppies are just crazy kids.

 

[chumleysma]

I see the greater part of a week has passed. Did Winnie get spayed?

 

[CMDRTED]

A couple of Observations:

1. If you have not spayed her yet, I would wait. Do a search for threads, but you will find the Spaying/Nutering at less than 18 months is not a good medical practice. All of the new reputable studies coming out are definately against it. They Study done on Goldens is particualrly revealing. Wiating can be a pain, but in the long run will be worth it for your Newfs Health.

2. You have many good suggestions here on what to do about the Barking part. If you are steadfast and practice them each and every time, it should not be long before the problem is no more.

3. Other training you might wish to consider is AKC Star Puppy, and CGC (Cannie Good Citizen), which will help reduce some problems you may have in the future. Plus will will promote Bonding Time for you and your Retired Mom.

Good Luck!

 

[rip3000gt]

Yes I did have her spayed. She did very well with it.

Over the last few days she has gotten a little better with her barking. As soon as she starts I just walk away.

 

[R Taft]

My Gilly was an attention-seeking barker and has always been very vocal. Verbal (or physical) correction made her more excited and more vocal. Ignoring her did not work. It went on for about a year before we were presented with an "opportunity" that created an intensive training situation - we took care of another dog and Gilly spent the entire first day barking at the other dog. The benefit of this was that we had so many opportunities to correct her behaviour in such a short time that it only took two days to fix the problem. We used "time outs" to VERY good effect. Every single time she would bark indoors (even just once) we would wordlessly grab her collar and take her to her time out out spot, which was the bathroom (and yes, we did sometimes have to physically drag/push her across the floor after she would flop down on her back), any space where she can safely be alone that you don't mind her associating with a bit of negativitiy is okay - so if you are trying to positive crate train her, I wouldn't use her crate. I would leave Gilly in there for only one or two minutes (at first, before she grasped what was happening she would bark IN the bathroom, so i would leave her in there until she stopped barking and then an ADDITIONAL minute). Then when she was quiet and presumably calm I would wordlessly open the door and let her resume whatever she wanted to do (no praise, no correction, just open the door and let her out). The first day we did this she was literally in the bathroom about 50 times. She started doing it less and less and by day 3 she only barked once or twice. She's now about 2.5 and i still give her a time out when she barks indoors, but this has happened maybe once in the last six months.

This is the way I teach people to deal with any misbehavior...The important part is to not say anything and not look a the dog when you take them by the collar to "time-out" and again when they are quiet and you let them out, do not look at them or say anything..the worst thing you can do is tell them off, because you are just barking with them and giving them attention, which is what it is all about....BUT.....It does sounds like your dog is bored and boredom often brings out this sort of behavior. Many newfies are placid and will not do this, but also many are super active (like my new puppy) and need work to do.not just walking but do something with them. little sessions of training and also puzzles..dogs love the puzzles you can buy for them, a tired brain is good. Even doing things on your walks will help. we also play hide and seek with toys ...they love it. we hide the toy (close initially and further and further away) and we name to toy and they go looking for it...And still even at night watching telly, we often do some quiet trick training, just a couple of moments with each dog

 

[shellyk]

I taught my boy who used it spit in my face to whisper



It worked wonders for us

]

How did you teach her to whisper? I have been trying to teach her to speak and then thought I could teach her quiet but I can't make her bark or stop barking :darn:

 

[DAWNMERIE]

So does she know speak? If she does than it's just practice, until the one day it clicks. (what's funny is I actually remember his light bulb moment

)

Pretty much just what you see in the end of the video, I just used shhhhh and the word whisper as I lowered my voice and pinched my fingers together (so I have 2 different ways to control it...by the word whisper and just by the hand gesture) and when he understood and the bark got lower and lower, I rewarded. This still works for us today--sometimes I used to do it throughout the day at first, then at a certain time at night cause that's when he'd come spitting at me and getting in my face and then randomly.

 

[shellyk]

No, I don't know how to teach her speak. I can't seem to make her bark. She barks all the time outside at squirrel's, shadows... and she barks at our other dog when he won't play with her. I don't want to reward that behavior but I don't know how else to name the barking.

 

[DAWNMERIE]

Do you do tricks? I used to have a routine and each night I'd try to add a different trick. If she doesn't know to associate the word speak with her barking, that's where I would start. When she gives a random bark, assocaite the word speak with it. I Started with Sit....stay-I'd walk away....then recall-come...then back to the kitchen for a down (lay down)...then up...sit up, then paw....other paw, then speak, then whisper.

Usually around 10 pm pups got antsy so that's when I'd do it and they loved the snack before bed when they completed everything...then I'd go have a fun run around the yard with them and play hide and seek in the dark in my pj's and let them do their business and then we'd all be worn out and ready for bed

p.s. if you stick to a routine, which I did for years....they now come to me at 10pm and tell me it's time and let me tell you newfs can certainly tell time!!!!
just thinking, you could also have her sit in front of you and hold the treat until she actually barks for it...then assocaite the word speak with the bark and work with it from there.

 

[shellyk]

Great ideas! Thanks :allg069: I will definitely try out the hold the treat until she barks. I don't know aobut the tricks in the yard in my pj's :!rolling:the neighbors already think I am the weird chicken lady when I'm out in the back yard feeding the chickens at 5 am in my pj's and funky garden clogs.