New dog help.

[ifoundthebread]

So I acquired a second dog on Friday, she's just turned 1 and is a German Shepherd x labrador. I'm of the belief the previous owner bought a couple of dogs, found they had some behavior issues and sold them on. Now my issue, she's all settled in and made herself at home, great friends with the dog I already owned. But she barks at new people, anyone that comes to the house and anyone out on walks. What's the best way to stop this behaviour? She never attacks and doesn't have her heckles up, teeth are never bared its just woof woof woof.

[MsMightyTitanAndHerTroubadours]

Welcome to GSD world, they LOVE LOVE LOVE to bark

we had two and every single day the children came home from school at the same time and every single godamn day they would bark like we were being broken into

I had some success with outdoor barking by basically curtailing any nice outdoor time if there was any barking, so they were good and quiet in the garden if they were hearing stuff, but once someone came in through the gate we still had the barking and singing!

They were not bothered about barking on walks though.

[ifoundthebread]

I grew up with a GSD and she was our doorbell till her last day at 14 years old 😂 but this is a lot more than I'd class as normal, this is excessive. She barks for 10-15 minutes. Today my brother came round, we had the usual doorbell barking off both dogs. Then he came in the living room, sat on the floor stroking my first dog. New dog stood barking at him, I told her to go in her cage and she went in no problem. Sat barking at him for another 10 minutes, once she went quiet I unlocked her door but not open it. She came out, stood barking for another 5 min. Brother had to leave stood up and she barked ran over to him, licked his hand, barked some more

[MsMightyTitanAndHerTroubadours]

how is she with rewards?? All you can really try is distraction I reckon. mind you it is early days so maybe she is just trying to make herself useful and the novelty will wear off?

[Girlintheframe]

Our dog barks when people enter the house. I make him sit then when he has a second of being quiet I give him a treat. Now he will generally sit and just wait for his treat without barking but it's a work in progress.

[ifoundthebread]

@girlintheframe I think we are going to have to do similar. I think she's got into the habit of barking because then she would get attention off her owners to get her to be quiet. She's already learned not to jump up when we come in the room by turning our back on her.

[Dontgiveamonkeys1350]

I taught my springer to jump in the sofa when the bell went. I kept him there till people had come in through the door and then let him off. It took a while but it did work. Lots of treats till he sat and didn’t bark.