Barking Collie

[sewingandcakes]

My bonkers collie is causing problems with her barking, and last night the neighbours had a word about us letting her out at 7am for a wee, as she is barking and waking their baby up. I told them that I'd keep her in until I take the kids to school, and take her with me. This is fine for now, but during the summer holidays I will struggle to get myself, 3 boys and 2 dogs out much earlier than 10...

I want to get her excessive barking at poo flies under control ASAP, so does anyone have any suggestions of what works? I know that more exercise/stimulation would help, but are any of the ultrasonic products good?

Pick up the poo more regularly.?

We do pick it up regularly youhaventseenme, but she just circles and barks constantly, even when there's nothing to bark at. When she's in the house she circles and barks, especially when the boys come back from school and the house is noisier...

How old is she ? Is she getting enough exercise ?

We got our rescue collie when he was about 18 months, he was mental. (show me one, that isn't) He used to and still does nip DS if I raise my voice to DS.

He used to growl at DS when he tried to feed him, so we used to just take it away and try again in a minute or so.

None of which helps you with the barking, ours despite being mad is exceptionally clever and generally loaded no and a stern finger sorts most situations out.

No and a stern finger could backfire with them thinking you are joining in the shouting.

She's almost 3, and we got her from a rescue home at 12 weeks old. She's lovely, but has been really hard to train, as she's not particularly keen to please us, and takes her cues from our older dog. She's the 3rd dog I've had and is undoubtedly the most challenging! In her defence though, she's brilliant with the baby.

She is definitely not getting enough exercise and this is something I'm working on, but with the boys about it's hard. I'm thinking about hiring a dog walker during the holidays.

For some reason ds2 seems to set her off, I don't know whether she thinks she needs to control him or contain him, but she is worse all the time that he isn't sitting still.

How old is your DS2?

He's 6, and was 3 when we got her. He also was the youngest of our kids when we got her (ds3 came after).

If he was younger I would say she is scared of him.

I've got a whippet who has been getting very barky and territorial. I was shouting at him and (unsurprisingly!) it didn't work, I think he thought I was joining in. I read a bit on the internet and have been saying, calmly, 'quiet' combined with a finger to my lips hand signal. Giving him high grade rewards whenever he stops barking (small bits of cheese) and repeating the 'quiet' with the hand signal has worked really, really well, I'm proud of him. I've also noticed that he is much better behaved when he has had a good walk.

lilcamper I did wonder whether she was scared of him, he likes animals but doesn't seem to 'get' them in the same way that ds1 does. I've tried getting him to feed her, reward her for sitting etc, but she's still the same. I might see if he can be more affectionate with her.

lostinwales thanks for the advice, I'm trying "enough" as a command word, followed by a treat when she's quiet. Only started today, so it's too early to tell whether it's going to work. Funnily enough, after a good walk she's often more excitable; she's very strange!

Take her out on a lead, give a command for the wee, then play fetch a few times then back indoors on lead.

Collies are very noise and sight reactive, one of mine left on its own outside would barked at a car in the distance and run up and down as it chasing it.

You need to give the dog an alternative behaviour when in the garden.

I doubt that quiet will work as your dog will be highly aroused and barking is a stress reliever. However if you give the dog something else to do in the garden that will help.

Thanks idirdog, I'll try that. She used to love catching a frisbee until we lost it; I've just bought another one today, so I'll get her chasing and catching it.