Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference!
She started the morning off by waking Meghan up barking up a storm. I had taken Randy to work and apparently she was hearing something. Meghan said it was that shrill, warning bark and then the continuous one after that. I say that is the bark she does when something actually scares her, too! She said it went on for about 30 minutes. We have some apartments next to our condominium complex so she probably heard noises from there.
When I was home, she would still try to bark occasionally, but I would try to catch her first. I never could figure out what she was hearing.
This evening, I had gone to Target and to get supper and when I got home Meg came out to help me bring stuff in. Schatzi shot out the front door. Usually she will go to the car, or just come see what I have, especially if she thinks there is food involved. She did a complete disappearing act. Our neighbors had company and their cars were parked right behind ours so I guessed she was following the scent from their car to their door. Wrong. The little turkey had gone under the fence to the complex next door. Apparently she had made a beeline for it when she escaped. She has done this once before, but only if she has been out for a few minutes with us (or Randy, usually) and he loses sight of her. Never has she headed straight for it. Because there is a small cemented dip there for water to drain through during a storm, there is no way to keep her from being able to get under the fence. She did come back as soon as I found her. My guess is that she somehow knew exactly where those noises were from this morning and she was determined to find what caused them. Sooooo, now I have to find a way to keep the escape artist from escaping the front door. It doesn't happen often, but every couple of months.
Tonight she was back to barking. Finally I closed her up in my room with Meg and I. At least if she barks, she can't run to the door and get realy wound up. She will grumble and growl and maybe do a little bark, looking at me the whole time. Typical teenage dare :2funny:
If I were you I would consider putting a leash on Schatzi taking her for a walk around where you live so she can see for herself nothing is around??? Or maybe you will hear what she is hearing and be able to show her its ok??? Usually dogs do not bark like they are defending thie pack unless they really do hear something.If she is barking like she is scared need to try and find out what is scaring her if possible. Even if it is a cat making love or a turtle walking around hopefully you can find it & show it to your brave dog.
Papbouv
LOL - I have seen that dare in their eyes too !!! They really do have long memories - I bet she was looking for whomever she was barking at earlier !!! Be careful sweet girl running out there loose !
A lot of times people will be out there talking, or walking their dogs so she will hear them.
She also lets us know EVERYTIME the Fed Ex or UPS truck turns in there. Something about the sound of their engine sets her off. I have thought about taking her over there and walking her sometime, but then I'm afraid she will decide she really likes it and want to go there for sure! At least we have had a quiet 2 hours now, however when I did open the door earlier, she charges out and barks! Just wanted to make sure she got one in, I guess.
Oh my Goodness Schatzi....be careful going out that front door.....it's a scary world out there.....Be a good girl and don't scare your momma like dat anymore!! :heart: We wuv you too much and don't want anything to happen to you!!
THIS SOUNDS LIKE A JOB FOR SUPER DOG WHISPERER!!! (I just finished watching all 17 episodes of season two - the man rocks!!)
You need to "own the door" and the space around it. Practice getting between Schatzi and the front door and making her back away. Use the Look, the finger - not THAT one, the index one! - and walk towards her if she tries to go out the door. As Cesar explains, show the dog that you own the door, you own the space around it, and your dog has to wait to be invited to go out the door by YOU. Open the door and block her from going out it. Once the UPS truck has moved on, close the door and sit back down. Once she gets thqt she's not allowed through the door without permission, your life will be a whole lot easier.
I just tried this today with Guinness and Roscoe, who BOTH sat down looking at me and then out the door. But every time one of them made a move, they got the finger, the look and the block, and they sat back down!
I want to have Cesar's children!
Karen :heart:
Now that's a good way to get aerobic exercise while standing still! Goodness Schatzi, you had a lot of fun on many levels LOL. Glad she is ok. I'll just add to the barking, what worked like a charm for Hallie was when the mailman or whoever was out there to cause her to bark was there, I take a treat and give her the "watch" command (of course you have to train this first...) which is an obedience thing which means she is to stare into my eyes and not look away for nuthin', not even a steaming plate of spaghetti right next to her head (we know...we tried LOL). She immediately loses focus on what's outside and onto the tweat instead.
I am so bad I egg her on sometimes when she barks :angel4: because of course it is CUTE :wink: but I expect her to be quiet when I ask her to. And going out the front door without permission is a federal offense, she doesn't even go out her doggie door (into the back yard) by herself usually she boofs at me to come watch her go out. :heart:
Thanks Karen, I'm going to try this in the next couple of days. Also I'm going to Tivo the Dog Whisperer or get some tapes and watch.
Schatzi and Molly better watch out!!!!
Was watching Animal Planet this morning the dog trainer over in the UK she told the people to teach the dog to bark first using treats when they bark they get a treat.Then you can teach them not to bark using treats she seems pretty good all positive training & ignoring bad behaviors.
Papbouv