Hi, my dog has a major barking problem. She is a sheltie, and they yap all the time, i know its in their blood, but i am worried the neighbors will get really p/o'ed and call the animal control to come and get her, because thats what happened to my old neighbor. please help me. i need ideas, even remedies to help this!! argh!!!

I REALLY NEED ANSWERES HERE! ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE ONE OF OUR NOSY NEIGHBORS CALLS ANIMAL CONTROL!!!!!!!!!

i dont know bout any remadies but just put a leash on her and correct her when she barks if you cant stop her id get a trainer

or possibly use a shock collar that goes off when she barks if you dont think thats cruel

I would not recommend a shock collar on ANY dog. I speak from personal experience cause I used a shock collar on my dog Katie one day and it made her very fearful of me. I honestly think those things are cruel and inhumaine. What I would do is seek a professional to help with your dog's barking or try to correct it yourself. Hope this helps.

ok, but i cant correct it myself, because everytime she barks, i say "no!" or "bad dog" and she just stops, and then keeps on going. It is really bad!

You need to use the type of training Victoria uses in "It's Me or the Dog", and yes you can correct the behavior. You are the only one who can.

Use sound aversion <sharp Ah-Ahs, air horns, or even compressed air like she used on the Pom in the Teddy Pom Pom episode> and praise when her the absolute second she is quiet. Talk to your neighbors and assure them you are working with your dog, in fact, you could involve them if the doorbell is one of her triggers.

DO NOT use a shock collar! This disassociates the training as coming from you! And your dog will not understand what's going on. Interactive training is the most permanent solution.

i saw that episode! ok thanks!

ok, good idea, but the reason it is hard to corect her, is because when ever she barks, she is outside and running as fast as she can!

Sound aversion should work outside same as it does inside.

The other thing is, it sounds like she is exhibiting a bit of herding behavior there.
Without seeing it, I can't be sure... you need to focus it. Would your neighbors be adverse to short spans of time where you allow her to run around the yard and play with some neighborhood kids? In Calypso's younger years she LOVED chasing the kids and trying to herd them! If you keep the noise to shorter periods of time, they might agree that it is acceptable. You can also work with your sheltie on something like agility for fun or play fetch with a frisbee or a ball to burn up that herding energy.

Again, talking to your neighbors if the noise is a concern is your BEST BET. If they know you're trying, they're more likely to understand and less likely to call in... if they simply conclude you're being a rude neighbor then chances are much higher for misunderstanding.

hey, i think i can help you with your barking problem!!! heres how... take a spay bottle and fill it with water and every time it barks when it doesn't need to spray 3 sprays in the face every time or if that dosen't work go to your local petstore and buy a silent dog whisle and blow it every time i have more advise if you want it.

Whistle training failed with sheltie when we employed it when she was not but a pup. It doesn't work with every dog... nor does the spray bottle. My border collie LOVEs water and adores getting sprayed! It's kinda funny really.

try a shake can put 5 to 10 pennis in a soda can and ever time she bark shake and say no bark it work for me