Advice needed regarding barking by little rescue dog

danda

danda

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Elfie is a little rescue dog that has been living here now for about 5 weeks. She is about 8 years old and has never lived in a family home before. She is a nervous little dog and now she is settling in and feeling more at home she is starting to bark a lot when outside in the garden, not sure what at sometimes, the cattle in the field ouside, crows flapping around etc.

Do you think calling her over and giving a small treat each time would eventually help control this? Any other ideas?

This is my sister's little dog and I am trying to find some ideas to tackle the problem.
 
It's probably just too big/open/scary for her.
Could you section off a smaller/more secure area for her?
Is there anyone accompanying her? To show her there's nothing to be scared of?
 
CorvusCorax said:
It's probably just too big/open/scary for her.
Could you section off a smaller/more secure area for her?
Is there anyone accompanying her? To show her there's nothing to be scared of?
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Or, it could be that she has now decided that she 'belongs' to your family and your garden and is defending her territory. Either way, if you do call her to you and treat to distract her, be careful that you don't reward her for barking. It's all in the timing.
 
I know I sound like a stuck record but most dogs are not defending their people or their territory, they are defending themselves because they feel insecure.
They just happen to be in our gardens and standing beside us when they do it.

I have two strong, confident male dogs of a guarding/herding breed. They do not bark at everything or, run fences in their own garden, despite people walking past, dogs on the other side of the fence, people talking in the next garden. Because they feel safe and secure in their own space. The only bark at things 'out of the ordinary'. Dogs that go off alarming at anything and everything are largely insecure.
 
CorvusCorax said:
I know I sound like a stuck record but most dogs are not defending their people or their territory, they are defending themselves because they feel insecure.
They just happen to be in our gardens and standing beside us when they do it.

I have two strong, confident male dogs of a guarding/herding breed. They do not bark at everything or, run fences in their own garden, despite people walking past, dogs on the other side of the fence, people talking in the next garden. Because they feel safe and secure in their own space. The only bark at things 'out of the ordinary'. Dogs that go off alarming at anything and everything are largely insecure.
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Whereas I have two confident, well-socialised Rottweiler bitches who *never* bark when out and about, unless they are in the car but who do bark to let me know that the horses are rolling, or the sheep are rubbing themselves on the gate. They also bark if strangers approach the gate and to say 'hello' to the postman, or other visitors whom they know well. We do live in a very quiet location. They bark at each other when they are playing. You have to hear them to know which bark is which. As none of us can hear OP's dog, we can't really interpret the barking.
 
I don't think she is defending anything but is very insecure. There is nothing out there but cattle, birds etc. please tell me more about the timing for treats, the garden is big is she is usually at quite a distance. When is the moment to give the treat if one manages to distract her? As soon as she turns towards the voice. She does not come to call at all and has no idea of this.
 
danda said:
I don't think she is defending anything but is very insecure. There is nothing out there but cattle, birds etc. please tell me more about the timing for treats, the garden is big is she is usually at quite a distance. When is the moment to give the treat if one manages to distract her? As soon as she turns towards the voice. She does not come to call at all and has no idea of this.
Click to expand...

Have a look at clicker training. Definitely needs distracting if it is insecurity. I would also follow CC's advice to give her access to a smaller area and keep her away from the things that she feels threatened by for the time being.
 
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