Barking puppy

[Michen]

Pepper is now 5 months and has suddenly discovered her “woof”. Most of the time it’s a soft sort of woof if she hears the postman or whatnot, which I don’t really mind as I live alone in a rural place so it’s quite nice to know she will alert me to things going on..

That said I don’t want her to get in a bad habit, and she seems to be particularly woofy at other people’s houses (I assume insecurity), people coming up the stairs or in and out of rooms will mostly be ignored but for some reason occasionally she lets out a fairly decent yappy bark.

Should I just shut the entire behaviour down (and if so how), will she grow out of it etc? Like I said I’m happy for her to woof at home if someone is at the door but outside of that... I guess the entire behaviour needs to be stopped though.

 

[splashgirl45]

i am happy for mine to bark if there is someone outside etc and have never had to shut them down as it isnt that often and once i am aware they stop.... i have heard that it works if you first of all train them to bark, and once that is established ask them to bark and then use a word to stop them. have never tried it but it sounds like it might work.

 

[SusieT]

Distract her, call her to you and make yourself more exciting than whatever she is woofing at - at least then she will learn that when youc all her when she barks to stop and come to you. Are her age it is probably insecurity and should improve .
Practice others going in/out of doors and her paying attention to you.