How to stop barking?

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My mum has two 10month old Weimaraner's, one male, one female. The problem pup is the female. She is very close to my mum and not as brave as the boy. My mum lives north of Aberdeen so usually walks them without leads and rarely see any other dogs or people. She is visiting me in Warwickshire and the female barks when she sees strangers and other dogs. She does it on or off the lead. She especially does it when the other dog is on a lead too. We think its out of fear. She has had a week of seeing strangers and it almost seems to have got worse. Plus we are going to Blenheim with them next saturday! I'm hoping it will be good for her as i'm sure 5 hours of walking around strangers and other dogs on leads will get her over it.

Anyone got any ideas how to stop her?
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Distracting her doesnt really work much. She is fine when we have passed the person/dog. It is really annoying and her barking does scare people. I'm hoping the boy doesnt start copying her too.
 
Lol I was thinking of taking a water bottle to squirt at her but seems a bit cruel to scare her more like that.

I dont think its the being away from her usual home that is her problem as she does bark at the few people she meets up in the middle of nowhere in Scotland. Its just there are lots more strangers and dogs to meet down here.
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That sounds like fear barking. Frighting her into stopping won't make her less fearful, just more. It can leading to aggression and biting if it's not dealt with.

She needs socialisation and lots and lots of it. She should have had it in her formative window (under 8weeks esp) but hindsight is a wonderful thing. But she's still young enough to learn.

Your mum's going to have to make a commitment and put some effort into getting her out and about. Start small, taking her round to friends houses and introducing the new people slowly and calmly. If she's food orientated, get them to make a fuss of her and give her a treat. Build up to more people and more dogs. Puppy socialisation classes (as local vet) would be ideal too.


Flooding her at Blenheim may well make her worse and more frightened.

The male dog is unlikely to learn to do it unless he is also nervous, or she gets much more fuss than he does for doing it. Make sure you reward him for NOT making a noise when she starts barking.
 
We did take her to puppy classes back in Feb/March time and she was always more timid that the boy back then but she does get along well with dogs when allowed to socialise. She very much seems to bark a lot more when she and/or the other dog is on the lead. We'd like to just let them all get on with it but a lot of owners are worried for their dog when she barks like she does. Especially when being approached by two dogs which is understandable.

We're not going to avoid taking her where she will meet other dogs/strangers. We just arent sure what to do to discourage the barking when she starts. I dont think squirting her with water will sort it as you say it seems to be fear barking so more fear wont work. Will try treats and have a whistle to distract her with.
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kallibear have you got an obsession with feeding and tit bitting animals? you posted a problem with a grabby horse cos you keep giving it a tit bit. they are animals. they can be trained and do not have to be bribed. next thing your dog and horse will be vile! would you give a child a sweetie every time it did something well? obese nation.
 
Ignoring people who seem to have a lack of understanding of animal psychology (esp if they recommend you hit a frighten animal as has been previously suggested to me!! :eek: )

Barking more on the lead is really common and tallies with fear agression (which is what her problem sounds like). On the lead she is trapped and will feel more vunerable. She may also feel possesive and defensive of the people and dogs she feels safe with (i.e you/your mum etc)

Distracting her would be a great idea. A clear cue for her to look at you is needed (practise it in a calm environment to get it fixed in her head first) and a big reward when she does it (a big fuss or a treat).

The idea is to train her to deal with her fear in a constructive manner by ignoring whatever is frightening her and turning her concentration onto you.

You also said that she's 'very close' to your mum. That sounds like she's overly clingy (many slightly neurotic (i.e Weimaraner's!) are). Having friends to take her out for short little walks should help a bit with that. And your mum needs to make sure it doesn't turn into possesiveness (i.e the dog thinks she 'owns' your mum) but ensuring she's most definetly in charge!

It also sounds like the socialisation classes weren't enough for her, if she's got a more nervous disposition. Why not look into local dog training classes. Or agility classes (she'll need to be a year old for that though). That's give her a chance to meet and interact with lots of dogs and people, in a safe and structured environment. Plus agility might wear some of the intrinsic Weimaraner's maddness out of her!
 
Sorry haven't read other replys so might have been mentioned but the only thing I found worked with mine was to squirt them with water (from bottle or spray) and say quiet in a firm voice. They soon got the idea and the command can now be used before they have barked (if you think you are coming up to a situation where they might) or when they have started barking. Timing is key when you squirt them though and they must be making a noise when you do it otherwise you are telling them off for being quiet! Remember to praise when you get requested behavior.
 
Am currently working with a gobby GSD. When she first starts to eyeball the other dog she is checked (jerk of collar) and when she looks up at her owner, ie, focused on him and not the other dog, she is rewarded with praise, ball, treat etc.
IE It is fun when you look at me and focus on me, when you zone out and bark at other dogs, you get nowt.

Agree different dogs need different methods, depends on the personality of the dog. My male needs very firm, 'I am in charge' handling, and is scared of nothing, my female, his sister, needs constant praise and reward.

And agree Blenheim might fry her brain.

Try not to mirror her behaviour by getting frustrated or anxious, keep everything deep, low and slow, your voice and your actions must be calm if she is exciteable.
 
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