A year and a half ago this little mutt dog walked into my house and refused to leave. I actually found her old family, but each time I returned her, she'd run away and come back again. Finally fed up, I texted the guy and told him I wouldn't return her anymore, but he was welcome to pick her up. He said he'd be there after work that evening, but never showed. This dog did show signs of having been abused (cowering and trembling a lot), but I believed the old family when they said that she was like that when they'd gotten her just a few months prior.
So, during all this time, she hasn't had much in the way of behavior issues. Even though she's a little ankle-biter sized dog, she's been pretty chill and fairly quiet, hardly ever barking, and rarely even making any sounds at all. That is, until recently. Over the last 6 weeks or so, she's suddenly decided to growl and bark at everything that moves outside. It's getting worse by the day. None of the things I know to do to stop nuisance barking is working. I fully admit I'm not expert with small dogs. I've always had large/giant breed dogs, and what works with them isn't working with her.
She's otherwise been easily trainable. Housebreaking was effortless, leash training took just a couple outings, basic obedience was less than a week, but this barking thing has me frustrated. She doesn't do it when we're out on walks; only when she's in the house or yard. The street I live in has heavy pedestrian traffic, as there's a lot of people with dogs in the neighborhood, the "downtown" area is blocks away, as is a large trolley station/transit center (and the tracks are quite literally across the street...I don't think you could fit the length of a standard semi truck between the front gate and the nearest rail of the tracks). In other words, the barking goes on pretty much all day every day.
I've tried doing things like petting her and talking calmly in an attempt to sooth her. I've tried basic commands with treats for getting it right, I've tried issuing the commands with a bit of a sterner voice (but not yelling), but she ignores all of it. If I try to pet/soothe her she gets even more agitated in her attempts to get to the door. She will not be distracted by food. I'm at the end of my ideas here.
So, I know there's a lot of experienced dog owners on the forums. Any advise would be appreciated.
So, during all this time, she hasn't had much in the way of behavior issues. Even though she's a little ankle-biter sized dog, she's been pretty chill and fairly quiet, hardly ever barking, and rarely even making any sounds at all. That is, until recently. Over the last 6 weeks or so, she's suddenly decided to growl and bark at everything that moves outside. It's getting worse by the day. None of the things I know to do to stop nuisance barking is working. I fully admit I'm not expert with small dogs. I've always had large/giant breed dogs, and what works with them isn't working with her.
She's otherwise been easily trainable. Housebreaking was effortless, leash training took just a couple outings, basic obedience was less than a week, but this barking thing has me frustrated. She doesn't do it when we're out on walks; only when she's in the house or yard. The street I live in has heavy pedestrian traffic, as there's a lot of people with dogs in the neighborhood, the "downtown" area is blocks away, as is a large trolley station/transit center (and the tracks are quite literally across the street...I don't think you could fit the length of a standard semi truck between the front gate and the nearest rail of the tracks). In other words, the barking goes on pretty much all day every day.
I've tried doing things like petting her and talking calmly in an attempt to sooth her. I've tried basic commands with treats for getting it right, I've tried issuing the commands with a bit of a sterner voice (but not yelling), but she ignores all of it. If I try to pet/soothe her she gets even more agitated in her attempts to get to the door. She will not be distracted by food. I'm at the end of my ideas here.
So, I know there's a lot of experienced dog owners on the forums. Any advise would be appreciated.
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