| Fear barking?
I know I have posted a similar thread about this before, but now I have more to add!
When I take Gary (6.5 months) out into the front yard to do his business he barks at things when they seem out of the norm. He barks if someone is out walking around, if a car drives up, etc. and has done so ever since he was 3 months I think. It doesn't happen very often, I would say he only has somoething to bark about once a week or less.
Today he was out going potty and the neighbor kids next door were pulling down their garbage cans from the top of their driveway and Gary (while still peeinig) barked at them (LOL). I told him "Quiet" and he stopped, then let out one more bark, I said quiet again...and this repeated for about 4 - 5 barks. He isn't barking over and over all at once, there was about 3 - 5 seconds of silence in between each one as he was observing ever so closely what was going on.
Eventualy I think I scared him even more because he got to the point where after he barked at the kids/noise, he tucked in his tail and ran away from me a few feet as if he knew he wasn't supposed to be barking but couldn't help it? Was I wrong to continue telling him no in this case? I don't see how else I am supposed to get him not to bark. I tried leave it and making him sit, but he just seemed really uncomfortable. After the kids went inside I walked him over to where the noise came from to show him there was nothing to be afraid of.
I also don't know if this is a good thing or not, but I don't want him to bark when people come to the door. The reason being we have a busy house and people are in and out all the time and I don't want Gary to become a nuisance barker. Right now what he does is just one bark when he hears someone coming in and he seems scared at first (tail is tucked), then when the person comes in it is all tails wags and happy to see you. I am afraid that this will turn into more though (I really can't stand barking, it is one of my pet peeves, and I don't want him to ever be afraid of people who come to visit), and I also don't think he is doing alert barks. I think they are fear barks.
What can I do to get him to not bark at things he is afraid of?  |