Nora Ferrell Webboard User Reg: 02-10-2008
Posts: 727
Loc: Kentucky
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For those who aren't familiar with any of my posts, I have a 22 month old Schipperke.
Super barky. I had considered the bark collar last year, but decided to put it off for a while as I realized that I had more obedience work with her before I got one. There are also times that I want her to bark.
Her barking has since dramatically decreased. But still barky.
A few weeks ago, we had a big thunder storm. She started barking (in the middle of the night) at the thunder. Just like she barks if someone is at the door.
This is non-stop barking like she is saying "Get the door, get the door, get the door, get the door.......
Tonight we have another storm coming thru. She started barking at the distant thunder.
She doesn't seem to be afraid or anything and has never hidden or acted scared during a storm.
What gives with the barking? Anybody else's dog do this?
Hi Nora, I have four dogs and only one is afraid of thunder. She doesn't bark at it but at the first sound of thunder, my 90 pound german shepherd heads for the bedroom at a flat run and stays there till it is over.
Maybe she is looking for the person who is making all the noise? You know, "Invisible man pounds on house!" Since she can't see the source, she continues.
Maybe.
Edited by Jo Harker (07/01/2009 11:09 AM)
Edit reason: punctuation.
It could be the kind of fear where a bravado is put on, but you know her and are watching her and it doesn't sound like you think she is.
Maybe it's frustration/alerting? She alerts, frustrated b/c the person doesn't go away, looks for the person, can't see, but can hear....
Could you use a different command than your 'door....OK!' command with this, so that you can extinguish the behaviour without affecting her door alert?
Falcon also "alerts" to thunder. It is not fear, it is his "Hey! Someone is outside!" bark. I've started working on the same attitude I use when the door bell rings and he runs to the door and barks... I say "Good boy (happy - praising) and then Place!" I also don't want to discourage the alerting, but am finding that giving him the assurance that he did a great job but I'm now on patrol is beginning to sink in. It is not 100% yet, but I've seen a marked improvement.
So far, he has not alerted in the middle of the night during a storm, which is good since his kennel is in another room and I wouldn't be able to send him to his "place". I guess if/when this happens I'll try working on the same "good boy - quiet" to see if that begins to sink in. He does not have "quiet" down yet, but you know, everything is a process.
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Dog barks at thunder
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