Barking When Playing

[pop]

Lulu loves to bark when she's playing and it's generally at the bigger dogs [she loves black retrievers for some reason].  You can hear her all over the park when she starts....
I asked someone who has had a lot more experience with cockers than me if it would stop when she is older and was told probalby not because one of her dogs is the same.  Keep finding myself apologising to other people because I'm sure some people think she's a bit of a nazzy knickers which she definitely isn't!
I don't think I'll be squirting water at her because she's started to love water [so proud of her today because she swam without being coaxed ] and I know she wouldn't take a blind bit of notice if I told her off [selective hearing already] and she'd do it all the more...
Must take my earplugs out with me tomorrow..
Pop and Lulu [the cheese monster]
xx

[Katina]

Despite the fact that I've splashed water on my dogs, they do love swimming and they are used as hunting dogs ( yes, they make good hunting dogs even though they are from purely showbred lines..), retrieving from the water.

[Sharon]

So this is when they are less than 8 weeks?  If you've kept one of the puppies, have they continued to bark during play wtih their mother, or does she do someting to teach them to stop it?

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When I've kept puppies they still do it, in fact mum usually ends up joining in!  I've got one now, that is 17 weeks and still does it  


Plus you have to remember, they are only babies and you wouldn't try and stop a 6 month old baby from squealing would you?

[~Jilly~]

All these dogs, barked at the door, at the wind, at fireworks or other strange or scary noises, or just for fun, but none of them barked when playing.

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Bella hardly ever barks at home, she hasn't once barked at the door which I had expected her to, and she hasn't barked at fireworks or other noises - in fact she is the quietest dog I think I've met........ until she gets with other dogs

If she goes next door to play with their cocker, she barks merrily away and yelps with excitement and she is the noisiest dog at training class I did find it embarassing to start with at training as you'd think she was such a noisy barky dog but the truth is she doesn't really make any noise other than when she is excited and playing with other dogs (or trying to!).

Next door's cocker is the complete opposite and barks at everything, including birds but when Bella goes over to play she is as quiet as a mouse

I think to a large extent they are the little characters they are and that's what makes them the cute little bundles we love.

All I can say is that I'm much happier having a dog that barks in excitement when playing than one that barks at numerous things throughout the day and every time the door goes

[Josilou]

Plus you have to remember, they are only babies and you wouldn't try and stop a 6 month old baby from squealing would you?

LOL...  but he isn't a baby he's a puppy, and I really don't think it's the same at all.

I don't mind the barking at his age now though anyway, it's cute and funny    but it's not what I'd find so amusing in an adult dog if it was done every time he played with my other dog.

From what I have read in puppy books etc., I read the same words over and over again...

"do not accept or encourage behaviour in your puppy that you would not want in an adult dog"

which is why I stop him playing tug of war with my trouser leg and replace it instead with a dog toy, which is why I remove inappropriate things from his mouth and replace them with his own chewy toys, which is why I make him sit before he has his dinner ... heck I don't mind if he jumps up at me now but I don't encourage it because I don't want him to jump up at guests when he's an adult dog etc.etc.

I don't see the constant barking whilst playing as really being anything different ... it's something he's doing now that is cute and funny, but that will become very annoying when he's older, so I would rather try and stop it now, than just allow it to continue and then be on here in 12 months time asking for advice on how to stop my dog from barking all the time because it's driving everyone crazy, the petsitter won't have him etc.etc.  Do you understand what I mean?     Puppy behaviour is cute and funny in all it's aspects, but many of them are things we choose to direct in a different way or stop because they are not so endearing in an adult dog.  

[Josilou]

All these dogs, barked at the door, at the wind, at fireworks or other strange or scary noises, or just for fun, but none of them barked when playing.

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Bella hardly ever barks at home, she hasn't once barked at the door which I had expected her to, and she hasn't barked at fireworks or other noises - in fact she is the quietest dog I think I've met........ until she gets with other dogs

If she goes next door to play with their cocker, she barks merrily away and yelps with excitement and she is the noisiest dog at training class I did find it embarassing to start with at training as you'd think she was such a noisy barky dog but the truth is she doesn't really make any noise other than when she is excited and playing with other dogs (or trying to!).

Next door's cocker is the complete opposite and barks at everything, including birds but when Bella goes over to play she is as quiet as a mouse

I think to a large extent they are the little characters they are and that's what makes them the cute little bundles we love.

All I can say is that I'm much happier having a dog that barks in excitement when playing than one that barks at numerous things throughout the day and every time the door goes

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You know the way she is with your neighbours dog ... would you like her to be that way in your own home, several times a day with your other dog?  Not just in your garden, but also in your living room when you are trying to talk to someone on the phone, or when your children are doing their homework etc.etc.?  

[~Jilly~]

I understand what you're saying but the only way I think you'll stop it is by stopping the play and that would be sad

I would imagine that anything you try and do to prevent the barking will lead your pup to think that it is the playing that is wrong rather than the barking if that makes sense.

Maybe the thing to do would be to try and shape the behaviour rather than stop it, by controlling when/where they play perhaps? encouraging them to play outside for example or taking them for a good play/walk before the kids sit down to do their homework so they're worn out and settle down?

We also look after our neighbours cocker sometimes but we don't really allow them to 'play' in our lounge, not because of barking but because they'd destroy the place with their rough and tumble We take them out for a good walk/run and wear them out before settling them indoors and they generally just settle down then.

I also think it's probably just a puppy thing to a large extent, I would think it is something they will grow out of in most cases.

[isla]

Jem plays with my Mum's Shitz Tzu and it can get very noisy at times. I am at my parents house maybe once or twice a week. Jem initally gets very loud and yap yappity yaps at Brandy (who surprising is very quite when she plays but very vocal at other times). Generally the longer they play the quieter Jem gets. I think she gets tired and all her energy is conserved for attack! Generally she is not a noisy dog and only "wuffs" when she hears or sees something she doesn't understand such as the baby highland cows in the park yesterday!

Mac my parents five year old cocker is a bit of an old man and tries to avoid the wee ones play but if he gets involved he is very quiet so maybe its just an individual dog thing?

Jem does get quieter and is better than she used to be. Initally it was ridiculous as we couldn't speak over the racket. Now its more of a few yaps and growls that get quieter with time.

[Elisa]

Bailey gets "be nice!" if he is making a racket when playing.  He stops immediately.  Im a bit wary of telling a dog "No" or "stop".  They might then think they are not allowed to bark.  Great I hear you say    but if someone is trying to get in your house at 3am you would want him to bark his head off!  

[shonajoy]

My youngest, Hamish, is a dreadful barker. I've tried water pistols, telling off, bringing him inside, as I know the neighbours aren't keen. He was a rescue, but he's only 13 months, and I don't know his training history. I hope he stops it eventually, as our neighbours have complained once already, and I now have to accompany him everywhere in the garden, which is a shame as our other cocker happily plays without barking.

I would love to hear if anything works for you.

[speedyjaney]

Ive got 2 dogs who are only a week apart in ages, Jessie is a cocker and Saffi is a Westie.

Terriers LOVE the sound of their own voice and this passion has now rubbed off on Jessie! So I have 2 fantastic barkers !!  

I dont mind them playing in the house and barking, howling or squealing away, if it gets a bit much I go and watch the tele somewhere else in the house or send them into their room to play. I also dont mind about the garden...most of my neighbours have got kids who make a right racket so I dont stop the dogs playing either! Nobody has complained yet as I dont let them do it early in the morning or at night..

However I do mind the 'on lead' barking tho.....its becoming such a problem I am thinking of seeing someone about it...maybe our trainer/behavoirist?!?  

If either of them see someone, another dog anything they like the look of really when they are onlead they go ballistic...and I mean ballistic...barking squealing etc....people look scared of them and other dogs run off...but they are both so soppy the noise is just to attract the target to come and fuss/play with them. (Maybe we over socialised them?? I am sure we didnt cos I don't think you can overdo it...maybe we under socialised as pups?!?))

Its making us avoid walking them on lead as off lead they are silent and model dogs! This doesn't help us with our pulling problem tho. Incidentally the only place they are good on the lead is at training class!!!! Not much pulling and definately no barking!

Any ideas anyone? How can I distract them or stop them as 1.pulling them back, 2.shouting, 3.offering treats, 4.asking them to do something else like down for instance just doesnt work,  

Sorry to hijack the thread btw...just realised how long this post is  ::

Janey