BARKING AT THE TV
Not a springer but can you help
Skye, a 7 year old West Highland White Terrier, has become addicted to barking and jumping at the moving images on the tv
she jumps at it , and barks at everything that moves
we can not spend evenings quietly sitting in the living room,we are tormented during the day by frantic barking whenever she walks past the TV even when it is switched off ! I'm worried about the noise disturbing the neighbours.. I would like to watch tv with her in the same room .I like her companionship as I am 68 years old and live alone
thank you
Phil (on behalf of my mother Mary)
RE BARKING AT THE TV
hello Phil and Mary. you don't say how long you have had skye. has she only just started to jump and bark at the tv or has she always done it ? if she has always done it and not been corrected she has learnt behaviour and it is now a habit that needs to be broken. if she has only just started to do it has something triggered off this reaction? does she associate something bad with the tv? when skye barks, don't shout at her to stop - she'll think you are barking at her. distract her then when she stops reward her. only reward when she is quiet. you could try removing her everytime she barks and only let her back in with you when she has stopped barking. as soon as she starts again, remove her. in the meantime make sure she is not bored and doesn't need more exercise. maybe she is doing it to get attention? hope this helps.
liz
RE BARKING AT THE TV
You could try getting a empty plastic bottle full of dried peas/beans and when you see her getting ready to bark, shake the bottle hard just once and distarct her with something else,this takes time and alot of patience.As soon as she looks at the tv and does not bark -- reward her
Cate F