How do i stop problem barking & stealing food?

[Matryoshka]

There are two issues with my puppy, first is when he's outside he will go to the fence of the side with a large dog and bark to rile it up. Once it barks back he runs along the fence barking even more, the other dog barks back and it ends up noisy and irritating. I am just cringing because i'm surprised they haven't complained yet. My friend mentioned a citronella releasing collar, is this the best thing to do?

The other thing is i have to put him outside when ever my boys have food or drinks, mostly food. Because they are allowed to eat and drink wherever, so he goes to them and steals their food or licks all over their drinks. I have just been saying no and put him outside when he does this but it makes no different. Soon as he comes back in he tries to steal their food again.

What do i do about this? he is very well fed by the way. He has raw chicken mince for dinner with an array of vitamin powders in it. Tucker time loaf and plain yoghurt for breakfast, and very expensive biscuits for lunch. SO he he can't be hungry, and he is not supposed to over eat otherwise they can become overweight. He is a sheltie.

TIA.

[CrystalBoo]

I don't know if you have a franchise in your area, but we were super impressed with the techniques used by Bark Busters with our dog when she was a puppy.
They come to you, and it's all about learning how dogs think, pack position etc., in order to influence their behaviour.
It does cost a bit, but they come back when needed (at least they did when we used them) and it's a worthwhile investment IMO.
Good luck

[tattoo_mama]

I don't know if you have a franchise in your area, but we were super impressed with the techniques used by Bark Busters with our dog when she was a puppy.
They come to you, and it's all about learning how dogs think, pack position etc., in order to influence their behaviour.
It does cost a bit, but they come back when needed (at least they did when we used them) and it's a worthwhile investment IMO.
Good luck

Yep same here Bark Busters for my parents 1st dog, it was expensive (about $200, 10 yrs ago from what i recall), i think they spent about an hour with my folks and 10 mins with the dog cause its all about pack order and being consistent with them, she was a psycho Boxer dog who dug, barked, ate everything, jumpd up...by the time the bark busters left she had improved already and within a few weeks it was like a new dog....well worth the money IMO. GL

[christy]

Please get a trainer who is certified. Ask if they are Delta Society or Canine Good Citizens.

Some organisations like Bark Busters do not train the trainers... you pay to enter into the franchise. So you may get a good one, and you may not. Its luck of the draw. Its much better to find someone who has accreditation to help you.

Problem barking is very hard to work at. Citronella will work while its in use. What I mean is the minute the collar is off, the dog will bark again. Some techniques you could use is to go to the side of the fence with the large dog and have a water pistol or a hose... everytime your dog barks, spray it.

Or do training in your back yard away from the fence. 3 times a day for 5 minutes max. Get your puppy listening to you while outside. Every 2-3 days move 1 meter closer to the fence. Go slowly, if your puppy starts paying more attention to the dog next door, move further away for a few more days and then inch closer. The goal is to get your puppy more interested in what you are doing, than what the other dog is doing. Keep a water pistol or bucket of water close by to douse your puppy when they get into the fence frenzy.

My dogs do this at the front yard sometimes, they LOVE chasing dogs who walk by and go nuts and think its the most fun ever. One of them sparks it off and then they both think its so much fun. I let them out the front for an hour a day now, so they can have their fun and then they are put in the back yard... I haven't the time or energy atm to be training it out of them