older dog barking too much, what is a loving way to retrain,pleaese read:?

Question

My much beloved 13 yr. old faithful female shihtzu is losing her hearing and sight but is in very good physical shape. She has taught herself ?? a new habit i cannot tolerate. I am quite sick myself. I will not get rid of her. I just need to know how so stop breaking her of barking, it is not necassary, how can I teach her to not bark to get my attention when I leave the room etc. I think I just need to retrain me and her and replace this bad habit with a good one. Please don't "pick" on me, I am doing the best I can. and IT WILL NOT BE IN ANYONE'S BEST INTEREST TO GET RID OF HER. ok ? POSITIVE ANSWERS ONLY, NOT CRITICISM I am too sick to handle it thanks so much Wendy
She never was a barker and I recognize she is trying to stay connected to me, but I'm sure we can develop an approach that meets all our needs and no I don't have someone to call, I have no money to use for that.

I love to ask answers in the doggie section because you are so kind in your answer, thank you so so much, I gained a lot here, I think I make her a "purse' dog sort of , I have 2 younger ones and they can just deal with being further away, but i will bring her with me every where i go, and I'll keep reading your wonderful answer, thanks they REALLY HELPED.

Answer 1

The item w/a scent, tv and short alone periods resulting in reward all sound like great ideas. We had a similar problem with ours when she aged but it was more sight than deafness. If she can still hear at all, the bell idea is good and we also put small wind chimes on the back porch to give her a sense of direction when we were out in the yard. Maybe try placing a bed in a couple of common rooms as well as your room and put her in it when you leave/pick her up when you come back so that she feels more secure than in the open? BOL!

Answer 2

If she's going blind and deaf most of the conventional anti-bark methods won't work, she can't hear how loud she is and won't connect the bark to the result. So please don't get a anti-bark collar

Are you at home all the time? Or do you at least work in a dog friendly environment? You might be able to turn her into a purse dog, like the Hilton girls chihuahua only less spoiled. That way you can carry her everywhere and since she is always with you she would prolly bark less

Or try leaving her with something that smells like you, only give it to her right before you leave the room and then when you come back take it from her, she might start to get the idea that you will be coming back for the object and as long as she has it you'll come back to her. It worked for my sister and her dog with separation anxiety

Good luck, I hope you find a method that works

Answer 3

she's barking for you, because she is more scared to be alone now she is losing her sight, and hearing. pets are like young children. every time a child gets sick they will yell for you every 10 minutes. you might be able to break her from it, give her a treat when she's been quiet after you left the room. if she has been barking tell her no, and put you finger to your lips, and shhh her. just don't stay gone long the first couple of times. if that doesn't work, try turning on the tv, or radio so she can hear it. that way she wont feel so alone. the idea of giving her something with your scent on it, sounds like a good idea too. take care, and i'm sorry your baby is losing sight, and hearing. it would be scary for me to go through it, little a lone a dog who can't understand what is happening to her.

Answer 4

There may indeed be some senility. There are medications available for this, though I understand that you don't have the funds for drugs.

She also is likely feeling insecure due to loosing her basic senses. She wants to know that you are around to keep her safe. Do you make much noise when you leave the room? Strange as it sounds, it might help her if you carry a bell or talk to her loudly when you leave so she knows where you are. I would also give her a special treat or toy that she only gets when you leave the room. This will create a more positive association with being alone.

Answer 5

Wow. It's tough to have a faithful companion getting old...
I'm sad she's getting blind and deaf.

The general recommendation for getting a dog to stop barking is to distract them by making a noise. That won't work here if she can't hear it.

I am reluctant to suggest a "tingle" collar for an older dog. Many people view them as cruel. We spent a chunk of money on a very good one (it has five different intensity settings) and once our buddy got the point, we rarely need to put it on him anymore.

There is a company out there that sells a no-bark collar that sprays a squirt of citronella to startle the dog. I think we bought it at Petco. We tried one but it didn't work well for us because our boy is furry enough that he just ended up with a lemon smelling throat. And, it was a bit fiddly to refill and keep batteries in. However, it might be worth it in your case to see if it gets your old girl's attention.

Good luck, and I hope thing settle down for the two of you.

Answer 6

Sounds like she is getting older and possibly just needs more attention than she used to require. Possibly try leaving the room for a very short period of time, (even if its just a few seconds) When you return and she has not barked, praise her. If she barks, scold her with a harsh voice. Hopefully, you can get to the point where you can leave for longer periods of time.

Good Luck

Answer 7

It may not be possible to retrain, this is one of those things you just may have to deal with in return for all the love and devotion your dog has given you over the years.

But it wouldn't hurt to have her checked by the vet, there is such a thing as canine senility, and if that is the problem there is medication that might help.

Answer 8

maybe she cant hear herself bark. just stay by her and comfort her. she is older and she may have lost her hearing. I also have a 13 year old chichwawa and I have had him since he was 8 weeks old, it is hard to watch a beloved pet get old before your eyes and can do nothing to comfort them!

Answer 9

its hard once a dog starts barking to train it not to but if you isolate it there is a good chance it will stop, once she starts barking just put her in a closed room for 5-10 min or until she stops barking, when she stops pet her and give her a treat.

Answer 10

Just stay with her. She obviously is just making sure shes not alone; and probably doesn't want to be.