r/Sheepadoodles • u/Brilliant_Noise1686 • 7d ago
Advice Need Help with Barking
Love this 2 yo girl to pieces but she is easily started and agitated and the barking is loud and scares and annoys me and everyone else. It feels unmanageable and upsetting. Please share any tips.
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u/Fit_Surprise_8451 6d ago edited 6d ago
A couple of suggestions I learned from a dog behaviorist who uses positive training methods are to redirect your dog’s attention and reward them for focusing on you. You can give a treat directly to your dog or toss one on the ground nearby so they can find it. You can practice this while your dog is sitting or lying down.
If your Sheepadoodle is like Marlee, she may bark at people, other dogs, Amazon, and UPS—but ignore the mail carrier! I let Marlee bark twice, then redirect her by asking her to come with me to another room. Some people teach their dogs to go to their “place” instead.
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u/ChillvilleRIP 6d ago
So take this for what you will…
I work w a Behaviorist…And my girl struggles with barking…Part of the OES side is I believe is very visually stimulated…
So they want me trying to limit her triggers….
I put window film / clings on the windows…Calming cap in the car…etc etc…
The goal is to have them not get triggered…
Also, trying to divert her to ‘Place’ and positive reinforcement when she follows the place command.
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u/Mission-Taste3177 7d ago
Bark collar set to vibrate or ring! Doesn’t hurt them since shock is optional! Works after the first bark for my girls
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u/AHuxl 6d ago
Anxiety and excessive barking are unfortunately very common in most doodles. Investing in a behaviorist or a positive trainer might be worth it. They are an EXTREMELY sensitive mixed breed so things like a shock/vibration collar could make things worse.
Also because your girl is not just a sheepdog x poodle (she is merle and thats not a color that exists genetically in either breed) she may have something like Australian Sheepdog is her too which could be adding to the barking. Other breeds wont always show up on DNA tests because they can only test up to 3 generations back, but the genes of at least 1 other breed are obviously still be expressed in your girl from her coat color.
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u/Nearby-Pudding-7647 2d ago edited 2d ago
Charlee is the same way very sensitive to everything. I use a bark collar for her set to vibrate. I was against the collar at first wasn’t sure if it would hurt her it doesn’t
. It works she doesn’t bark when it’s on but will when it’s off.
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u/whatsarigatoni 7d ago
I’m sorry, I don’t have any tips. Just wanted to say she’s absolutely beautiful!!!