She's found her voice

SamanthaBrynn · 12-01-2011, 12:21 PM

When we brought Callie home, she never really made a peep. We've tried teaching speak...we get all excited and make complete fools of ourselves and still no speak. She's now 6 mos old and has found her voice. When we let her out to potty, she barks at the air...at the leaves...at the steam coming from the dryer vent...EVERYTHING. She even stands at the door barking at nothing. Then I don't know if this is a I need to potty bark of if this is a I'm just barking to be barking bark. I want her to bark if something is wrong. I want her to bark if she needs to go and I'm not paying attention BUT, at 6 AM, I don't want her barking at the air waking everyone up! Any suggestions? NO and LEAVE IT don't work...

SamanthaBrynn · 12-01-2011, 03:36 PM

Nothing??

oifriendlyfire · 12-01-2011, 04:24 PM

Brynn, I don't have much personal advice for you, as I am having the same problem...However, It's not actually a problem. I have spoke with a couple of breeders about Trinity's voice, and it's completely normal for a GSD of this age group to bark at everything, or nothing at all. In my case, its nothing at all. I have clued in on her body language for bathroom breaks, and thats how I know when to take her out. As far as an intruder, I wouldnt expect a 6 (in your case) or 9 month old (my case) gsd to have much of a protective instinct developed yet. Most sources online say the prime time for the protective instinct is aound 18 months, so, I suggest being patient, and allowing her time to grow, and learn your her role in your family. The protective istinct will come naturally as she matures. As far as barking at midnight, you could try any number of things, starting with with what you already use for discipline, Trinity is crate trained, and stays in a crate about 3 nights a week still, (hoping for less chewed up flip flops) and used to whine in the early hours (3am-5am). I went straight to a correction collar with a small static charge that is controlled by remote, and when she got loud, I would just lay upstairs, and hit the beep, then the buzzer on a low voltage, and she got the point. after a week of that, I only had to use the beep, after a week of that, I put the collar on craigslist. Nobody bought it...bummer. lol! but, no more whining. Also helped me get her over play biting my 2 year old son. They are the "bitiest" breed out there. (play bitiest i guess...) So, yeah, good luck! hope some of that helps!

oifriendlyfire · 12-01-2011, 04:25 PM

By the way, just joined this group today...that was my first post. Again, good luck!

1sttimeforgsd · 12-01-2011, 05:19 PM

My boy was not a vocal youngster either, he will bark at stray cat's in which I tell him to leave it and most of the time not always he will stop. As far as strange people near the property or vehicles that venture down our way I allow him to bark at them as much as he wants.

SamanthaBrynn · 12-02-2011, 09:25 AM

FriendlyFire, Great first post! lol I have the collar...I need to switch to the longer prongs as she can't feel it through her fur.

oifriendlyfire · 12-02-2011, 09:51 AM

Oh man, that is the worst part, I had resolved to clipping her fur under her neck weekly at about a 3 guard (its just a wahl clipper set from walmart)(make sure you oikl them like crazy before for dogs comfort). I used to clip enough to fade it into the natural contours of her hairline and nobody notices. Actually got that tip from petsmart. One of the few contributions they made before I realized how much they sucked. lol!

katdog5911 · 12-02-2011, 05:17 PM

Stella, almost 6 months, also barks at nothing a lot. I usually just ignore it. I figure she has found her voice and is trying it out, much like a human baby babbles. But I always look to see what she might possibly be barking at. The other day on a hike in the woods she started her usual barking. I figured she saw a bush move or some other nonsense, but this time she was very adamant about staying where she was and continuing to bark. When I finally decided to take her seriously, I spotted a small puppy stuck on a rock ledge. Long story short, I managed to traipse through a bunch of thorny bushes and got the puppy. Turned out to be a 10 week old beagle that had gotten away from his owner. (who we found about 15 minutes later) So, I have learned to not always disregard her bark....

12-01-2011, 12:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
SamanthaBrynn Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Charleston, WV Posts: 298	She's found her voice When we brought Callie home, she never really made a peep. We've tried teaching speak...we get all excited and make complete fools of ourselves and still no speak. She's now 6 mos old and has found her voice. When we let her out to potty, she barks at the air...at the leaves...at the steam coming from the dryer vent...EVERYTHING. She even stands at the door barking at nothing. Then I don't know if this is a I need to potty bark of if this is a I'm just barking to be barking bark. I want her to bark if something is wrong. I want her to bark if she needs to go and I'm not paying attention BUT, at 6 AM, I don't want her barking at the air waking everyone up! Any suggestions? NO and LEAVE IT don't work... __________________ Samantha Callie (GSD) Born May 24, 2011 Casper (Mix) 7 years My goal is to someday be the person my dogs think I am.

12-01-2011, 03:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
SamanthaBrynn Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Charleston, WV Posts: 298	Nothing?? __________________ Samantha Callie (GSD) Born May 24, 2011 Casper (Mix) 7 years My goal is to someday be the person my dogs think I am.

12-01-2011, 05:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
1sttimeforgsd Crowned Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: West Virginia Posts: 4,897	My boy was not a vocal youngster either, he will bark at stray cat's in which I tell him to leave it and most of the time not always he will stop. As far as strange people near the property or vehicles that venture down our way I allow him to bark at them as much as he wants. __________________ karen, mom to: ace-gsd (bi-color) 6/14/2010 mandy-yellow lab 1/31/2009 baby-terrier mix 11/25/2000

12-02-2011, 09:25 AM	#6 (permalink)
SamanthaBrynn Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Charleston, WV Posts: 298	FriendlyFire, Great first post! lol I have the collar...I need to switch to the longer prongs as she can't feel it through her fur. __________________ Samantha Callie (GSD) Born May 24, 2011 Casper (Mix) 7 years My goal is to someday be the person my dogs think I am.

12-02-2011, 09:51 AM	#7 (permalink)
oifriendlyfire New Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Mid-western Indiana Posts: 6	Oh man, that is the worst part, I had resolved to clipping her fur under her neck weekly at about a 3 guard (its just a wahl clipper set from walmart)(make sure you oikl them like crazy before for dogs comfort). I used to clip enough to fade it into the natural contours of her hairline and nobody notices. Actually got that tip from petsmart. One of the few contributions they made before I realized how much they sucked. lol! __________________ Trinity Lane "I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity." -Ike

12-01-2011, 04:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
oifriendlyfire New Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Mid-western Indiana Posts: 6	Brynn, I don't have much personal advice for you, as I am having the same problem...However, It's not actually a problem. I have spoke with a couple of breeders about Trinity's voice, and it's completely normal for a GSD of this age group to bark at everything, or nothing at all. In my case, its nothing at all. I have clued in on her body language for bathroom breaks, and thats how I know when to take her out. As far as an intruder, I wouldnt expect a 6 (in your case) or 9 month old (my case) gsd to have much of a protective instinct developed yet. Most sources online say the prime time for the protective instinct is aound 18 months, so, I suggest being patient, and allowing her time to grow, and learn your her role in your family. The protective istinct will come naturally as she matures. As far as barking at midnight, you could try any number of things, starting with with what you already use for discipline, Trinity is crate trained, and stays in a crate about 3 nights a week still, (hoping for less chewed up flip flops) and used to whine in the early hours (3am-5am). I went straight to a correction collar with a small static charge that is controlled by remote, and when she got loud, I would just lay upstairs, and hit the beep, then the buzzer on a low voltage, and she got the point. after a week of that, I only had to use the beep, after a week of that, I put the collar on craigslist. Nobody bought it...bummer. lol! but, no more whining. Also helped me get her over play biting my 2 year old son. They are the "bitiest" breed out there. (play bitiest i guess...) So, yeah, good luck! hope some of that helps!

12-01-2011, 04:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
oifriendlyfire New Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Mid-western Indiana Posts: 6	By the way, just joined this group today...that was my first post. Again, good luck!

12-02-2011, 05:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
katdog5911 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: New Milford Ct Posts: 391	Stella, almost 6 months, also barks at nothing a lot. I usually just ignore it. I figure she has found her voice and is trying it out, much like a human baby babbles. But I always look to see what she might possibly be barking at. The other day on a hike in the woods she started her usual barking. I figured she saw a bush move or some other nonsense, but this time she was very adamant about staying where she was and continuing to bark. When I finally decided to take her seriously, I spotted a small puppy stuck on a rock ledge. Long story short, I managed to traipse through a bunch of thorny bushes and got the puppy. Turned out to be a 10 week old beagle that had gotten away from his owner. (who we found about 15 minutes later) So, I have learned to not always disregard her bark....

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