I mentioned yesterday that Skye had ventured out of their room on her own and came through to the living room. Benny sniffed her, licked her etc but then kept barking at her! Will this stop eventually? I suffer from really bad headaches and his bark goes right through me - being a huge lab and the fact he doesn't usually bark makes it seem even louder! He gives up and lies down for a while and then starts again - even though I praise him for being good and give him treats etc.

I have just ordered a cat tree from Zooplus so at least she will be able to get away from his sniffing and licking her soon!

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Basically it's the dog you have to train not to bark at the cat - ignoring it just won't work. The best way to train a quiet command is actually to train the dog to bark on command first (not at the cat - but on command for a treat) then you can train quiet. Try a time out for him to - when he barks remove HIM from the situation for a min or two, repeat until completely bored stiff (you not him) and it will take a while.

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please look at my website - www.finesthourcats.webs.com - for gorgeous GCCF registered RagaMuffins and Selkirk Rex

Oh thanks! I've tried to make him 'speak' on command but thought he might not shut up lol. So do I train him to bark on command and then once he's grasped that train him to be quiet? I'll try putting him out the room for a few mins every time he does it and see if that helps in the meantime.

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Yes - speak first, then quiet. We taught our dog to speak when she was hungry before dinner. She will be quiet now as well. Still is obsessed by the cats but doesn't bark at them.

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please look at my website - www.finesthourcats.webs.com - for gorgeous GCCF registered RagaMuffins and Selkirk Rex

Will try that thanks I hate it when he barks!

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Did a little bit with him tonight. Had to ignore him at first to get him to finally bark! But once he'd done it once and got a treat he soon got the hang of it! Then decided to bark expecting more treats this evening

Will keep doing it til he gets the hang of it Cats haven't ventured through tonight so not tried taking him out the situation yet.

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