Re: [PyrNet-L] PLEASE Help! Barking problem

[Schonberg Farms <Schonberg.Farms@Nethawk.com>]

Gmu4n6er@aol.com wrote:
> 
> Hi all!
> 
> I have been lurking for about a month now and have really enjoyed this list.
> Now I must come out of hiding because my mother is very concerned about a
> puppy we sold.  The person who purchased the pup has called because the puppy
> won't stop barking during the day.  She works out of her home and keeps the
> now 4 month locked in a crate during the day because if the puppy is in her
> office it tries to "play" with all her business papers on the floor.  We have
> told her that our best guess is the puppy does not want to be locked up when
> it knows she is home (she said that she and her husband have left the home -
> with the pup crated - and waited outside and she doesn't bark).  They took her
> to a trainer for  a day who kept her in the crate...the dog barked ...and the
> trainer suggested one of those "shock collars" to break her of this bad habit.
> She wants our advice.  Our problem is that we live on 20 acres and our pyrs
> are outside-only dogs (ok..we spoil our 5 month old and let her in the kitchen
> occasionally).  We have never had this problem and no other puppy purchasers
> have ever called with it either.  Any ideas?
> 
> Thanks
> Holly
> 
> p.s.  A little introduction to our pyrs....  Nicodemus Bottom (Nicky) is our
> male.  He's 4 years old and loved by all (he's even been on the front page of
> our small town newspaper).  We have four females - Miss Ellie (who we
> "rescued," she is the matriarch of the clan, we had her spayed and she is also
> known as "porky pup" - any ideas about dealing with weight issues?), Miss
> Scarlet (my favorite -shhh..don't tell), Tara, and our latest is the 5 month
> old Savannah who we purchased in North Carolina.  We also have a 10 year old
> golden retriever, and four miniature shih-tzus who all live inside.


Interesting question on barking.  Unfortunately you are right in my
opinion that the puppy just doesn't want to be locked up when she is
aware that someone is home.  I don't think that I would try a shock
collar on her at this point, she is young and I think that it would hurt
the puppy instead of help her.  If your mother has a garage or someplace
else to keep the puppy, I would move her to that location.  My 15 mo old
would do the same thing when I had him crated in the house(so as not to
beg for food), so kept him outside and now no problem.  In my opinion
pyrs generally like the outdoors and fresh air and to be crated day in
and day out its going to keep them bored and then of course bark either
to let someone know they are there or to hear there own voice.

On your question on weight, my 6 yr old spayed bitch had a huge weight
problem.  We tested for Thyroid prob, and found one, got her on Soloxine
and a low protein diet and she bops around like a puppy.  I would test
her Thyroid and switch her over to a low protein diet, one or both
should bring the weight down.

Susan 
Schonberg Farms