Barking and growling

Hello it is a while since I posted, all is going well with Molly she is now 11 months and getting lovely long hair...I have to brush her everyday those ears just keep getting knots!!!

Does anyone have any ideas how I can work on reducing Mollys love to bark and growl, she barks at evertything that is new or interesting! I can not put her in the garden for more then 5 mins as she just barks. Also she has started to bark and growl at me often when she wants to play. Another new habit is that she runs away from me all the time but not our of fear I hope!!! Her tail never stops wagging she thinks it is a game .

Any advice would be great.

Molly sounds so cute! May I ask why this is a concern of yours? I'm not sure that you should be alarmed by Molly's behavior Dogs communicate with their voice,tails,lips,body language etc.I would like to mention a good book which may help with more of an understanding of canine behavior - The Culture Clash (will check author lol) It helped a lot for me in my early dog days.It seems as though she's learning to use these ways at this age.Cavaliers can be vocal dogs.I think a vocal dog isn't a bad thing always.As for barking,if it is excessive barking that worries you,then a command can always be taught,when you wish for Molly to know when "enough" is.This doesn't teach her barking is bad,just that there has to be a cut off point.When she's quiet she's then rewarded.I've taught Scarlett "enough" I say this after a few barks and when she's quiet,I praise and treat as I say the Que word.As with teaching any Que word,Molly will first have to learn that "que word" and treat go together-think how puppies,at first won't sit without knowing there's a treat there lol Good Luck,she sounds like a sweety

she is a dote...can not imgine not having her around. I am trying the que word, the last thing I want to do is supress her from reacting in different ways just to get it under some control...I think she is just exploring things at the moment very giddy all the time..I have to think of the neighbours also!!

She is keeping me entertained with her excitment of the xmas tree!!

Thanks for the advice

Coco sometimes runs away if I bend down too quickly or walk towards her too quickly. She did eventually learn that it was fun to have me chase her, so I found that calmly and slowly walking up to her, and taking her back over to the original spot I tried to pet her, then backing a few steps away, walking forward to pet again worked well. I would do this 2 or 3 more times, and then praise a lot after for not running away from me.

Sometimes I think they are just so small and worry about getting stepped on. She's much better at not running away now because she knows if she does mama's gonna get her no matter what and practice a few times after haha.

As far as barking, do remember that that is their voice, but I do agree that it can become excessive and annoying. Every time she barks outside, she's probably having fun. Make her come back inside as her punishment. My parents do that with their dog, works very well. Inside, the best remedy for attention-seeking barking is to 100% ignore her, no matter how loud or annoying it gets. Then when she stops, shower her with attention.

For the barking outside I usually make my dogs come in (when I'm being lazy) or give them some other "job" to do i.e. sit/down - come. I enjoy the play barking and growling so I've never tried to discourage it - it makes me laugh.

The first thing that comes to mind: have you done an obedience class with her? It is very valuable and very important to do at least one friendly, structured obedience class where your dog will learn to socialise, control her impulses, pay attention to you -- and also where you will learn some fun things you can do to keep her busy and her mind occupied, and learn more about dogs, behaviour, teaching your dog what you'd like her to know, and managing a dog . A dog won't know to answer to you or come when called if she hasn't been actively trained (and regularly reinforced by daily practice!) to do this, and generally recall takes many weeks to teach well and is a critical command -- it may well save your dog's life. Just because you say her name doesn't mean to her 'come here'.... and if you haven't taught 'come' using a proper system of slowly building up her abilities using reward and praise, starting with a regular lead, moving on to a long lead, training in house then in a safe garden... then from her point of view it is as if you were visiting Russia and someone was shouting at you to come over in Russian -- you wouldn't have any idea of what was wanted. :lol:

She is really at a quite critical age for training -- the older she gets the more difficult it can be, and recall is something trainers like to start by 4-6 months -- so I really urge getting involved in a fun, friendly class with her.

I always recommend Dog Training Ireland in Blanchardstown -- they do intensive series of 4 classes making it easy to get through a full course without lots of drives.

Play barking and growling is really nothing to make your dog stop doing -- it is just a way of friendly communicating and is perfectly normal. The suggestion to give her something else to do is a good one. As for barking outside -- is she just being put out into the garden? This is probably just too boring (it is for most dogs but cavaliers in particular do not like being left alone in a garden) -- she is likely barking to have someone do something with her, or to come back in, I would guess. It sounds like you have a smart active dog who will want and need a lot of activity and interaction.

One reason to do a DTI course is they will talk you through all these questions and give you creative ideas for managing all of these things. One thing I know they will suggest is getting her some active toys to keep her busy -- for example try feeding her with a feeding cube and using stuffed kongs (though either stuff with her meal portions, or subtract what is in the kong from her daily meal ration).

Thank you for all your comments...I did the training course in DTI with Molly and it was very good she is really good on the lead and I have trained to do the usual sit stay not to go up the stairs ect...she gets things very quickly.

She is never left out the in the garden normally I just put her out to do her business or to play with her runner which she loves...once something gets her attention she just barks and barks and barks setting my neighbouts dogs off!!

I think you are right she is is a very active dog and I have stepped up her walking to try and calm her down abit...as we speak she is zzzzzzzzzzz beside me.

I will try feeding her with a cude mayberwhile I have to leave her for a a few hours during the day ( only ever for a few hours I have family who take her for walks and play with their dogs). I am hoping the running away is just a game too her so I am going to ignore it as it tends to happen when ever I try and put her lead on.

Again thanks all!!