Sassy Barking and Nipping

Dougie · Jan 25, 2016

Dougie is 8 months old and in the last few months has started the habit of barking non stop if we aren't paying attention to him and nipping at our feet or biting our pant legs and fingers if we put our hand down. If I am making dinner he will come over to me, start barking, and nipping at me. I stop what I am doing and try to take his mind off of the barking with a toy and as soon as I get up from sitting and playing with him .... he starts again. When my husband comes home from work, he runs to the door to see him and starts barking immediately. Is this for attention? Is this common with Frenchies? Any advice would be appreciated!!

Alice Kable · Jan 25, 2016

Your little man is demanding attention. Is he an only dog with no children of his own to play with?

I'd tell him NO BITE when he starts nipping and if he doesn't stop it give him a time out in a crate. Do the same NO BARK when he starts barking.

Try to set up some playtime with a neighbor dog, take him on walks, enroll him in doggie daycare if that is available to you. A tired dog is a good dog!

hannah · Jan 25, 2016

Aiko has been a little barky lately and we really don't like it because Banksy is SILENT

We tell Aiko "QUIET" in a firm voice louder than her barking and it usually stops her

Just find a command of your choice, say it and make them stop, and eventually they will associate that command with them needing to stop barking

Same thing with the nipping.. say "No bite" and make them stop, and give them something to chew on or play with

French Bulldog Buzz · Jan 25, 2016

Hi yes this sounds like a lot of '' Hey what are you doing there, you should better pay attention to me''. I agree with Alice have a command when he is barking or nipping. And if this does not help, well than he gets a time out in the crate. For me the time out worked Perfectly fine...

At the same time, try to observe your routine and when the barking and nipping is happening. Is there something that triggers it? Does your Frenchie get enough 'Exercise/ Walks''...Itis not always just to play around, but you have to set as well some rules. Like for me, my Bushido can not come in to the kitchen. He has his bed in front of it so he can observe what we do.

Dougie · Jan 26, 2016

Thanks for your responses

Dougie gets lots of exercise. We take him out for walks 4 times a day. He is our only dog and doesn't get to play too much with other dogs, unless we see dogs on our walks, so we do try to tire him out with long walks and play time at home. We do say "no bite" and "no bark" but nothing seems to work. He also runs and hides when I walk towards him because he knows he will go in his crate for a time out if he continues. He has been to puppy training and he was an angel when he was there but this has all happened within the last month. We are hoping this is a phase and that with our persistence and training he will outgrow this. He is our 4th dog (our first Frenchie) and we have never experienced this type of behaviour before.

Squishy Walnuts · Jan 26, 2016

Frenchies can be stubborn little dogs. Have you tried crating him and then ignoring him until he calms down?

Dougie · Jan 26, 2016

Yes, we crate him and sometimes that works to calm him down and other times he comes out and starts the barking all over again.

2bullymama · Jan 26, 2016

Dougie said:
Thanks for your responses Dougie gets lots of exercise. We take him out for walks 4 times a day. He is our only dog and doesn't get to play too much with other dogs, unless we see dogs on our walks, so we do try to tire him out with long walks and play time at home. We do say "no bite" and "no bark" but nothing seems to work. He also runs and hides when I walk towards him because he knows he will go in his crate for a time out if he continues. He has been to puppy training and he was an angel when he was there but this has all happened within the last month. We are hoping this is a phase and that with our persistence and training he will outgrow this. He is our 4th dog (our first Frenchie) and we have never experienced this type of behaviour before.

they are stubborn and very smart buggers -- stay consistent, he MIGHT get it some day