Dog barks at telephone - 2009-09-07

Question

Hi, I am looking for a solution with my 5 month old lab. She is calm and relaxed as she is mostly an inside dog but as soon as I receive a phone call or try to make one she barks constantly and simply wants my attention which makes it impossible to speak. The only thing that seems to work is giving her a treat when I am on a call but this cannot keep happening. Any suggestions for conditioning her to the act of a phone call? Please help thanks

Answer

This is attention seeking behaviour where she thinks she is more important than the person you are talking to. He barking is to prevent you from making the call. Whilst the dog may be calm, she obviously knows how to control you – and we would need you to show leadership to this dog and not respond. Whilst giving treats may stop her from barking, she learns very quickly to get more treats out of you over time with other things that take your attention away from her. I suggest a week of very limited attention to her, ignore her when you leave and come home, and put her in another area of the house when answering the phone. She will learn if she wants to be with you to be quiet – rather than reinforcing her behaviour.