how do I stop my dog barking?

I took in a ten month old lab x crollie from a rescue two weeks ago who
barks whenever she sees anyone in the park, or if she sees the postman
through the window etc

I also have a four year old lurcher who is very calm and placid but when she
hears the lab barking it then winds her up and she joins in.

Does anyone have any advice on how I can stop this?

TIA

Purple

dfrntdrums.RemoveThis@aol.com (Leah) wrote in
news:20041209143047.14229.00001643@mb-m13.aol.com:

> First, the dog is new to your home and area. Everything she sees is
> strange. Give her some time to settle in and get used to certain
> sights and sounds, and she may (may, not will :} chill out a bit on
> her own.
>

This is true of Zoe. The first time she sees someone or something new
outside, she will bark furiously. After she sees them a few more times
she gets used to them and might give a quick alert bark or might just
watch them go by. Except for that guy with the red dog. She hates those
two and barks furiously whenever they appear.

I have had some success with her by acknowledging the barking, as you
suggest. Sometimes I'll go and sit with her at the window and we will
watch together. This does quiet her down but obviously it's not something
I want to do all the time.

I've also had good luck with using consistent verbal cues with her --
anything that happens at the neighbors' that causes (prolonged) barking
gets "it's the neighbors!" said in a chipper kind of voice. For some
reason that seems to settle her down, as if she's thinking "oh yeah, I
forgot -- it's just the neighbors."

--Catherine
& Zoe the cockerchow