[walter_white_rules]

I hate this time of year only because my dog barks at squirrels non-stop. My sliding glass door faces the woods out back. The acorns are plentiful and so are the squirrels hiding them in my yard. I have a mixed breed, so I don’t know her penchant for certain behaviors, but she wants to get those tree-rats. It’s also a pain to take her out back – I always have to scan my yard for them. Is there any way to train this out of my pup? It happens all the time but especially in the fall.

[Danielle DeGroot]

Quote:
I hate this time of year only because my dog barks at squirrels non-stop. My sliding glass door faces the woods out back. The acorns are plentiful and so are the squirrels hiding them in my yard. I have a mixed breed, so I don’t know her penchant for certain behaviors, but she wants to get those tree-rats. It’s also a pain to take her out back – I always have to scan my yard for them. Is there any way to train this out of my pup? It happens all the time but especially in the fall.

@walter_white_rules I feel your pain, as I have the exact same problem. My dog is almost 14 and has mobility issues but acts like a young pup every single time a squirrel even pops into view. She almost broke her leg trying to jump a fence to get one as a puppy. I have tried many different things to get her to stop. One thing that works well is to simply block the view with curtains, but that means sitting a dark room which is not always great.

Another approach is to train your pup to ignore the squirrels while on a leash. This, of course, means relying on the cooperation of the squirrels. To do this, put your dog on a leash, take her outside, and allow her to come close to a squirrel. She will likely get excited and struggle. You need to remain calm and hold her in place. Use a command like “Quiet” or “Leave it”. When she calms down, reward her with a treat. You must repeat this several times over a few weeks until she no longer gets excited when she sees a squirrel.

You can also try distracting her with a new or favorite toy when she starts barking at a squirrel. Interactive toys are a great pick, as they will engage her for longer. My dog actually loves this Hide-A-Squirrel toy. I’ve literally bought about 50 of them over the years. She destroys it eventually, but it keeps her entertained and gives her a squirrel that is safe for her to play with.

Chasing after squirrels is a natural instinct dogs have. They are hunters, and squirrels are fast, lithe, and everywhere, making this a common issue for many dog owners. I hope this helps. Please keep us posted on any methods that work to help stop your pup from stalking the squirrels!

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