Begin here These are bird deterrents for outdoor windows because birds do the same outdoors when they see their reflection as your dog does indoors.

Skip the film and buy one of the little trinkets to hang. I've had film indoors and out, and some of it is still stuck to the glass. Besides, you can find some pretty things to hang in the bookcase.

This is hilarious because I know what you're going through because we had a Cardinal dive bomb our windows all day long. Our cats ignored him.

Can you show us a picture of the glass fronted bookcase? I am wondering if you could gather sheer fabric on the inside and use command strips to hang? This blogger used velcro sticky tape to secure, but I am not sure if it would damage the wood.

https://www.exquisitelyunremarkable.com/2015/03/creating-charm-with-fabric.html

I had a rescue (also named Gracie, Grace, Princess Grace) who needed to become socialized to the house-- i guess that's not "socialized" exactly but she barked at her reflection, the washing machine, the tv -- anything that was an unfamiliar experience. I don't think she's barking because she enjoys it-- i suspect she is distressed by this "new" dog she's seeing. I would calm my dog by talking to her and touching the thing she was barking at. Maybe when she barks at the bookcase, talk to her-- open the door?

She will get used to it soon, I wouldn't take any extraordinary measures to cover the book case until you've worked with her a bit.

How long have you had her? Congrats and thank you for rescuing Gracie! I am reading that the shelters are overrun with dogs adopted during the pandemic and now being returned as families are returning to the office and normal activities.

I used matte frosted film on my full glass front door to stop my dog from sitting there and barking at every passerby regardless of human, squirrel, or leaf.

I am also wondering how long you've had Gracie. (and yes, the shelters are so overflowing it's really sad. So thank you for rescuing). Sometimes there is a little bit more of settling in so maybe that will help.

Otherwise, I will be curious to see what can work. I realize that the crazy barking can be super irritating but your post really had me chuckling. That poor dog in the cabinet.

I would redirect her behavior. Does she have a recall? Know sit, down, settle?

Put a leash on her, have her settle at your feet, and hold the leash on the floor with your foot, so she cannot get up. Praise her, lavishly for this, especially if she relaxes and releases the tension. After she relaxes a minute or so, say "OK!!!" as brightly as you can to release her. Use that same voice for "come".

Good Luck!!

You could try this to see if a frosted film would help: cut pieces of wax paper to fit and tape them to the insides of the glass.

Thank you for rescuing her. She will adjust if you just hang in there.

I have a "reactive" rescue cat. He thinks when the washing machine or dryer is done, the little song means someone is "in there", like a doorbell, and needs rescuing. He paws vigorously trying to pop the washer or dryer door open....spring the people free. 😂 We put Saran Wrap over the door fronts. Over time....he's stopped caring. Those dumb people need to stop getting trapped in there.

A lot of dogs just really enjoy barking. It's fun for them! I'm sure you will keep working with her on training as you come up with a visual solution too, just wanted to confirm a dual approach will save your sanity. A dog who loves to bark, will find reasons to bark.

My 2 are barkers. They love it. I work from home. Barking uncontrollably is not allowed for obvious reasons. "No bark!" works really well with training, except when it doesn't. LOL. All bets are off if there are critters in the yard, so I have installed frosted window film on the sidelights of my front door. My furry barking maniacs confirm frosted window film blocks all vision through it. Again, LOL.

Good luck. :)

My poodle did that for a while. Your dog will get over that too.

Nothing to add to the good tips about behavior modification above, but I can add that tissue paper will stick to glass with just water - a spritz from a spray bottle or swipe with a damp sponge or cloth...

We have a Great Pyrenese who barks to announce her presence (to predators like birds, cats, leaves...) to go out, to come in, to hear the sound of her own voice. It gets old but she is so hard wired to protect that it is a very hard behavior to change. At my cottage we put cafe curtains halfway down the windows so that she could see out. Problem solved.

I would try some window clings to see if they work. You could probably get some cheap valentines day ones and scatter them on the glass. Eventually she may stop looking and you could remove them.

I also have a Dachshund/spaniel rescue barker, lol. I learned I really have to check my own reaction before interacting with her barking (put your own oxygen mask on first idea). Immediately shouting the dog's name is just human barking, I think.

Avoiding the trapped dog makes sense if you don't mind the bookcase film. Although there are many different mindsets about reaction, one thing to try is If you can give her a command to physically "do" something - the recall as @Springroz posts, rather than a remote "stop barking" command. Then when she's with you, a very quiet command to again DO something i.e. "hush" command, and delighted quiet "hush" behavior together when she hushes. Hush has worked well for me because it's so quiet and reminds me to stay very very gentle. If I have to interact with the trigger, a leash and then hush play after they leave is all I've got.

Thank you all for your answers. We've had Gracie for about five or six months now. The barking is something new. She just started it a couple of weeks ago. She has also started barking at any strange noise from outside, like a car door shutting. I just put her into her kennel because of two outbursts in five minutes. And, yes, I do tend to "bark" back at her.

Bless her heart, we have no idea what she had been through before we got her. The shelter said they found her wandering, but she was housebroken, so she had a home before she was out. She's very anxious, but getting better. She's very stubborn and DH thinks that may be why she was turned out. We've been through a dog training class, but she mostly wanted to play with the other dogs instead of learning anything. Everyone else in the class had their dogs since they were little pups, not a teenage dog who had learned a lot of bad habits.

We love the stinker and hope she will calm down as she ages. Unfortunately, she's aging us faster than herself and we're already old!

It's great that you're looking for solutions to help manage your dog's barking. It's possible that the barking is due to the dog perceiving her reflection as another dog, which can lead to frustration or arousal.

To minimize the reflection, a frosted film would likely be more effective than a patterned one. The frosted film will diffuse the light and reduce the clarity of the reflection, which may help to reduce the stimulus that triggers barking. If a frosted film is not readily available, you could try a matte or opaque film instead. It may take some trial and error to find the right solution, so be patient and persistent.

In addition to trying different films, it may also be helpful to provide plenty of mental and physical stimulation for your dog, such as interactive toys, puzzles, and exercise. This can help to redirect her attention and reduce her desire to bark at her reflection.

Finally, if the barking persists, it may be beneficial to seek the guidance of a professional dog trainer or behaviorist to help address the issue.

Thank you for rescuing Gracie. I would also try to redirect her as stated above. We have a rescue Pit Bull mix who is a barker at times. It is his nature-his DNA is 98% guard dog breeds. Our trainer taught us to redirect his behavior, and it works. I am so glad that we invested in a trainer. He is two now, and training him has been hard work requiring consistency. They are so worth it, though!

It sounds like your dog has a barking problem related to her seeing reflections of other dogs. Covering the glass surfaces with a non-reflective film could be an effective solution to reduce her barking.

The choice between a frosted film or one with a pattern depends on your preference and what you think might work best for your dog. A frosted film will diffuse light and create a more uniform appearance, while a film with a pattern may break up the reflection and make it less noticeable to your dog.

It's worth trying both options and observing which one works best for your dog. You can also try moving the bookcase to a different location or rearranging the furniture in the room to see if that helps reduce her barking. If her barking continues to be a problem, it may be helpful to consult with a behaviorist who can help you find a solution that works for both you and your dog.

@norar_il, your statement that Gracie liked playing with the other pups during training class gave me another suggestion. Is there a reputable doggie daycare somewhere near you? Would you ever consider dropping her there once a week or so for play and socialization? I've made many virtual dog owner friends on IG, many of whom have rescues with some issues and many of them swear by their daycare sessions. They're less anxiety provoking and potentially scary than dog parks and the supervised play often seems to do wonders for the pups.

Just a thought. I wish you and Gracie the best.

Have you heard of these devices? I think they work by emitting a high-pitched squeal which the dog doesn't like. Reviews seem good. I don't have any personal experience, nor have I looked into how they work, but apparantly you just point it in the direction of the dog when it barks and after a few rounds of this they don't bark. No Bark Device

I have one of the collars that can make a noise, vibrate or shock. I've never (and will never) used the shock mode. I used the vibrate once and it scared her, so I won't use that again either. I suspect that's how the no bark device works as well.

We do have a doggie day care fairly close. She's been a couple of times and I think really likes it. We will definitely take her there more often. We do love the little (50 pound) stinker and will not give up on her.

I really appreciate the advice and encouragement here. Thanks again.

I would never use something that frightened a dog. I just didn’t have time when I posted to read about how it works. I thought I’d read something once that said it was a high pitched sound.

Just out of curiosity, if the barking problem is relatively new, have you (out your vet) checked her for changes or deterioration of either vision or hearing? Cataracts (my OES had juvenile cataracts) or an ear infection could cause your dog to startle more easily from either reflected light or new sounds.

Give your dog a nice, spacious outdoor area to spend the day. Give her a ton of exercise by playing games and going on long walks. This is how dogs are supposed to live. Then when she comes in The house at night, she’ll be ready to settle down.

Idea:

If you have mirrors hanging on walls (portable), borrow them and prop a few against walls and furniture at gracie’s level. Arrange one or two so that she can see what’’s on the other side of the reflection. Invite another (calm) dog over to play mirror.

Report back.

It sounds as though she is protecting you. Maybe? I saw a Cesar Milan episode where he helped a woman whose dog was protecting her. He encouraged the pet parent to establish her own space by doing things like not letting pup get too close to her, say on couch. she was to just calmly and firmly push the dog away (about a foot or so). And also for pet parent to now inadvertently reward pup by petting it or reassuring it when it was engaging in undesireble behavior. Pet parent became more calmly confident and that seemed to register with her pup.

I hope things work out.

@fourpawsonetail WTF?

WTAH? How is this poster not a responsible pet owner??!?!?

fourpawsonetail - I doubt you comprehend the English language. I am being kind here. This is an honorable author who wants solutions, not someone like you dropping in and being mean for no rational reason. Simply re-read the thread.

fourpawsonetail - are you seriously thinking there is a dog in the oven??? I am sorry if that is your misconception... Reflection in the glass. Pretty obvious to me.

It's understandable that excessive barking can be a challenge to deal with, especially when it seems to be directed at inanimate objects like a glass-fronted bookcase. It's important to remember that barking is a natural behavior for dogs, but it can become problematic if it's excessive or disruptive.

In terms of the cling film solution, a frosted film would likely be more effective at reducing your dog's ability to see her reflection. Frosted films create a diffuse surface that blurs and scatters light, making it difficult for your dog to see her reflection clearly. A patterned film may also work, but it's important to choose a pattern that is visually distinct from your dog's appearance to prevent confusion.

In addition to the cling film solution, there are other strategies you can try to help reduce your dog's barking. These include providing plenty of exercise and mental stimulation, teaching your dog a "quiet" or "speak" command, using positive reinforcement to reward calm behavior, and seeking the advice of a professional dog trainer or behaviorist if the problem persists.

Remember, with patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, you can help your dog learn to bark less and enjoy a happier, more peaceful home environment.

The frosted film on the toy cabinet has worked and the barking is under control. She's a fine addition to the family.

I do wonder why this thread is showing up in my feed today when the last response (other than this) was 20 days ago!

What a wonderful outcome. I am so glad it worked. Frosted cling film on my sidelights on my front door was a game changer for me too. 😊

Do I smell.....spam?!

(I can't believe I beat Sushi for once. I already gave it one flag....)