New dog is smart enough to direct her late night mistakes to the shower, but...

[MADem]

3. I don't like barking collars ...

I think they are torture, and a poor substitute for training.

What are you gonna do when a burglar breaks in and Fido sits quietly, not wanting to be shocked for speaking up?

If your dog sleeps by or in your bed, just tell her no (if she's barking because of the neighbor dog), it's ok, and lead by example by going back to sleep. She'll figure out what's a valid cause for alarm, and what's part of the scenery. Also, it could well be that she might be barking late at night or early in the a.m. because she has to go to the bathroom. Very young and very old dogs (like people) have less bladder control.

She must be a very alert dog if she's taking cues off the telly. Some dogs don't even acknowlege the tv, either the sound or the picture.

As for using the shower to go wee, that's a genius dog and that's not a "mistake." She just has to go and no one is awake to let her out. There is a point when expecting a dog to "hold it" is just unreasonable. I put a wee wee pad by the door for my dog--she knows that if everyone is sleeping, she's not going to wake us up. She checks first--she'll go around and try to find someone who is awake and do the low "woofwoof" (open the door, please) and she will only use the pad as a last resort.

You got a good dog, I think--cherish her. Don't shock her with one of those collars. I always say if I wouldn't do it to a kid, I won't do it to a dog. About the only exception I have to that rule is spaying/neutering!