My Molly's Excessive Barking

by Beth Smith
(South carolina )

I RESCUED AN OLDER JACK. I HAVE HAD HER FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS NOW. THE VET SAYS SHE IS ABOUT 7YEARS OLD. MOLLY WAS ABUSED, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW. A FRIEND OF MINE IS A REALTOR AND HE FOUND HER LEFT IN A FORECLOSED HOME ALMOST DEAD. MY FRIEND ASK ME TO HELP HER KEEP HER UNTIL SHE COULD FIND SOMEONE OR FIND A RESCUE TO TAKE HER. SHE STAYED WITH ME FOR ABOUT A WEEK, MY HUSBAND AND I KNEW SHE HAD A HOME WITH US. WE HAVE ANOTHER DOG WE HAVE RESCUED AS WELL AND HE IS DOING WELL. MOLLY SEEMS TO BE HAPPY NOW AND HAS LOTS OF LOVE GIVEN TO HER. I HAVE BROKEN ALOT OF BAD HABITS, BUT I HAVE TWO PROBLEMS. FIRST SHE BARKS AT EVERYTHING,ALL THE TIME. I HAVE TRIED TO BREAK HER OF THIS BY POPPING A ROLLED UP NEWS PAPER IN MY HAND AND SAYING "STOP THAT". THIS DOES NOT HELP, ALL SHE DOES IS RUN BEHIND THE SOFA. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT SHE NOW JUMPS ON PEOPLE THAT COME TO MY HOUSE. I AM NOT SURE HOW TO HANDLE THIS, BECAUSE FOR SO LONG WHEN SOMEONE COULD COME IN SHE WOULD HIDE UNDER THE BED FOR HOURS. IT WOULD TAKE FOREVER TO GET HER OUT. NOW THAT SHE WANTS TO BE SOCIABLE, I DON'T WANT TO FUSS AT HER FOR THAT, SINCE SHE COMES OUT NOW. AS YOU CAN SEE I HAVE A PROBLEM.