Not really sure on the whimpering besides making sure you ignore her everytime she does it. If your feeding her on a regular schedule then I wouldnt worry to much about her being hungry as long as shes getting enough to eat each feeding.
As for the barking, if shes stopping as soon as you go outside, your best bet may be to get a collar for her that sprays a burst of citrus when she barks. I dont believe in using the ones that give a shock, but a quick burst of citrus is usually enough to distract a barker.
I'm sure others will have suggestions as well.
Keep us posted on how things are going with the neighbour.

Nothing new on the neighbor. I sent the family an email detailing our experiences together and why I've had my fill of his antics. You wouldn't believe some of the things I've let slide with him over the years. It's nothing more than realizing someone you interact with frequently isn't a person you particularly like. Talked to a police officer who lives nearby, he informed me of my legal options. It's a matter of how far I want to take it which ultimately means it's up to him, whether or not he's gonna bother my dog.

Funny, I used to be a little envious of the way dogs were attracted to him. His late mother had a gift, dogs would come visit her occasionally, the same dogs every few years or so. He's like a big kid with dogs himself but now I know it's not just because of any charisma, it's also food. I forgot how fat their family dog was and how her stools were loose and smelly all the time.

Personally, I'd take all of the following steps:

1. Not leave dog outside unattended.
2. Have a police officer explain the concept of Personal Property and Property Rights to your neighbor(s). Not only is the dog your personal property but your yard is personal property.
3. Continue teaching the dog not to jump at the fence or on people.
4. Train a very reliable recall.

As for a finicky eater:
1. Make sure that there isn't an underlying illness. When a dog is very ill they may stop eating.
2. No inbetween meal snacks. Period.
3. No free-feeding. Offer food for 20 minutes and any uneaten food pick up until the next scheduled feeding time. Adult dogs should eat twice daily.
4. Don't feel sorry for the dog if she/he chooses to miss a meal. It ain't gonna kill'm (if they miss several meals, have the vet check for underlying illness -- see #1).
5. Establish that you as Pack Leader have the right to choose what, when, and where (what food, when to eat, and where to eat). Have the dog sit calmly and wait for permission from you before eating.

You might want to learn how to use calm-assertive energy not only on the dog but on your neighbors.

Originally Posted by skwearl

i have a couple of questions that maybe someone can answer; what's a good deterent to my dog's whimpering? sheba does it to get my attention and i usually ignore her or sometimes i'll tell her to be quiet but it's really annoying. sometimes she does it when i'm preparing her meal which makes no sense to me as she sees me right there fixing it for her. i wish she would tell me when she's hungry, like grabbing or pushing at her dish.

also she's a run-on barker, meaning she barks at passerby long after they leave her sight. when i come out she immediately stops and comes to me, making it impossible for me to see what she's barking at. any suggestions on what i can do to curb her barking like that?

Who's the Pack Leader? Sounds like she thinks she is. The whimpering is her ordering you to feed her. Ignore her whimpering--say nothing. Then, wait until she is quiet and sitting before putting the food down. Actually, keep her in a sit-stay as you put the food down and make her wait until she is calm, quiet, and attentive before releasing her to eat. You as Pack Leader decide what, when, and where she eats, not her.

The barking is another sign that she thinks she is Pack Leader and thus responsible for guarding the property. Exercise, Discipline, then Affection. Rules, Boundaries, Limitations. Establish that you are her Pack Leader and give affection only after she is calm-submissive.

There is a trick I learned from the Monks of New Skete back when I had a female cattle dog viaing for Pack Leader position. They teach to place the dog in front of you (you knelling on one knee), place one hand on the dog's chest, and with the other hand hold the dog's mussle (not tightly, just a gentle firm hold). If the dog tries to pull away, gently but firmly hold the dog still until it stops resisting. This worked pretty well with my cattle dog.

Originally Posted by Frecs

Personally, I'd take all of the following steps:

1. Not leave dog outside unattended.
2. Have a police officer explain the concept of Personal Property and Property Rights to your neighbor(s). Not only is the dog your personal property but your yard is personal property.
3. Continue teaching the dog not to jump at the fence or on people.
4. Train a very reliable recall.

As for a finicky eater:
1. Make sure that there isn't an underlying illness. When a dog is very ill they may stop eating.
2. No inbetween meal snacks. Period.
3. No free-feeding. Offer food for 20 minutes and any uneaten food pick up until the next scheduled feeding time. Adult dogs should eat twice daily.
4. Don't feel sorry for the dog if she/he chooses to miss a meal. It ain't gonna kill'm (if they miss several meals, have the vet check for underlying illness -- see #1).
5. Establish that you as Pack Leader have the right to choose what, when, and where (what food, when to eat, and where to eat). Have the dog sit calmly and wait for permission from you before eating.

You might want to learn how to use calm-assertive energy not only on the dog but on your neighbors.

Thanks for the input frecs. There's no sign of illness, she's a wheaten terrier. I've researched them and this seems to come along with the dog, that and straight out stubborness. The whimpering at meal time doesn't occur that often either, it's more prevalent when she smells me around, she wants be with me right away. I always ignore that unless I'm irritated and she bugs me. I'd like to train her to bark when she wants to come inside and to stop the run on barking at nite though.

By the way, I do use calm assertive energy on my neighbors, I just didn't plan it that way. I've spoken calmly about it and as humans are wont to do, it wasn't taken seriously. When I blew the hell up about it I got their attention. That's life eh?

Oh, what do you mean by a "reliable recall?"