Only two days after I reported that Cinnamon had been doing well with her training not to bark at other dogs in the street, she barked at other dogs again this morning!! Once in a dog exercise area, when we had just started walking with her leash back on after doing some trick exercise off leash, and once on a footpath when she met her friend, Bertie the Standard Poodle.
When Cinnamon started barking at a golden retriever that I hadn't realised was coming into the park, I told her to sit, as I thought it might be easier for her than heeling, because she had just stood up from the sitting position. But, it seems that was a bad call. She completely ignored me and kept barking without sitting down. In the end, I gave it up and started walking with Cinnamon to leave the park. Once she was out of the park, she stopped barking.
When we met Bertie, I should have told Cinnamon to heel and kept walking without stopping to say hello to Bertie and her human. But, again I told Cinnamon to sit, as I wanted to talk to Bertie's human, who is my good friend. Then, both Cinnamon and Bertie started barking at each other from excitment. This time Cinnamon did sit with her mouth shut after a while, but I should have focused on the training, telling them to ignore us.
Phew...it seems there is still a long way to go...
I dont recall whether you've read Leslie McDevitt's book Control Unleashed, but it seems like it'd be right up your alley for thing kind of thing!
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem! Rufus walks well on my side but he barks when he sees other dogs!!!
ReplyDeleteI have to focus more! Can you give me any piece of advice? Thank you!
Kisses
Rufus and Indie
It will be okay, you just went a little too far too fast. She will be fine, just keep practicing and slowly increase the stimulus. :)
ReplyDeleteBaby steps -- it's all baby steps!
ReplyDeleteVery hard work for sure, but she will figure it out. She is a most clever little girl.
ReplyDeleteSlobbers,
Mango
what i find helps, is to walk the dog away from the thing its barking at. as soon as it stops, praise the dog for being calm and quiet, right away, timing is everything.
ReplyDeletethen turn back toward the other dog. immediately praise your dog for not barking as you turn and see the other dog. keep approaching the dog and praise as you go near the other dog for keeping her mouth shut.
if she yaps/barks again, give her correction (whatever that means for you, a no or a leash correction), say your sorry for her correction if it was a leash correction, and turn around, walk away calmly. when she shuts up, repeat and turn back toward the other dog.
i swear to DOG, this worked for my barking out of control GSD mix. he saw some Danes downtown once. and i saw his anxiety in his body rise (tense muscles, etc.), ready to go out of control on the leash... anxiety can be from excitement/happy or fear either way, leads to over excitment or aggression...anyway, as soon as i saw preceding behaviors of anxiety, i turned around and walked the other way and praised his calm behavior. and then turned back when he was calm. it took 3 or 4 times and we ended up within 4 feet of the danes and i had a pleasent conversation with the owners (who thought i was my dog's trainer or nanny, not his owner!!!)
only praise for calm. don't do any other voice correction other than a firm "no"...because added voice /talking to dog just reinforces his/her behavior of barking. really...it's like they think you're agreeing with them when you raise your voice or just keep saying no and panic (not that you do...but i've seen it...)...so calm, "no" walk away. then when dog's calm, walk back to other dog, remembering to praise while he's calm. 2 or 3 times as you approach. pet her head if you can as you walk.
i'm so amazed how much praise works for the RIGHT behavior. they really DO get it.
so keep it up. she'll get it!
~wags-n-wiggles~
wild dingo