Barking during puppy class
Hello everyone - I am looking for advice on how to get Owen to stop lunging and barking at other dogs who don't even show an interest in playing with him. During puppy class the other day, he wouldn't stop barking at other dogs who were just sitting politely in class. I ignored him and praised him when he stopped, but it seems like he wasn't trying to get my attention and he kept barking loudly once I stopped petting him. I tried to distract him by having him doing tricks, but then he'd go right back to barking at the other dogs. He's done this for the past two or three classes now. I took him on an extra long walk before class to drain some of his energy and he seemed tired from it. But when he saw the other dogs at class, he just got so excited and started lunging and barking and he didn't stop this until I put him in his crate in the car to go home.
Also, during walks, he'll try to follow people that run past us. I've tried the changing directions thing, but it doesn't seem to work. He'll reluctantly go in my direction for a bit but when I resume walking, he focuses on the person that ran by and keeps pulling on the leash to follow them unless I stop and wait for the person to get really far away. Any suggestions on what I should do to stop him from this behavior?
Thanks!
Also, during walks, he'll try to follow people that run past us. I've tried the changing directions thing, but it doesn't seem to work. He'll reluctantly go in my direction for a bit but when I resume walking, he focuses on the person that ran by and keeps pulling on the leash to follow them unless I stop and wait for the person to get really far away. Any suggestions on what I should do to stop him from this behavior?
Thanks!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sam on
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You may find clicker training to be very helpful. This is a grand training tool to add focus to most any dog. Not sure if you use treats for training but I find that I use really high end treats and only use them when I train. I want to make myself the most interesting thing to my training partner. Sounds like he is a young fellow who just has not learned to focus to you need to make yourself far more interesting. Positive redirections usually work best in this situation.
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Permalink Reply by Nancy & Owen on
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Yeah, I think I might sign him up for a clicker-type training class next. The class I'm currently signed up for doesn't implement clicker training - although much of it is still very helpful to me. But I'm open for trying anything that'll work! Thanks!
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Permalink Reply by Geri & Sidney on
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Yes. A squirt bottle with water and a splash of vinegar. Aim for his head. It was VERY effective in stopping Sidney's barking habit. A simple warning does the trick now.
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I do see the instructors carry around squirt bottles during the play sessions at class - I think I really do have to invest in one. I've been holding off in hopes Owen gets the idea, but sounds like the squirt bottle is effective. I think it would be very effective against his lunging at other people or dogs. Thanks :)
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Permalink Reply by JollieEllie on
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Teach him the command 'Quiet' and give him a special treat if he stop barking and focus on you.
If he loves his food, he would respond to this training quicker.
This training seems to work well with my corgis.
He probably just wants to play and get to know the other dogs (especially when he's not used the environment with so many dogs at once)
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Thanks! I guess the problem I have is that he doesn't bark at home (at least not incessantly - he'll bark a few times to let me know he has to go potty or if he gets super excited and wants to play with me) and not even when we walk outside and pass other people/dogs. It's just during these unique times during puppy class where he's got all these dogs sitting around him and we're listening to the instructor lecture and he's suppose to just sit there quietly and wait. Maybe I shouldn't worry so much, but all the other dogs (mostly labs and goldens) were just sitting there patiently and Owen was the *only* dog there who was making a racket. I just felt like a failure!
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Permalink Reply by Sam Tsang on
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Does his classmates mind playing with him afterwards? that may get his curiosity out? Sounds like he wants to social but not at the right time. You can either arrive early and socialize with other dogs and after class. The barking is to get the other dog's attention.
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Usually the class has them play for the first 10 minutes or so - but this time was different and we had to sit there for a little while to hear the instructors lecture and then work on some recalls. During the lecture, Owen just wouldn't stop barking at the other dogs! I never thought about it, but maybe he had already gotten into the routine of playing first and working later :) Although, admittedly, even after the play sessions, he does put up a fuss, but it's usually controllable if I ignore him/pet when he's quiet or have him do a couple tricks during the lecture. Since the schedule was reversed that day, I wonder if he was barking so much to remind everyone that they're suppose to be playing first!
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Very well could be, when our dogs were in class, we used to bring them extra early to get the initial excitement drained first. We would walk them down the asile, greet other dogs and owners, let them play a little or have a long walk before the class starts, that usually clams them down a bit. What Sam recommended is great also, we use the clicker as an "emergency" remote control, if taught properly, it's a 100% success :)
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Don't feel bad about it. Sidney was also never a barker at home, and then we go to the first puppy class and - bam! - barking at EVERYONE! I guess the instructors must have expected this out of at least a few of the newbies because one of the assistant trainers came over, asked,our permission to teach us how to correct his behavior, and quickly taught him the "quiet" command using the squirt bottle that she had attached to her belt. Now if saying "quiet" fails to get his attention, waving the squirt bottle at him does the trick. Corgis are smart and he'll learn fast. Good job getting him to puppy class! :-)
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