Constant Barking

[Xeph]

I'm having an issue with Strauss that I don't know how to correct. He's constantly barking during his routine (if he's not barking, he refuses to heel).

At different areas of practice he's fine...we get to a trial and he won't show. He is either excused for excessive barking or for being inattentive.

I cannot find a balance with this dog...if I let him show "as is" he's flat and extremely laggy/inattentive. If I try and get him and KEEP him in drive, all he does is "Yell" at me. It's especially bad in exercises where he must stop motion (the normal recall, drop on recall, retrieve on flat, retrieve over wall jump, broad jump).

Physical corrections do nothing but make him worse. A calm attitude has no effect (calm rewards and soft but straight forward commands). I will have video available tomorrow for you all to view because I know it's hard to suggest anything without it, but if you could maybe give me some initial pointers it would be good.

This dog is UD material, but I can't even get him through his CDX because he either won't heel or won't shut up. He is currently only being worked in training or match situations, no shows.

[IliamnasQuest]

Just off the top of my head, from what you describe, it seems that he needs to learn that he will only receive the response he wants from you when he doesn't bark.

Barking usually means frustration or excitement. It's also usually a behavior that escalates as it goes along if not dealt with earlier, so if he's been doing this for a while you will probably have a more difficult time "fixing" it. If he's just started, then it will be easier.

Since he seems to either be "flat" or overly excited and barking, the goal needs to be to get him energetic without the barking. To do this, I would recommend NO HEELING or other exercises where he barks until you get the barking under control. Every time you allow it to happen, it just reinforces the dog's desire to bark. So what you'll want to do is initiate the barking by getting him excited, and then turning away (or keeping your gaze away) until he stops barking long enough for you to mark the behavior and reward. Use whatever reward he really likes - treats or a thrown toy or a game of tug, whatever. Reward him and then try the exercise again. The goal is to get him to start to understand that the reward will ONLY come when he stops barking. You don't want to correct him because it obviously doesn't work and you want him to remain happy, but quiet.

If he's like most intelligent dogs, he will start to figure out that the only way to get your attention (and the reward) is to SHUT UP .. *L* .. it may take a while, depending on the level of excitement and how deeply the habit has developed. You want to work him up each time so that he's excited like you would want him to be in the ring, and then teach him that the bark ISN'T going to work by ignoring him when he barks. Keep him on a leash so he can't wander off, and be attentive to the first hesitation in the barking behavior so that you can mark/reward.

When you find that he's responding to you ignoring him, you can gradually add your gaze back in (since you'll want to look at him in competition, of course!) and add in a "stop barking" word or sound. Make it simple. Something like "ehhh" (not "eht" with the sharp sound at the end) and then take your attention away when you say it. Paired together, he will start to learn that the sound means he isn't getting what he wants. You should eventually be able to use the "ehh" to stop the barking behavior.

Once he's getting the barking under control, but still "up" and happy, you can start to add in a step or two of heeling. Keep in mind that dogs revert back to the original learned behavior when stressed or frustrated, so you can expect that he will bark again. What you want to do is get in ONE step of heeling without barking, mark immediately and reward. Gradually add in the second step, then the third, etc. If he starts barking, you're going too fast.

This will need to be practiced a LOT. Like I said, dogs revert back to the original behavior when stressed, so if you take him into competition too soon he will probably go right back to the barking. I can remember taking 8-12 months to fix a problem behavior that I let get out of hand with dogs in the past, so it could take a while. But these dogs were able to go on and compete successfully once I fixed my mistake. In fact, the one chow ended up with 12 Q's in open, placing every time (including seven 1sts, in classes that ranged up over 25 dogs). I had a stay problem with her where she laid down on the sit-stay, and I thought I'd never get it fixed. I allowed her to continue to break stays in competition all one summer - HUGE mistake on my part - and I ended up taking an entire winter to work through it.

Good luck, hope it all comes together for you! I'm on slow dial-up so I probably won't be able to view your video, but maybe others can help you once they see that.

Melanie and the gang in Alaska

[MaggieRoseLee]

Just a thought............

I've heard the control with drive issues are really addressed in the DVDs 'Controlled Unleashed - a Foundation Seminar' as well as obtained using the 'Crate Games' by Susan Garrett.

http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fu...tPage=whatsnew

[Xeph]

Video:
http://rapidshare.com/files/21601471...ussHeeling.wmv

http://rapidshare.com/files/216008881/MVI_0639.AVI

[Leosmom]

I have a 6 month old male. He's a great dog most of the time. Walks on the leash great, took 1st place in his puppy class and is VERY loveable. I've just been having a terrible time lately with his CONSTANT BARKING FOR ATTENTION!!!
Every day my mother comes at lunch, while we're at work to let him out and play. She ALWAYS says what an angel he is!!! As soon as I get home, I mean AS SOON AS I get home, we walk, and we walk until I cant walk anymore, LOL!! But then, we get home, I need to start dinner and we need to eat and Leo just barks like crazy for more play and attention.
I know he's only 6 months old and has ALOT of energy, but I just cant get him to stop!!
When we eat dinner, we baracade him off in the kitchen (we eat in the living room). He has the whole kitchen, outside and basement to play in, but STILL will just sit by the gate and BARK at me!!!!!
When I let him in the living room when we are done, he'll just jump on the couch to sit with me, then a few minutes later, BARKING to play.
If he sees people walking outside from the front door, or any dogs, he wont wimper a bit!! Just barks like crazy until I play with him!! Sometimes, I just need a break!! LOL!!
And, my husband is so sick of the constant barking and how much attention this dog needs. He keeps saying how much he doesn't like the dog, etc. I know he doesn't HATE him, but my husband is SO not an animal person!!!
He blames it on me of course cause the whole 6 months, Ive babied him of course and always give him attention, which I believe I should!! But I just cant get a break!!
He will bark and bark until about 8:30/9:00 at night and that's when he'll just lay on the couch and chew on a bone.
If I put him outside, he'll go run around for a bit, but then he's body slamming against the door and barking to come in.
Maybe separation anxiety cause he wants to be with momma?? How do I get him to be more independant!?!?!

As I'm typing this now (which only took a few minutes) I hear him banging on the back door!! UGH!!!!

[ST33L3R]

I have a GS that whines constantly.. He is driving everyone in the house crazy with it. He gets all the attention. How can we make this stop. Typically he's ran 2/3 miles per evening with 20/30 minutes of play in the morning. We do think this is enough excercise for a 6 month old GS, but we don't know for sure. He's fed twice a day and has a 3 gallon water container... So food and water shouldn't be the issue. We are at a loss with this whining at times. He gets 8-10 bathroom breaks daily and play time in the yard, when the weather permits. Is this normal???