Ignore or correct?

[mamma6]

Wondering the best way to handle barking.

Mostly, I'm thinking we should ignore most times.......like when we first put him in his crate, he barks for a few minutes. Then he settles down, usually. Ignore the initial complaints from him?

Or random barking when he is walking around b/c he hears something.....noise on tv, sees something outside, etc. The younger kids will go to him and say, "What's the matter, Krok?" But I told them, he will learn that barking gets him attention that way.....am I right in that?

A somewhat different issue is the outside cat, who loves to sit on the deck in full view of Krok. I think she enjoys taunting him! Krok paces around, barking. He is correctable, like I will tell him, "leave it" and put him in a sit stay, then lead him to the other room. He will do this....but is soon back in there, barking and pacing around at the cat. If I crate him at this time, his barking escalates.

So two different issues, I think. Minor, random, short lived barking.

And the outside cat.

How should I handle each situation?

[GusGus]

If its a problem, teach him to bark on command, then teach him a stop command. Barking in the crate is only to be let out or for attention. I'm not sure if the above will work for that as well, but it should work for other instances.

[mamma6]

I read about doing that. It seems backward somehow.....like you are rewarding the dog for barking at first. But I guess the idea is that you need to teach him "quiet" also?

We tried it just now.......he sort of got it. But then when I ended the training session, he just started barking and barking. My sixteen year old says, "Great, now you just taught him that if he barks, he gets treats and he'll never stop" lol!

[Blanketback]

It's great that he settles once he's in the crate, so I'd keep ignoring those barks. I teach my dogs, "Quiet" because I like the alert barking - up to a point, lol. If it's from a noise outside, I'll check that out. If it's from the tv, I tell him he's silly, lol. I didn't teach him to bark on command. What I did was when he was barking I'd say, "Quiet" and make a little noise - he'd stop barking to listen to that, and I'd say, "Good Quiet!" He still needs to have the odd time-out reminder in his crate when he refuses to stop, like when our neighbors are going down the road on horseback, lol.

[mamma6]

OK, I'll keep working on the "speak/quiet" thing. I really think he'll get it.

Any advice on the outside cat? It's getting very tiring. The cat sits out there all day long. My son finally got sick of the barking and went out to move the cat somewhere else. Krok reeeeeallllly wanted to get out that door with him and get that cat.

What I finally ended up doing today is sitting at the table near the door. Krok circled around and around the table, barking at the cat every time he went by the sliding glass door. So I started telling him "leave it" when he got near the door.....and telling him "good boy" every time he made a round without barking. But he was still circling. And when no one is around to correct him, he just stands there and barks incessantly.

I can hear him out there starting to bark right now.....so I guess the cat is back. Is there a better way to handle this?

[GusGus]

Originally Posted by mamma6

OK, I'll keep working on the "speak/quiet" thing. I really think he'll get it.

Any advice on the outside cat? It's getting very tiring. The cat sits out there all day long. My son finally got sick of the barking and went out to move the cat somewhere else. Krok reeeeeallllly wanted to get out that door with him and get that cat.

What I finally ended up doing today is sitting at the table near the door. Krok circled around and around the table, barking at the cat every time he went by the sliding glass door. So I started telling him "leave it" when he got near the door.....and telling him "good boy" every time he made a round without barking. But he was still circling. And when no one is around to correct him, he just stands there and barks incessantly.

I can hear him out there starting to bark right now.....so I guess the cat is back. Is there a better way to handle this?

First, I know its frustrating, but try to be as relaxed and calm as possible. Try doing a controlled walk by the door while the cat is outside. When you see the first sign of excitement, calmly poke him and say no. Once his attention is on you reward. Don't pull him away. This is what I do with Gus and other dogs.

Leash him. Walk him by another dog (at a comfort level of space) when I see him get excited I stop, tell him no. And when his attention is in me I say walk and we move forward. I don't force him, but occasionally have to stand in front if him (but never block his vision.) And try to get him to focus on me. Once he walks away calmly on his own with me I reward.

[mamma6]

Thanks, Gus.

You know, on leash, he is pretty dang good. I have been doing what you say on leash, outside and he is always quick to divert his attention back to me.

On leash, inside he is the same way. I can walk around the house with him and past the window and he knows he needs to behave.

The problem is when he's not on leash.....then he barks freely and paces round and round. I can use the leash inside, but no way can do it every time.....cause it's all day long.

I am staying calm about it all....it's just annoying.

[Blanketback]

It just takes time and consistency. And lots of patience, to stay calm, lol.
You're doing great


ETA: forgot to mention, cats can really enjoy teasing dogs! I had better luck getting my puppy to behave with my cat when I gave the cat a verbal correction too. Don't ask me why. Try telling the outdoor cat off, and see if it helps. Good luck!

[mamma6]

Thanks!

lol on correcting the cat! My oldest son did, the cat just looked at him and yawned. : p

[blackshep]

For the cat, just open the door. Problem solved