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Originally Posted by deonk1  I have a barker.. he is highly reactive to other dogs. originally it was only larger dogs, but now it's just any other dog. We train in agility and I think the atmosphere of other reactive dogs has started to wear off on him.
Here are some of the things I do, cause the above stuff didn't work for me either:
1- we go to a weekly tiny dog class that is put on my trainer. While at these classes while others are working on puppy training, (I've been training with her for 2 years) I work on more advanced stuff and then reward calm and quiet. For me walking away from the issue DOES NOT HELP. So during this class we noticed that if Harley is taken away from me (the mothership, or in your case fathership  ) he quiets down. By being with me he gets more tense and wants me to "protect him" he calms down and has learned that if he wants to stay with momma, he has to be calm and quiet, and episodes while in this class and he is taken away from me until he is quiet. This class allows him to build confidence with dogs his size who cannot hurt him if they are rough or loud.
2- If you know the dog he is barking at isn't going to eat him, do one of two things. While in a secured and fenced area, drop the leash. I can almost guarentee you he'll stop barking when he realizes you're not holding him and the other dog reacts calmly, he'll have an OMG WTH momment, and run behind you... if you're not in a secure area and you know the dog wont eat him, then stand there, do not move, or pull on the leash... let him bark (it may take 10 min the first time, so thank the other person for their patience) as soon as he stops say "thank-you" if he decides to turn towards you say "good" or click if you use a clicker. Give a treat if he comes all the way back to you (I'm assuming he'll be pulling on the leash to bark at the other dog). He will likely start barking again, just keep doing this. Eventually it will get worse, and then he'll realize that barking does NOTHING and he gets treats for calmly coming to you. Distinguish between "thank-you" meaning thanks for letting me know there is a dog, and "good" which means you stopped and stayed quiet so now you get a reward.
3- you mentioned you went to obedience classes and you had to stay far away. This is ok. A GOOD trainer will assure to accommodate and help you. I also attend agility classes weekly, and during this class the other 5 dogs stay in the ring, and I have to sit outside the fence. I started bringing a partner with me to help me reward quiet. We stay outside the ring unless it is our turn to work on equipment. I always pick him up to transport him from the quiet area to the actual ring. He usually growls in my arms. I've also started bringing a crate/xpen with me and play crate games while it's not our turn, today was his quietest day yet.
So one thing my coach told me is to pick one battle at a time, I allow him to squeal and growl thus far in my arms. So long as he isn't all and out barking I don't care. Once that improves then I'll attack growling, and squealling. |
Thanks for that thorough response. It looks like my dog is similar to yours. He is definitely a feisty littly barker. I don't think he's just protective, he's just an aggressive little guy he loves to bark at people.
Just the other day I was at the gas station and I forgot to harness him into his booster seat. He saw a woman holding a baby and he just darted out of the car yapping and growling at her. She said she actually was scared he would nip her. He doesn't nip though, he just barks and seems aggressive. He's under 3 lbs though so most people just smile when he's barking at them LOL
Even on walks he will sometimes start barking at a trashcan or tree....frustrates me.
Here's in response to your numbered recommendations:
1. I will try this. I have not really tried it in the class or with strangers. I guess he is very attached to me.
2. makes lots of sense I will try this. he can calm down with dogs eventually, like he's been around my friends dogs, and though he'll bark tons at first if you put them in a room together he will stop after he gets it all out.
3. yes I will continue with the classes, i think exposure and repetition is necessary
Also, Teresa thanks for your recommendations. I will keep doing the QUIET and no bark. I am now saying quiet then GOOD QUIET as a sort of praise/command. I'm doing this all the time with him. I expose him to lots of situations with people, dogs etc, so he should overcome this.
I have been commending him for being quiet over and over again so hopefully this is starting to catch on in his head
Perhaps I was over exposing him to situations making him bark? I will practice leash walking him more in the house instead of out in the real world...