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01-13-2014, 06:39 PM | #1 |
YT Addict Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 284
| Barking at other dogs, and people on walks. Leo has started to bark at other dogs, and sometimes people whenever he's outside or on a walk. He even did it today in the car, because there was someone next to us fixing their car. He just turned 5 months old today, and the barking started about 2 weeks ago. I don't understand, because whenever I or another family member had him outside we always allowed other people to pet him, and he was allowed to sniff other dogs. Today, while he was on a walk, there was an old dog walking past us, and Leo stood there and got really stiff, then started to bark. Normally if I, or whoever's walking him says "No" and jerks on the leash he'll stop, but today he wouldn't stop. Oh, jeez, do I have another barker on my hands? Zoey barks at other dogs in my neighborhood, but once she's out of the neighborhood she's a "princess". Leo barks at other dogs, and people no matter where he's at. His first day of puppy classes he barked at the 6 month old Min Pin in the class. How do I correct this behavior before it gets worse? Will the puppy classes help out with that? BTW, he's still bullying Zoey..He's been doing this since the day I brought him home. Poor Zoey is hesitant to walk around the house because he'll just come out of nowhere and bite at her. Now he's started to bite at her neck, and pull on it. He'll also bite at her hind legs. Zoey will yip, and whine when Leo does this but 9/10 times Leo will continue. Could Leo be aggressive? =(
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01-15-2014, 07:36 PM | #2 |
♥Love My Puppies!♥ Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: US
Posts: 5,786
| I hope someone can give you some suggestions. I know there are some great trainers on here.
__________________ RIP My Sweet Darling Angel Daisy 08/09/03 - 10/02/15, RIP My Sweet Baby Boy Teddy Bear 02/01/04 - 02/11/16 Photos HERE |
01-15-2014, 08:03 PM | #3 |
♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas
Posts: 22,140
| I'd take some treats with me - luscious, juicy, warm boiled chicken in a treat pouch - and pull one of those big, loud-smelling chunks out every time a dog approaches, cross the street to the opposite sidewalk if possible at first and hold the chicken treat in your fist along side your leg or out in front of you and say "Focus" and let him follow his nose and sniff it and keep his attention on trying to get it out of your fist as the dog approaches and walks on past. Repeat the word "Focus" a couple of times as you engage his nose and attention with your fist full of chicken so that he learns that that word means he's to look at your fist and stay sniffing at it and focused on it and not other things going on if he wants that treat. The idea is to keep him busy working to get that treat out of your fist, keeping his nose and eyes engaged by your enticing, moving fist and he'll totally ignore the passing dog. Once the dog is past and he didn't bark or look in its direction, he gets the treat and your "Good Boy" praise and a little stroke of his chest or tickle of the back of his ear. If he does look at the dog or bark, take the leash and walk him in a very tight circle with your fist of chicken in his face to keep him busy walking and sniffing. The tight circle walking with the chicken out in front of him should keep him fully distracted as the dog goes on past. Don't be discouraged by his not ignoring passing dogs completely at first since he's no doubt getting a bit possessive and territorial now that he's growing up and it will take him some time to adjust to the new training but in time he'll learn that if he does stay focused on the treat and follow only your direction and fist with his eyes and nose, he'll get that treat for ignoring anything passing him or going on and that if he barks or looks at the dog, you say "uh oh", he gets nothing and you put the treat back in the treat pouch. In time, you won't have to cross the street to the opposite sidewalk and he will learn to ignore oncoming dogs and "Focus" on your hand and in time, as you phase out the chicken for lesser appetizing treats and then no treats, only praise, he'll have learned that his job is to ignore oncoming dogs and pay attention to only you. He'll keep looking at you for quite some time for a treat but in time will forget that and just enjoy his walk without the need to bark or feel territorial or protective. But occasionally, he'll be irritated by a certain dog's attitude or its tail being carried too high and he'll perhaps bark. Just hold out your fist, say "Focus" and possibly walk him in a tight circle and remind him of his training and he'll get back in step with the program. That should earn him a "Good Boy" praise and smile. Always praise your dog for doing what you ask of him.
__________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis |
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