I started rewarding the first 1-2 barks, then i check on the offender, end with a “thank you, that’s enough”

[mauricio512]

I feel like they’re responding well to praise and me double-checking their work. They used to carry on, but now make eye contact with me after alerting, and wait for me to check on it, and will leave it. At worst, one of them will grumble in her inside voice.

I’ve been trying to work on finding meaningful compromises that allow their natural instincts to be utilized instead of shutting them down.

This is probably the hardest one

 

[pixeloriousspriteson]

@mauricio512 ooohhh i love this. we have a barker. i'm going to try this

 

[mauricio512]

@pixeloriousspriteson We’re in a single family, so thankfully the upstairs neighbor doesn't exist.

But there was a big debate today in the house if the brown things were dogs (bad) or deer (neutral). It was a deer, so we could all calm down.

The only times they get a NO. Is when they go crazy over dogs while in the car or watching the front window. They can get too intense and can redirect to each other, so that gets nipped in the bud.

 

[shotaro]

@mauricio512 Urgh my dogs can redirect to each other as well. I hate that shit show when it happens. Mine are big too so it stresses me to death

 

[mauricio512]

@shotaro Same. It’s awful. I hate it so much. And it’s stupid because they love each other so much but they need to be left alone in the car sometimes and sometimes there’s dogs. It’s the most stressful thing

 

[shotaro]

@mauricio512 Yup I totally understand. Mine love each other to bits and then if the wrong trigger comes at the wrong time they are at risk of eating one another. I have to leave a babygate between them when I leave the house and have them in separate parts of the car just in case something goes by and I am not there to manage them.

Bloody dogs!

 

[bee_brian]

@mauricio512 Sorry I know this is an old post (reading through successes!), and probably not a feasible suggestion for you, but with our dog I pull across parcel shelf to stop him seeing out the window or (he’s in a crate so can’t see street level).

If you see this, how’s the method going?

 

[mauricio512]

@bee_brian It’s going pretty good. They haven’t scuffled in the car in a long time

 

[wallnutbob]

@mauricio512 I'm glad someone else thanks their dogs when they bark xD. I'm like "I know it was a very scary car that went by, thank you for letting me know. Yep I know it was there, momma heard too. Thank you. Alright that's enough" xD.

I use "show me what's wrong" a lot when they're clearly upset and it's amazing how they can communicate with you what they are needing.

 

[mauricio512]

@wallnutbob My dogs are fear based reactions, so I’ve found the best training method for reactivity is to just acknowledge their fear and help them work past it.

I also like barking at times. We just bought a fixer upper that was being used as a drug house and one of the guys (who broke in once) walked by the house and i just let them bark as loud as they want as he walked away.

It’s not like potty training where it’s a completely undesirable trait. I don’t want them thinking that they’re never allowed to bark.

 

[wallnutbob]

@mauricio512 Exactly! They have different barks that if you pay attention you know their "I'm scared" bark, their "I'm protecting you" bark, their "play" bark, and their "I need attention" bark.

Being a single, young adult female I am 100% confident 2 of my dogs would protect me to the very end and have deep barks that sound very threatening!

 

[mauricio512]

@wallnutbob Being a young adult female i am 100% sure that 3/4 of my dogs would protect me, the other would cower. This was proven when there was a bear in the backyard and three of them valiantly barker (and I’ve never seen their hackles up like that)

While the fourth quickly and quietly hid under the bed

 

[thelightshow]

@mauricio512 I would love to know some of the techniques you used for this! My dog is bred to alert bark. But is also dog and sometimes people reactive. Hid barking is VERY loud, like ear piercing. I don't mind if he barks once or twice but so far it's sort of an all in effort.

We've been working on check ins and rewarding a check in with no barking and verbal praise if he barks then checks in.

I was worried about him patterning and continuing to bark- check in over and over ?