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| Barking! | |
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| Topic Started: Apr 27 2009, 10:37 PM (362 Views) | |
| Tafia | Apr 27 2009, 10:37 PM Post #1 |
Total Gas Bag!
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We live opposite an elderly lady who for the past 4 years has been complaining about the dogs barking at night. When she first said something about it I stopped Boo going into the garden at night by herself (Davey doesn't bark hardly at all), anyway cutting long story short - it's someone else's dog - I've heard it - but she's fixated on it being my "Yorkshire Terriers", everytime I see her she mentions it so I've told her to get in contact with the council. Unfortunately, Boo has been noisier in the garden during the day lately and bearing the old lady in mind, I thought I should nip it in the bud. If she barked I called her in and gave her a treat. Worked brilliantly apart from whenever she fancied a treat, she ran down the garden barking at the top of her lungs. :blush: It was getting ridiculous. Last week she upped the anti and really went for it so I caved in. If she started barking I chucked water near her (actually she's way too quick for me anyway, I'd have missed everytime) but the point is, it worked within two days - even when dogs in the park having been going crazy at the backgate she's giving it one bark and walking away. I'm not very pleased with myself because of not being keen on aversives but couldn't think of another way around it - typically the breed are smart problem solvers, manipulative and most thinking is done outside the box. In this instance it's purely academic because the problem is solved - but does anyone have any idea's on how else I might have been able to go about it. |
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| Linda & Fred | Apr 28 2009, 06:52 AM Post #2 |
Chatterbox
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The 'proper' way of going about these things is complete behaviour modification where you work out why she's doing it and teach her an alternative behaviour in a kind and gentle manner. But I don't know how you go about these things as I've still not started my studies properly, am just quietly working my way through the reading list. With Fred barking I have to 'investigate' and then tell him it is 'all clear' and he shuts up, but it hasn't actually stopped the behaviour - he still barks and I still have to respond. Ideally he'd learn to stop barking unless there is a prowler, or someone knocks at the door (just a couple of barks then be quiet without being told). I've got no problems with aversives since I've left Brainwashing Pages. Dogs are always coming up against things they don't like and so not doing that again - like walking on thistles or sniffing a cat. I've got rattle cans around the house for Fred's jumping up (which also helped to stop his attacks on Beauty) and a squirty water bottle for my daycare pup when he starts harassing Fred. |
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| Tafia | Apr 28 2009, 02:24 PM Post #3 |
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Total Gas Bag!
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It would be interesting to know what the "gold standard" recommendation is, so if you remember, let me know when you find out! I know why she started, a couple of years ago we had a friends dog stop for a month whilst they were on holiday. Up to that point she'd never bothered barking at the gate but Eric did - hence a couple of local dogs, walking along the path at the back, started targetting the gate and within a week Boo joined in. She's built it up from there - it's basically just a learned behaviour which has become a habit. She's been outside for the past hour, dogs walking up and down and there's not been a squeak from her, so it looks as though the habits been broken thank goodness. |
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| Marean | Apr 28 2009, 02:42 PM Post #4 |
Total Gas Bag!
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Mikki discs worked with Harvey. He's always been vocal when we let him out the back. I was going trianing with him at the time and the trainer suggested I used them. Had to tune him into them first by putting a treat in front of him and then as he went to take them clinked the discs and said 'no'. I was amazed at how quickly he cottoned on, I used to have them by the back door and clinked them just as he was going out. After a while my neighbours asked if we still had him as they hadn't heard him :lol: Since we moved I didn't carry on with it + we have the added incentive of dogs next door who Harvey dislikes intensely :rolleyes: I would certainly recommend them though ;) |
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| Tafia | Apr 28 2009, 02:50 PM Post #5 |
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Total Gas Bag!
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I remembered you posting about training disks before Marie, did have a look locally but couldn't find any unfortunately. Having a tap full of water and loosing patience put a stop to my search! |
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| Marean | Apr 28 2009, 03:04 PM Post #6 |
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Total Gas Bag!
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Canine concepts just in case you fancy giving them a go :ok: |
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| Tafia | Apr 28 2009, 03:59 PM Post #7 |
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Total Gas Bag!
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Thanks Marie. :flower: |
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| Red Rascal | Apr 28 2009, 08:15 PM Post #8 |
Chatterbox
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I have heard good things about Calming Bands , never tried them though. |
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| Linda & Fred | Apr 28 2009, 08:55 PM Post #9 |
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Chatterbox
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I had a calming band for Fred's jumping up and it shut him down. I've lost it now. You can make them yourself from a bit of elastic. |
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| Tafia | Apr 28 2009, 10:49 PM Post #10 |
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Total Gas Bag!
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Oh brilliant. Love the whole TT concept so exactly the sort of thing I'd be interested in trying. Thanks! |
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| dawnie | Apr 29 2009, 11:30 AM Post #11 |
Chatterbox
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Tia has a habit of haring out the door and barking at thin air - i think its her way of saying "get out the way i'm coming!" so i have to hold her back when i open the door and tell her to be calm. Dolly barks at noises which then starts Milo off. But the one thing i would love to nip in the bud is Milo's barking for attention. My poor friend came round at the weekend and she was cutting my rhubard and he barked right in her earhole!! Dolly will stop if you spray her with water, Milo just shakes his head and looks as if to say "corr this is fun" then carries on! This is a massive concern for me now i'm looking to move as i'm scared of having neighbours gardens either side of mine incase the dogs kick off. |
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| RJL | Apr 29 2009, 09:03 PM Post #12 |
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Chatterbox
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'Brainwasing Pages' :lol: who could you mean?! Anyway - I stop barking by rewarding it (yeah - I'm mad) with a 'speak' command and then once I've got that, I bring in a 'quiet' - delivered in a loud, but calm voice with a hand signal - just to confuse the dog into looking (as in 'why on Earth is she moving her hand like that?!') and momentarily shutting up - at which point I jump in with a treat or a toy (depending on what's the biggest turn on for the dog) and go all light and happy and joyous and pretend it's the most amazing thing I've ever seen the dog do! I only bring in the 'quiet' when I've got the dog actually speaking on command, for a reward, so when I teach the 'quiet' there isn't the added incentive to bark of a real live 'situation' - just me holding a toy saying 'speak'. It just makes it all a bit more fun :) I agree about aversives (why do we invent silly pseudo-scientific names for everything these days :P ) dogs and people encounter them in every day life - not a big deal if used in a fair and timely way, as long as the actual wanted behaviour has a suitably nice reward. |
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| Tafia | Apr 29 2009, 09:10 PM Post #13 |
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Total Gas Bag!
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Interesting. I was wondering today whether ALL of Boo's idiosyncratic behaviour is in someway or another just her way of controlling the reward system. By continually manipulating me into situations where I need to reward perfectly, normal behaviour ...... wouldn't put it past her. I've said it before and think I'll continue for, at least, the rest of her life - lb per lb she's a whole lot brighter than me. :blush: |
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| Linda & Fred | Apr 30 2009, 04:33 PM Post #14 |
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Chatterbox
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I've noticed that by rewarding dogs doing nice heelwork, and when they look at me (just verbal for that one) every now and then on an offlead walk I get various different dogs trotting alongside me, looking up at me. If I give them a treat they scoff it and rush off. I've been cued to dispense a treat! It's not just Fred who does it either, have also seen it from a beagle, whippet and a weimy! Must be me. :ermm: Who'd be a dog owner!? :ph43r: |
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| strawboss | Jun 7 2009, 04:23 AM Post #15 |
Chatterbox
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Maya had been barking at the fence when other dogs (& the odd person) went by & it's a busy street :( Got so I couldn't relax with her outside, & her behaviour with other dogs in other situations while improved, still wasn't totally acceptable especially on leash. So I called a trainer & they put us straight! Turns out she didn't think of me as the pack leader & felt it was her job to defend the fence/house! A few rather simple changes to my behaviour & it's like she's a new dog! :yippee: A dozen dogs have passed since & only one gentle barking fit which was quickly controlled unlike the maniacal beast that scared people witless in the past. Walking is now a pleasure, we pass within inches of other dogs now & she's reserved & polite....unless it's a big bouncy black pup who she can't resist rough-housing with! :rolleyes: We still have 5-6 weeks to go but the results of the first session were fantastic! Edited by strawboss, Jun 7 2009, 04:26 AM.
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