Source
r/reactivedogs•
pinealwaves

Loosing my mind with barking

Hi there ok so I have two Aussies. Older one is just about to hit 2 years old and all of his puppy antics are pretty much gone. I have a younger Aussie who is almost 1 year old and he’s driving me nuts. We have worked hard with his training. I have studied behavior therapy and used a puppy training book, socialize him at the dog park and expose him to different people and places. But I live in an apartment complex and he barks like mad when he sees people going about their day. Not all people not all the time but when he does and it’s pretty much daily it’s uncontrollable. I have tried holding his mouth firmly but gently saying quiet. Didn’t work. I carry treats in my pocket and when I see a person I give them to him before he barks. But for example we just went outside and he saw another dog and started barking. He is a very sweet and gently boy and if he had his way (for example once he slipped out of his collar) he sees someone with or without a dog, barks, runs over and then just sniffs and smiles. But anyway I’m going crazy. I honestly don’t have the funds to spend hundreds on a specialized trainer right now and I am also a firm believer in that I can do it myself with the right information. Then my SO mentioned that the breeder mentioned his lineage comes from heavy barkers... I said what?! I don’t remember them saying this. Anyway I love him to pieces and every other part of him is awesome! I just want him to feel calm and that I am in control and no need to “alert” me. Please... help. My only other option I can think of right now besides always keeping treats and if he does bark, go the other way and don’t reward and - getting cbd cookies but I want to address the problem. Please and thank you!

  • a stressed out puppy parent

Posted Aug 1, 2019, 11:27 PM UTC

39
pinealwavesOP•

I just want to comment I’m literally so stressed I feel like I’m leaving out info so I may have. Another example- we went for a walk in the woods and he. Can’t stop barking at strangers. Ahh! Like I know what it feels like when an unfamiliar dog is barking it’s scary! Help

2
lewbug•

I attribute my mini-aussie's reactivity in part to his free-range access to a street-view window as puppy. I wish I had both blocked any access to peek out of windows and put up a film over the glass so that people or dogs walking would be at least obscured. Perhaps also run some sort of white noise machine so drown the sounds of people walking by so the dog is not triggered so often.

2
justjokay•

My favorite game to share: the engage disengage game. It sounds like you were already doing a bit of this, but it may take smaller baby steps. Start with less stimulating cues that would cause your dog to react, and use super high value treats.

Edited to add: You can also try reaching a “watch me” cue to get him to focus his attention on you instead of what he wants to bark at. Work up to bringing him on walks where see other people or dogs. Practice the engage disengage with friends or friend/family dogs that he knows. Work on getting consistent non-reactive responses before introducing him more exciting stimuli.

2
pinealwavesOP•

Thanks for this. I will be trying it out! I like how I can easily save the photo infographic to my phone ☺️

2
Dani3113kc•

Bring a spray bottle with water in it and spray him in the face.

Yeah its rude. Doesnt hurt them tho, it just shocks them and snaps them out of it. Plus it tells them that their behavior is naughty and they get I trouble for doing it. (The spray bottle works for my two dogs. Lol they HATE it and immediately knock it off if I even pick up the bottle now!)

Or a can with coins in it and shake it. I've heard that one before. It never worked for my dogs, but it might for yours.

-2†
justjokay•

Aversion training is NOT a good solution. It only creates an additional negative emotional response to an emotional response. This is bad advice.

3
Dani3113kc•

Aversion training is fine for some dogs, not for others. I was just giving advice on what worked for mine. Nothing else worked.

-1
justjokay•

I have to politely disagree. Positive reinforcement, counter-conditioning, and desensitization are the most effective and ethical methods for training. They result in the most consistent behaviors and do not risk adverse behaviors or fallout that aversive training methods can cause.

Edited for grammar.

3
Dani3113kc•

That's fine if you do that. It didnt work for my dogs, that's all. The best kind of training is thing that works for your dog.

For barking out of excitement, a spray bottle is magic. If the dog is barking out of fear, then it probably wont be the best solution. It just depends on why the dog is needing correction. Imho. But everyone is different and every dog is different.

0