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Friday, 28 November 2008

Barking mad

I have two dogs, one Parson Jack Russel who is five and one 11 month old Yorkshire Terrier cross, the problem is with the Parson Jack Russel, she is well behaved when in the house, but when we take her out and she sees another dog, she just won't stop barking, even when she goes up to the other dog and meets him/her, she will bark really loudly in their face, the Yorkshire Terrier cross is well behaved out, she loves meeting other dogs but has started picking up bad habits from my Parson Terrier and tries copying her when she barks at other dogs, any advice please on how to cure this embarrassing and very annoying behaviour, so that it can be more enjoyable when going out.
Emma Rich, by email

Can anyone suggest anything to help Emma?
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5 comments:

  1. Fiona Mackenzie. Writer6 December 2008 at 12:34

    You could have been talking about my little Jack Russell terrier. Like her, I think your dog is very nervous and wants to shout, 'leave me alone!'

    I am been using Victoria Stilwell's technique of walking back from on coming dogs - with my dog on a lead, and rewarding her if she's quiet. Easier said than done and it does help if you have someone to walk with you. Sorry it's difficult to explain but I'm sure there are other sucessful methods too.

    Bramble, my dog, is improving but it's been four weeks of hard work. You'll get there.

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  2. Anonymous12 December 2008 at 07:15

    Hi, I am a behaviourist and work closely with dogs today Mag. It sounds like your dog hasn't met enough dogs, every dog needs to meet lots of dogs every day but each dog has their own individual requirements- some are more nervous than others. I would suggest meeting up with lots of friendly and calm dogs. Try to stay calm and don't stop walking. If you stop you may well find your dog thinks you too are scared. The process where by you meet lots of the problem area (in your case dogs) is known as flooding. It should take around 2 weeks of meeting about 10 dogs, if not more every day. If you are meeting this number regularly you can also try interrupting her behaviour with Noise Aversion Therapy. A great device for this is a Pet Corrector, allow her to go up to the dog to check out that the dog is not a threat. Try to walk with the other dog. Split second meetings wont cure the issue but prolonged encounters generally do. The pet corrector can be sprayed (quietly at first) if she continues to bark. This is indirect and direct therapy. She needs to learn other dogs aren't scary but also needs to learn that you wont accept the barking.

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  3. Anonymous20 December 2008 at 16:17

    I think it would be extremely difficult, if not nigh on impossible to meet 10 calm, friendly dogs every day. I also think "flooding" is rather cruel & is definitely not for dogs who are sensitive or nervous.

    I would try distraction with a favourite toy while walking calmly past other dogs & reward calm behaviour with lots of treats or an exciting game with the toy.

    How does your Parson Russell behave when off lead around other dogs?

    (Chapstaff)

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  4. Anonymous9 January 2009 at 13:26

    distraction I feel would not be effective as this is prevention rather than cure. If you distract the dog from the thing it is nervous of it wont notice it. I also don't agree that stuffing a dog full of treats is very good. I had the same problem with my dog and I used a method similar to Amy's and my dog worked out for herself that other dogs were ok.

    I'm not sure how flooding is cruel as you arent forcing the dog to meet other dogs, the dog would have to make the choice for itself.

    Most importantly......
    The purpose of the think tank is for everyone to help, not accuse one another of being cruel!

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  5. Elizabeth Underwood10 April 2009 at 02:01

    I have three dogs a Springer(Missie) 12yrs,a red setter(Rosie)7yrs and a new edition our mini schnauzer(Jilly)10mths (notorious barkers) missie arrived with us at 9 yrs old already a barker. Rosie never barks as she was bought as a pup and taught to bark on command i found that this stopped the barking other than requested to do so ie giving the bark a reason so when i brought little Jilly home in august last year having spoken to mini owners and done my research i knew that she would have a predisposition to bark, so we all encorage quiet behaviour and as i did with my children if she was being quiet she was fussed quietly and then played with encoraging the good behavior the same when we walk Jilly also will if unchecked bark at just about anything however when walking quietly she is rewarded with fuss and the occasional treat which she now looks for when we are walking rather than looking for things to bark at. I also occasionally walk the dogs independantly as this appears to encorage a bond between myself and the dogs and makes it clear who they should be listening to, Jilly is stil a work in progress and i'm working on traing her to bark on command which she loves! to love every aspect of your dog and embrace it should mean that a nervous dog will cease barking and look to its owner for reasurance and command and look forward to a fab barking game when they can release that natural urge WOOF!

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