Kate Naito, CDBC, CPDT-KA, FFCP, ADP-CI, MS
  • Home
  • Lessons
    • UDEMY Classes
  • About
    • Appearances
  • Books
  • Videos
  • Home
  • Lessons
    • UDEMY Classes
  • About
    • Appearances
  • Books
  • Videos

Put a Lid on Bossy Barking

11/22/2018

0 Comments

 
   Does your dog thrash and squeal while you prepare his food as if to say, “Hurry up, human”? Bark at you when you don’t throw the ball fast enough? Protest when the treats or playtime ends? You may have a Bossy Barker on your hands.
   Canine vocalizations can have a number of meanings, expressing everything from elation to fear. If you consider your dog’s barking a nuisance or problem, it’s important to identify the underlying emotions for the outburst. The Bossy Bark generally indicates frustration intolerance; that is, the dog gets frustrated because he wants that food/ball/attention NOW. By implementing a few rules based on force-free training, you can teach your pup patience, which will in turn reduce or stop the bossy barking.
   Click "Read More" if you don't see the text below.
   Why does a dog bark at you when he wants something? Well, because it works! Your clever dog will learn that, when he makes a fuss, you might give in. Then he gets extra treats or a longer game of fetch. The solution to this is simple but takes consistency. You will teach your dog to say “please” by sitting (or offering another polite behavior) whenever he wants something. Should he start making a racket or jumping on you, you will give him the opposite of what he wants: he will get ignored. If he is consistently given only two scenarios — sitting gets him what he wants and being rude gets him ignored — he will learn to make the right choice on his own. With time, he will automatically sit for whatever he wants, right off the bat. Now that’s a polite dog!

Rude Behavior is Ignored
Starting this moment, any time your dog demand-barks at you, he gets ignored immediately. Avoid saying anything, including “shhh,” as even negative attention can encourage him. Follow these steps.
  1. Hold a toy or treat that your dog likes. The moment he starts bossy-barking for it, turn your body away and do not say anything. Make sure you respond to the first sign of impatience, which sends the clear message that you will not cater to his barking.
  2. Once he has quieted down, you can acknowledge him again and proceed to “Say Please” below.

Say Please
Ignoring will teach your dog what he shouldn’t do, but that’s only half the equation. Say Please teaches him how to perform a polite behavior instead. For most dogs, Sit is the universal polite behavior, but a Down or Stand will work just fine, too. Your dog is welcome to request his toy, food, or leash, but you will only respond if he sits first. Follow these steps.
  1. Hold a toy or treat. If your dog barks or jumps, ignore him as above.
  2. When he has stopped barking, turn back facing him and silently wait.
  3. Eventually he will think to sit. Say “good dog!” and reward with the item he wanted.
You may have to turn around several times before your dog can focus on sitting. Be patient. Also notice that I don’t use the verbal cue, “sit,” here. Let your dog figure out what it takes to get that goodie on his own. By making him think it through rather than just telling him what to do, you’re setting him up to make more good decisions in the future.
   Repeat these steps every time your dog wants something from you, whether it’s an object in your hand or a “service” such as getting a door opened, getting invited on the couch, etc. By being consistent on your end, you’re giving your dog clear guidelines by which to live. If you give in once in a while, keep in mind that it will confuse your dog in the long run. Rules are much harder and more frustrating to follow when they are enforced intermittently. Stay strong and be consistent, and you’ll reap the rewards with a more patient, quiet dog.

This article originally ran here at petguide.com.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Welcome!

    Kate is a certified dog behavior consultant, certified dog trainer, certified Fear Free professional, certified dog parkour instructor, and award-winning author. 

    She owns High Ten Dog Training, LLC in Stamford, CT and trains with Doggie Academy in Brooklyn, NY. 

    ​
    Get comfy on the couch with (or without) your pup and enjoy Kate's training articles, videos, and more!


    Categories

    All
    Adoption And Rescue
    B: Barking
    Behavior Issues
    Doorbell Solutions
    Hand Target
    K: Knocking People Over
    Life With Dogs
    L: Leash Walking
    Management
    N: Naughty When Alone
    Parkour
    Place
    Recall
    Separation Anxiety
    Sports
    Toy & Product Reviews
    Training
    Tricks


    Archives

    February 2023
    July 2022
    January 2022
    August 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017


    The views expressed on this website belong to Kate Naito and may not reflect the views of the agencies with which she trains.

    RSS Feed

© COPYRIGHT 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.