The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Pets & Working Animals => Dogs => Topic started by: plumseverywhere on January 20, 2013, 03:39:26 pm
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Does it just happen naturally or is there some degree of instruction needed to encourage a dog to bark when the doorbell rings etc? He's only 5 months or so, so probably too soon but Murphy just looks at me a bit odd - as did the Tesco man when he looked through the window and saw me on all 4's saying "woof woof woof" to the dog a couple of weeks ago. That method is obviously a fail.
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Emmm - this is the opposite of the usual problem. :innocent:
Does he bark at any other time? If so, every time he barks give him a command - you can use the word 'bark' or 'jingopoo' or anything else - so long as you always use the same one, and praise him. Keep cat biscuits in your pocket and throw a few down for him.
I teach my dogs to bark now, and my old girl is a pest as I didn't teach her and she barks incessantly when she want's something. Mine all bark at the doorbell but stop when I tell them to(even her!)
If he's not barking at anything yet you'll just have to wait until he does I think..
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It comes more natural to some breeds than others.
Saying that, a natural guard male german shepherd I had a few years ago was so people friendly that we stopped the window cleaner coming as he always brought different young lads from a not so good area. They would put their arms through the window to pet him. He never barked at a knock in all his 7 years.
He was trained to bark on command for trials competitions and I think this helps.
Murphy will probably start protecting his territory naturally as he matures, which is probably nearer a year old for his breeding. He is a bit young yet, just hitting lower end of his teens so there are too many exciting things to think about without worrying about keeping strangers away :roflanim:
One word of warning. Teach the command 'quiet' BEFORE teaching him to bark or you can end up with a noisy dog ::) very easy to do. Just say the command when he is looking at you without making a noise. Then praise him.
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Oops sorry doganjo, cross posted :wave:
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:wave: Great minds ................................ :excited:
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He barks if I vaccuum or if Scarlett drives her remote control campervan around - oh he also barks at the cat when he thinks he's at a really safe distance..until she walks near him and he runs.
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There you are then - two new commands - Quiet and Bark! :excited:
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I would be careful teaching the command to bark as the situations you mention are not a bark at the doorbell. You could potentially encourage him to get the confidence to nip or bite as you would be encouraging him to reprimand a situation he doesn't like. If, for example, he doesn't like somebody who wants to pet him outside, he then thinks he is doing what you have been asking when he nips or bites this person to stop their actions. After all, when he barks to stop the hoover or the camper, you praise him.
Hope this makes sense :thinking:
Teaching speak can be encouraged when he is excited and barking such as barking for excitement when he sees his lead for walks. As soon as he even squeaks a little bark of excitement then say the command and praise. Remember to teach the 'quiet' twice as often as the 'speak' There's nothing worse than a constant barking dog that doesn't know when to quit ;)
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Not sure why but Rhum is our barker...often to get my attention, the crafty dog also pulls the tv Ariel from outside so I have to see what she is doing..... :innocent:
I lived backing onto a woodland and a school so I used to shout "KILL" more for effect, and the dogs would run full pelt up the garden and scare the kids off who were having a crafty fag between lessons :innocent: They were a Black Lab and a German Shephard....maybe a bit extream but you can get a dog to bark if you get them excited but like everyone said, the shut up bit is more difficult....................must work on that one!!
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Teaching 'quiet' is not difficult.
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In my experience an unneutered dog will defend his territory once he's mature enough. If he sleeps in the house that'll be his territory, if he's kennelled in a barn then that is. He's alerting the rest of the pack (you) to someone who may want his dinner!
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I cheated when mine were little and played a you tube clip of a barking dog whilst I rang the doorbell. The little ones soon joined in and I never had to say a word ;)
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My Flattie is 7 and only barks occasionally if someone is at the door. More often than not, he just stands there, tail wagging, waiting to greet and kiss. ::) ;D
Most of the labs and retrievers I've owned didn't bark at the doorbell, only maybe at unexpected loud bangs.
I know it can be useful if they do but sometimes a very barky dog can be more of a problem - in my opinion.
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In my experience an unneutered dog will defend his territory once he's mature enough. If he sleeps in the house that'll be his territory, if he's kennelled in a barn then that is. He's alerting the rest of the pack (you) to someone who may want his dinner!
My entire dog only barks when the doorbell goes, and stops when I tell him.
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really interesting, can you explain more using the quiet command, how to stop the barking ......at the hoover, at the tv when dogs are on it and when waiting for her turn at puppy classes!! 6 month bassett.
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Our Choccie Lab barks in the car when the others our silent
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really interesting, can you explain more using the quiet command, how to stop the barking ......at the hoover, at the tv when dogs are on it and when waiting for her turn at puppy classes!! 6 month bassett.
These are not times to teach quiet. She can be taught it as a separate command while she is paying attention to you and is quiet. In the house to start with :thumbsup: then advance to outside. But I don't think this is whatvyou need for her barking situations.
I'd be teaching her to leavecthings when told. So she shouldvleave the Hoover and whatever is on the telly. I did this withbmy pup, he now finds them no fun as he must leave them alone ::)
Start with a treat and teach her to leave it by giving the command while the titbit is on the floor by your hand. If she advances for it you cover it. As soon as she leaves it you praise and GIVE her a bigger and better
treat ( important not to give that one as the training involves you wanting to leave alone anything you ask eventually. Ascthe time of the leave before reward lengthens you can then try other objects. Soon she shouldlose interest in the object and come for a better reward. I showed a friend this and within a week her
great Dane was leaving any sweet or toy she commanded :thumbsup:
At puppy class your instructor should be advising you how to keep her attention on you to prevent her barking rather than struggling tonstop it once it starts.
Try teaching a command to 'watch ' you then all her attention is on you. Start this at home while there are no
distractions. While she isvright next to you make a happy high voice and give the command. She should look
at you. The key is to reward with a treat that second she watches on your command. As she turns away
givecthe command again. When shevlooks, reward, after a few positive results lengthen the time she must
watch just by a couple of seconds before giving a reward. She will soon get what the word means. After a few
weeks try it outside but atvfirstcwhen there are no distractions. Soon enough you can use thisvin class so her
attention turns to you. Try to pick out her body language BEFORE she is about to bark. It is at this point you
want to give her the command to watch. Before the barking even starts.
Plums, the same could be taught to murphy too, to help with the Hoover and any time he barks at the girls' toys or items ( or tries to pinch them ;D )
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thank you, will put it all into practise, classes have been hard because she has been off her food due to the fact that some of her baby teeth hadnt come out and she had some extras growing too so 5 teeth taken out on monday and back to liking treats! Anyone reccomend the "smelliest" treats as when we are outside there far better smells than whats in my hand!
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I took out a chopped sausage the other day, a left over from kids tea. Murphy couldnt' do enough and it dragged him away from sheep poo, mouse carcusses and dead deer legs!
thanks for all the doorbell/woofing tips! am trying them all!
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Smelliest treats... the professional dog trainers all used to use teeny tiny snibbets of dried liver; they said the dogs loved them so much they'd leave pretty much anything when your hand went to your treat pouch.
As to really smelly, you can't beat a bit of paddawack or jerky - but you can't cut them up really small, which is what you want for training treats.
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I often have some paddawack or jerky in my dog walking coat..however...I also go shopping in my dog walking coat :innocent: I bet people think its me who stinks....the dogs love it though!!
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Liver cake is better than liver itself. Doesn't mess up pockets so bad. And you can cut into teeny weeny bits exactly as you should for training. They don't need nor respond to huge chunks of food - takes their mind off what you re teaching them, as they spend time chewing instead of going onto the next command.
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Liver cake is better than liver itself.
And very garlic smelling. Every dog in the neighbourhood will try to visit you while the stench of liquidized cake leaks from your oven through your Walls :roflanim:
You can teach a dog anything with this in your pocket ;)
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never heard of liver cake!
Last night we practised the "leave" excersise and we mastered it! woo hoo
Had maggie out with me today off the lead and some hens were wandering about, she went to chase them, i shouted LEAVE and she did, and came for her treat, yaay, thank you!
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http://www.k9clickertraining.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47:livercake&catid=43:recipes&Itemid=69 (http://www.k9clickertraining.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47:livercake&catid=43:recipes&Itemid=69)