Dog Talk BlogTraining and Behavior Insights by Barb Gordon

GOOD MORNING DOG WORLD!                                         

We have had quite a few weeks of winter here, starting December 17^th with two feet of snow in less than 24 hours. For three weeks afterwards Mother Nature pointed her snowy finger directly towards us dumping over 80 inches of the white stuff over roof and road. My husband Jack got weary of shoveling and plowing and the dogs got tired of a maze of narrow paths around their once open meadows. No one could understand why the weather man was smiling as he reported yet another 8” of drifting snow falling overnight.

I got a forced vacation from lessons and classes at the dog school. Even though our road was clear, folks were having a difficult time digging out of the five foot high berms the city plows dumped into their driveways and over their cars. After I read and reread some training articles, e-mailed friends with dog problems, put the dogs on the treadmill and did a bit of training out in the school, I decided to focus my energy onto our Min Pins, Unique and Prada. They have a little barking problem I’ve put on the back burner. All my friends of course are shocked that Min Pins bark.J

I’m overjoyed that they let me know someone is at the door, but then I want them to stop on command. I absolutely know how to address this issue, but with my usual busy schedule I’ve let it slide. You know that the shoe makers children never have shoes, so there you have it. I no longer had the excuse of not enough time, so I got down to business.

I’m sure that everyone I’ve taught this to now has a dog that will let them know that someone is at the door, then stop barking on command. Their dogs now know that a leaf going by the window is to be ignored. O one cares if the cat has a mouse or what the children next door are doing.

We know that our little dogs are triggered by knocking at the door, so I started out with knocking on the door myself. This instantly brought them racing at full speed around the corner and raising the high pitched bark howl combined alarm. It’s at a level no one can ignore and sometimes get annoyed with. I let them bark a couple times then told them, “Quiet.” As soon as they stopped they received a treat. At first they have to get the last bark in, but in no time they got the little game. Patience is the only true virtue when it comes to training or retaining dogs, so you will need plenty of it if you too have this problem.

The next step was to have my husband Jack go outside and knock on the door. Sure enough this produced another round of alarm barking. Certainly a serial killer was on the other side of the door. Once again they quickly got how to earn the treat. Have I cured the problem? Not by a long shot. Like everyone I would love it if I could address a problem behavior and have it vanish after one session. The reality is that you have to be very consistent. As a dog owner, this is our responsibility. I always tell dog owners that repetition and consistency trains dogs. Nothing else works. Once you start any plan, you have to stick with it, so next time I have someone come to my door I’m committed to following through with the plan, or get used to putting up with the problem.