SheltieChe
Forums Sage
just word of caution- you might be creating a chain there- "I get to play ball if I bark first" Dogs are masters at figuring out what works for them
Bark Collars
- Thread starter sheltiemom4
- Start date
sheltiemom4
Forums Enthusiast
LOL!!! that's true....but, when she brings me her ball, she stands and stares at me till I tell her to drop it..then I throw it!!!!!! It's hilarous to watch me play ball with all four of them at the same time
Toffee's Mom
Forums Sage
true, but the idea here with redirection is to get them to look for the ball when they see you reach for the offending instrument, lol ideally BEFORE they get into a nutsy barky spell, lol
danisgoat
Moderator
Just wanted to let everyone know that re-direction is working GREAT!!!! Maggie is my worst one and when she comes in to bark at me while I'm using the hairdryer, I say "get your ball" AND IT WORKS!!!!! Thank you all so very much for all your advice!!!!!!
Thanks for the feedback! I am so excited that it is working for you.
SheltieChe
Forums Sage
LOL!!! that's true....but, when she brings me her ball, she stands and stares at me till I tell her to drop it..then I throw it!!!!!! It's hilarous to watch me play ball with all four of them at the same time
it is very perceptive of you to recognize that your dogs are driving the bus...
SheltieChe
Forums Sage
the only problem I have with it that you actually not giving dog a choice so it is form of luring. One biggie I am trying to change in my training is to stay away from luring, so it is dog's choice I want to influence
In cases when they react to hairdryers etc, it is not difficult to change. Reinforce dog for staying in doggie bed and walk around the house with device at times. Build to turning it on and staying etc. I did this with body spray my pup was getting upset about and now am working on the blender...
Toffee's Mom
Forums Sage
Personally, I have a challenging time with this as it has become self rewarding behaviour for my dog, so the cat is out of the bag so to speak.
By that time he's already off the handle as soon as he hears it, or THINKS it's about to be turned on... but after I get his attention I can run the vacuum around him and he quiets down much quicker and the intensity gets lower, AFTER I get him re focused first on something else like a ball. Then I reward his choice to pay attention to me instead.
It's the initial turning the device ON that sets him off and makes him fly off the handle. I find redirecting him to the ball or something else first gets him back to focus on me and then he can relax and I can continue vacuuming or brushing my teeth! However, if I turn it off then and turn it back on, I go through t he whole routine again.
I also think no use in nitpicking, if it is positive and it helps, lol
I don't think there is anything wrong with either suggestion, as long as you know your dog and you work with what you got
sheltiemom4
Forums Enthusiast
Quote:
It's the initial turning the device ON that sets him off and makes him fly off the handle. I find redirecting him to the ball or something else first gets him back to focus on me and then he can relax and I can continue vacuuming or brushing my teeth! However, if I turn it off then and turn it back on, I go through t he whole routine again.
This is MY situation exactly!!!!
It's the initial turning the device ON that sets him off and makes him fly off the handle. I find redirecting him to the ball or something else first gets him back to focus on me and then he can relax and I can continue vacuuming or brushing my teeth! However, if I turn it off then and turn it back on, I go through t he whole routine again.
This is MY situation exactly!!!!
KarenCurtis
Forums Sage
I only have one dog, so it's easier for me. When I blow dry my hair I have to shut the bathroom door. Sandstorm will charge and bark if I don't. He still barks, but then stops because the door is closed. When I vacuum, I have to crate him, or he will herd the vacuum cleaner and bark his head off. There are some things I just won't try to get him to stop doing because it is near impossible. When I go in the bathroom just before bed he barks until I close the door. Closing the door solves the problem. Vacuuming is a different story!! He wants to herd it badly, I won't let him. I cannot imagine having four shelties.
kazie
Forums Regular
This is such a conundrum for sheltie owners. Barking is in the nature of our wonderful dogs but our ears and nerves are not made to withstand continual barking and our neighbors are even less likely to be happy with the noise. I have been marginally successful with putting Luna on a place command whenever her barking gets "over the top" and most of the time she will calm down. Notice i say "most" certainly not "all!" As far as increasing exercise, that would mean I would need to hike with her 8 hours a day and I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't have that many hours available for hiking with my dog even though it is a favorite activity. We already spend at 2 to 3 hours and hike between 4 to 6 miles in the mountains daily. While I'm sure 8 hours would be better than 2 or 3 for my butt and legs, I think other parts of my life might suffer. Shelties bark! and I admit I have been tempted to use a bark collar but so far, I'm just trying everything I can possibly think of to redirect her energy.Bark collar is never my solution... I can not help you to justify it...
hmm, one problem is many dogs household, one starts barking others join in.... who is most barker in your house, you might need to start with him first...
Initially I would suggest tripling whatever exercises and activities your group gets... and if your hubby wants quiet in the house he should spend his time making sure dogs are too tired to bark
my house runs on the idea that tired dog is good dog and house is for rest, activity is for outside...
so when dogs are restless and look into whatever mischief they can bark at they go outside, we do not have a fenced yard so we go outside too... now when dog is walking by our house they want to bark too... so I am practicing my recalls, smear some peanut butter inside upper part of their mouth/ it takes forever to lick it out/... when distraction is too much they go on leash we relocate away from distraction and work on whatever we can think of, Its your choice game, targets, look at me, puppy push ups etc...
Identify which dog is the worst and what sets him off the most... lets say you have phone ring... ring... pair up with A plus food and keep going... when phone rings and he does what you want lets say sit- make a party...
It might be not an answer to your question but if you can't / won't train your dogs I would rather opt for debarking... less damage to the dog this way...