Bark all about it! De-stressing tip three: How to stop "give me that" barking

Do you have a dog that tends to bark in order to get something from you? There are lots of reasons why dogs bark, as it is their dominant means of communication, but this persistent “give-me-that” barking is when a dog continuously barks at you until they get what they want. As stressful and annoying as this behavior can be, “give me that” barking can be an easy thing to correct. Eliminating it can be simple, but the key is to be consistent.

The most common times your dog will bark are during dinner (to beg for food), playtime (to get you to throw a toy) and just before going outside (when seeing a leash), all in order to get your attention. Let’s break down these specific examples of “give-me-that” barking, and what tools you can use in order to discourage the behavior.

Barking for playtime: If your dog drops a tennis ball on your lap and starts to bark at you to get you to play, it is a prime example of “give-me-that” barking. You want to discourage this behavior by taking the toy away and ignoring your dog until they calm down. Once they stop barking and are calm, the toy can be brought back out, at least until they bark at you again. Keep repeating the same steps until your dog will play with you without barking. It is important to be on top of this behavior and reward your dog by initiating play while they are calm, before they get to the point of excited barking. A dog that is already wound up will tend to bark more as a way of releasing their energy.

Barking when putting on a leash: If your dog begins to bark at you when you are at the door with their leash in your hand, it’s important to put the leash away and sit back down in order to get rid of the behavior. Once your dog is calm, you can get up to bring your dog out again, but you must keep repeating the behavior until they stop barking. The process may seem long and tedious at first, but repeating this action will be worth it when you consistently get the desired behavior from your dog.

Barking at the table for food: Barking at the dinner table in order to get food can be extremely common with dogs. Not only is it an annoying habit, but it can be very stressful for the owner. As with other “give-me-that” barking, eliminating this behavior can be easy if you regularly follow the same steps. If your dog is barking at the table, you can try consistently giving them a time out, a small 30 second period where they are away from the family, until the behavior subsides. Another option is training your dog to do something else during your meals. A great example would be “spot,” or training your dog to go and stay in a particular place (preferably away from the table) until you release them.

If your pooch fits into one of these pesky barking habits, remember that this kind of training takes patience and consistence. If all else fails, consult a professional for advice! Morris K9 Campus offers training to help correct this behavior. Call 973-252-5100 for more information or visit www.MorrisK9Campus.com.

Canine Etiquette

Responsible Pet Owner month continues and this week is a look at canine etiquette, with a focus on space etiquette and proper greetings involving your dog and other dogs. Have you ever walked your dog around the neighborhood when you suddenly encounter another dog and were not quite sure what to do?

When encountering another dog on a walk or in public and your dog is excited, usually you want to let the dogs meet. It’s important to remember that just because you have a friendly dog, doesn’t mean that every dog that you encounter will be friendly and want to meet your dog. Part of being a responsible dog owner means handling situations where your dog encounters other dogs appropriately. The biggest chance you are taking by letting your dog meet another dog on leash is assuming that the other dog wants to meet your dog.

DINOS, Dogs in Need of Space, is aimed at teaching people that it is their responsibility to ask permission before their dog approaches another dog. They also stress that just because your dog or another dog may need space, doesn’t make them a bad dog, they just need a little room. There is also the Yellow Dog Project which is an organization trying to get all dog owners to put a yellow ribbon on your dog’s leash to let other people know you have a dog that needs space.

If you do have permission for your dog to meet another dog on a walk, it is important that you take the proper steps in order for the greeting to go smoothly.

1. When meeting on leash, you have to make sure that you have a dog that responds very well to their name, as well as a command like leave it.

2. It is also good to put a command on the action of your dog being allowed to meet another dog, such as “ go say hello,” so the dog knows it’s okay to meet the other dog.

3. It’s also very important to make sure that you only allow your dog to greet another when your dog is calm. An overexcited dog is more likely to react inappropriately to the situation.

When it comes to proper etiquette while walking your dog, not only is your dog’s interaction with other people and dogs important, but also being aware of leash etiquette. It is crucial that you obey local leash laws, if your dog is off leash in an area where leashes are required, it’s not only illegal, but you are also putting the safety of everyone else in jeopardy including your own dog.

It is important that you and your dog exhibit proper etiquette when in public, and as a dog owner it is your responsibility to show them how. Check back next week for another way to become a more responsible pet owner.

Sources:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilita/6577001349/in/photostream

http://dogsinneedofspace.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/dinos_psa_poster.jpg

http://www.theyellowdogproject.com/The_Yellow_Dog_Project/Home.html

A Unique Approach to Pet Training

Whether it is a good recall (come) or the ability for your dog to walk loosely on a leash, basic obedience training can be helpful for both you and your pooch. The unique approach to training at Morris K9 Campus provides you with the tools you need to excel in everyday life. In addition to the levels pet training program, Morris K9 Campus also offers a variety of different workshops aimed to focus on specific real life situations.

Recall can be one of the most beneficial tools for any dog owner. Morris K9 Campus trainer Robin Lash says that a good recall is the dog owner’s number one responsibility. Not only is it useful, it is a life saving skill if your dog was to ever get away from you.

If your dog has a pulling issue, Robin recommends a one day, one topic seminar, called “Powerful Pullers.” The class will give you the skills and the equipment that is needed in order to have a well trained dog on a leash. A one topic seminar is beneficial to a dog with a specific issue, and with practice and patience, can resolve the problem.

The more training the dog goes through, the skills he or she will develop. Training will only improve the quality of your dog’s life. Having a well trained dog can also make everyday tasks easier on you.

Come to the Morris K9 Campus “Fall Festival” on October 28, where our pet trainers will be on hand for a question and answer session.

Stayed tuned to the Morris K9 Campus website for a list of our workshop offerings this fall and winter.

Recognizing Recall



PLAY AND TRAIN AT MORRIS K9 CAMPUS!

Our Play and Train program is designed so that your dog can play the day away while learning new commands and training skills. The only requirement is that your dog has been approved for daycare! Two of our most popular Play and Train skills are loose leash walking and "come" (getting the dog to recall).

  


Cleo and Lauren attention and focus.

 

LOOSE LEASH



There are many important steps that lead to having a dog with good leash skills. First, you want your dog's attention and focus to be on you. In order to accomplish this there are games you can play with your dog, such as name game. All it entails is you getting your dog's attention with the food and saying his/her name as the food follows from your eye line to your dogs.



      

Cleo and Lauren loose leash walking.



    

Next, you want to teach your dog where to walk. You cannot get upset for having a dog that doesn't walk properly if you have never showed them the right way to do it. In order to do this, pick which side (left or right) you would like your dog to walk on. Always practice walking with your dog on that side.







  

"COME"

"Come" is the most important thing you can teach your dog. It is literally a life saver. When teaching "come" you want to make sure your dog is always successful. This means starting off easy. You always want to use an enthusiastic tone! Your dog is not going to want to come to you if you are using the same voice as when he/she gets in trouble. You have to be more exciting than whatever it is you are calling your dog away from.

 Jack has a great recall in group, this is an advanced skill! 

To inquire more about Play and Train, please call 973.252.5100 or visit our website.  If your dog does not prefer the company of other dogs we offer an alternative Train and Fitness program!

Find us on Facebook: Morris K9 Campus!