| |
| |
|
Pets Information |
|
|
|
How To Stop Your Dog From Barking - Training Your Dog To Keep Quiet
Quieting a barking dog is a quick and easy process. Really. It also doesn't cost any money. But it's not an obvious process - witness the many dogs barking all the time in parks, backyards on street corners, with their owners tugging at their leash and yelling at them and the dogs completely ignoring their commands. My dog was driving me crazy until I learned how to stop his barking. My dog barked and whined all the time, and it was a breed (husky), that was known for making a lot of noise. The situation was especially bad when the doorbell rang or he saw strangers. It was almost impossible to stop him once he started, and if there was another dog involved, forget it - my dog would yap his head off until the dogs were separated and out of sight. One weekend, though, my friend came over to visit. She worked at the Chicago Zoo and knew animals better than anyone I had ever seen. In an hour she had my dog completely quiet, and she taught me how to do it, too. One hour to solve a problem that was driving me crazy for the last three years! The secret is not intuitive. First you teach the dog to bark(!) I thought my friend was insane when she told me this. Obviously my dog knew how to bark because he barked and whined all the time. But she explained that while my dog barked a lot, he couldn't bark on command. First she taught him to bark on command, and then she taught him to be quiet on command. The whole process took less than an hour. My dog is pretty smart, so it may take your dog longer, but still, it's an incredibly effective technique, and now, two years later, my dog still doesn't give me trouble. What a great afternoon! There are two elements at work here: positive reinforcement and intermittent reinforcement. Positive reinforcement teaches the behavior, and intermittent reinforcement keeps the behavior permanent. Negative reinforcement is just not a strong inducer of behavior. Negative reinforcement like shock collars or saying "No" does work to a certain extent, but studies have shown it to be about 10 times less effective than positive reinforcement. Everything she did was very clear and precise, which was much of the reason she got her results so quickly. Your results may vary, but the clearer and more precise you can make everything, the better. First, go on a long walk with your dog to get him a lot of exercise. Your dog can't learn when he's all riled up. Teaching your dog to bark: Then get a box of treats. Then look at your dog. When he barks, immediately praise him and give him a treat. Don't let any time elapse between the bark and the treat. Pretty soon he'll be barking a lot. Right now, the behavior is coming before the cue. Shape the behavior first, and then add your cue. Teaching your dog to bark on command: Then go away for a few minutes and come back. Ignore his barking and ignore everything else he does. Just stand there, doing nothing, not rewarding him at all, not even looking at him. It may take a long time, but eventually your dog will calm down, stop barking, and start doing his own thing. Once your dog calms down and stops barking, start working with him again. This time, only give him a treat when you say "Speak" and point at him, and then he barks. 1. Verbal command and point. 2. Bark. 3. Reward. Don't give him a treat for just barking on his own. This part will take a while, but he will eventually understand the command. You're rewarding him for behavior he already is predisposed to do, you're just associating a command with it. Teaching your dog to be quiet: Go away for a few minutes, and then come back. He'll probably be barking a lot when you come back, but again, stay totally still and don't reward him at all (no praising, no eye contact, nothing). Once he stops barking, count to five slowly to yourself. You may have to wait a long time before he'll stop barking enough so a full count of five, but it will happen eventually. Once you can count to five without any barking, then reward him with praise and a treat. Notice that at this point, the behavior comes before the cue. Shape the behavior first, and then add your cue. Teaching your dog to be quiet on demand: Keep that up for a while until the behavior sinks in, and then add the command. When he's not barking, hold up your hand as if you're signaling someone to stop, and say the command "Quiet". If he's quiet, then give him a treat and praise. So the order is 1. Verbal command and hand signal. 2. Dog is quiet. 3. Reward. Soon your dog will know how to be quiet on demand. After a while, the treats won't be necessary, and even verbal praise won't be necessary every time. The praise at irregular intervals is the intermittent reinforcement part of the picture, and is very powerful. Intermittent reinforcement works better than if you reward behavior every single time. Soon you'll have a dog that will go totally quiet when you tell him to! Any or all of this article may be copied or used for any reason, but there must be a link to my site "What Type of Little Dog Should I Get" - http://littledogonline.com - HTML is What Type of Little Dog Should I Get
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
How To Stop Your Horse From Rearing And What To Do If He Does It Unexpectedly There is a dangerous problem that horse owners should be very aware of. It's when a horse stands up on his back legs. Are Exotic Cats a Threat to Public Safety? Why Exotic Pets Are Not Dangerous I would like to address some of the statements I have found on the web and in proposed ban bills portraying servals and other small wild felines as unpredictable and dangerous creatures. This is a clear case of "what you don't know you will fear. Your Kids Want a Pet, You Dont Want To Pet Anything "Mom, can we get a puppy?" Who hasn't heard that line before? The kids think it's time for an addition to the family, but you know you don't have time for a family pet.We've got the perfect solution to make everyone happy!! Hermit Crabs!!Now before you start to panic because you just heard the word "crab", just listen! They're not that bad. Fat Dogs - How To Get Overweight Dogs to Diet and Slim Down Without Whining Obesity in dogs is a growing problem, which can cause many problems including heart disease, joint problems, and diabetes. Almost half of dogs in America are fat, especially beagles, dachshunds, basset hounds, and Labrador retrievers. How to Protect Your Dog and Family from Roundworms Nearly every puppy in the world is born with roundworms. This is because the roundworm's larvae are transmitted from the mother to the puppy while it is still in the womb. Is Nail Trimming Time A Battle? Does the idea of trimming your dog's nails send chills up your spine? After all, Giving poochie a bath - no problem. You might even be ok sticking a tooth brush in Lassie's mouth. A Horse Training Secret From The 1800s To Teach A Horse To Drive Without Lines! Horse owners who are history buffs may recognize the name Jesse Beery. Beery was an enormously famous horse trainer from the 1800's and early 1900's. Dogs: Buy or Adopt? Buy or Adopt - That is the question.If you intend to breed or show your dog there is no alternative but to buy your dog from a reputable AKC-REGISTERED breeder. Puppies, Kittens, Rabbits, Hamsters, Fish Tanks, Exotic Pets and Bird Houses! Pet's, any kind of pet can be a welcome addition to your family. Children love to play with puppies and kittens. No More Stillborn Kittens - Know How To Care For A Pregnant Cat 'I named all kittens, although they were all stillborn.' 'My pregnant cat has a bloody vaginal discharge. Which Breed Is Right For You? Why does one breed appeal to a person over another? Why do some of us love the size, looks and temperament of a Great Dane and others would never own anything but a Toy Poodle?Every breed has their pros and cons. As a prospective puppy buyer/dog owner, you must be aware of the traits, both good and bad, of the breed you are considering. Cushings Disease As our horses enjoy a longer life and many live well into old age so the number of horses with Cushing increases as its more common in older horses especially ponies. It can however affect all breeds and ages. Protecting Yourself From Online Pet Classifieds Scams! Internet Fraud, Classifieds Scams, Abuse and Suspicious Replies are world wide issues that have become widespread in targeting sellers and buyers everywhere specially on the Internet. Often this involves buyers from Nigeria, Africa, Holland and other countries. Aromatherapy for Pets Pets can enjoy the therapeutic effects of aromatherapy as much as humans can. Aside from possibly eliminating bad odors and giving your pet a pleasant perfume, essential oils also serve many practical functions such as boosting your pet's immune system, fighting off bacteria and viruses, preventing the growth of yeasts and molds and repelling insects. Broken Trust The large animal organizations and the public money.It is said that in America, anything the imagination can conjure up can be attained with persistence. Choosing Dog Tags for Your Canine Remember when you first met your dog? He was fresh and new, and you were just getting to know each other. You went through training together, perhaps even ate together. Sugar Gliders: How to Select a Sugar Glider Breeder It is important to choose a sugar glider breeder carefully. A breeder should be able to tell you a lot about the particular glider(s) you're interested in (lineage and genetics, any health issues, etc. Westies Dogs - Please Consider Adopting an Older Westie Dog Everybody loves a baby animal and Westie puppies are adorable, but new dog purchasers often do not realize the commitment they are making when they bring a puppy home. For those want the companionship of Westies dogs, but do not have the knowledge or patience to endure the training process, rescuing an older Westie dog may be the right alternative. Choose a Vet Who Cares About Your Pet! Lots of folks are picky about their vet, and for good reason. You don't want some insensitive clod messing around with your precious pooch, especially if he or she is in a fragile state due to illness or injury. You Should Teach Your Puppy Proper Chewing Behavior As much as you may love your cute, new puppy, if she chews on everything in sight--including you--she will not be cute to you for very long. Puppies that are left to their own devices can destroy a home quickly.
|
| home | site map | First Rate Hosting |
| © 2006 First Rate Hosting Powered By First Rate Hosting |
