managing barking

[7/29/10] I can't believe I didn't have a separate entry for this. Well, I supposed barking advice is scattered throughout this blog.

Anyway, I've created this because terry pride @ dogbehaviourscience passed along this article about getting barking under control by Andrea Arden.

WHAT ARE THE REASONS DOGS BARK?

It is important to understand why dogs bark so you will be able to deal with the root of the problem rather than just the symptom. Three of the most common reasons include to act as an alarm to potential intruders (which many pet parents encourage), due to stress and/or boredom when left alone, and to get attention and elicit play. The last is a reason that is often inadvertently trained by owners who open the door, give a treat, speak to or pet their dog when he or she barks and tend to ignore the dog when he or she is quiet. Barking is a normal part of dog behavior, so the goal is not to create a barkless dog, rather to be able to manage barking so that it does not become excessive and disturbing to us or our neighbors. In most cases, we tend to confuse our dogs by encouraging (albeit inadvertantly) barking in some cases and then punishing our dogs for it at other times. So, to avoid confusing dogs with inconsistency make a behavior modification plan that the whole family agrees to adhere to.

ARE THERE ANY TECHNIQUES OWNERS CAN USE TO HELP PUT AN END TO THEIR DOG'S BARKING?

1. Try to identify the cause so that you can deal with the underlying cause. Barking is a perfectly normal behavior and dogs bark for many reasons. First, try to determine the potential underlying cause. Then:

2. Provide your dog with plenty of mental exercise in the form of environmental enrichment. Feed them exclusively from food stuffable toys such as the Linkable, Bob-A-Lot, Busy Buddy Twist n' Treat, Activity Ball, etc. A dog who burns up mental energy 'hunting' for their food rather than just eating it from a bowl is less likely to indulge in many inappropriate behaviors, including excessive barking. This is especially useful when you aren't home.

3. Teach your dog to respond reliably to a few requests such as hand targeting (show). This way you have a way to calmly redirect your dog to an appropriate behavior and stop the barking. If you focus on reward based training it will be a fun game for your dog and you and result in a mannerly dog who you can control even when the dog is simulated to bark.

4. Make sure your dog also has adequate outlets for their physical and social needs (i.e. plenty of walks and playtime with other dogs when appropriate).

5. Until your dog has had time to learn to better respond to you, create a calm resting place for her to stay for short periods when you can't watch her and are concerned she may bark at the door or window. A crate is a good option and you should feed meals in there so your dog associates it with something good.

6. Also, practice tethering on a leash in different spots in the home with a chew toy so your dog learns to self-pacify

***

[8/26/11] What Your Dog's Bark Is Telling You

5 tips for handling nuisance barking

Good Dog! (with Stanley Coren)

I was browsing through Hulu and came across this show that I never knew existed. It's hosted by the infamous Stanley Coren and aired beginning in 2000.

The first thing that struck me is that Dr. Coren is an elderly gentleman and comes across as a wise grandfatherly type and not as the evil scientist that LCK seems to make him out to be.

Anyway. The first episode features an American Eskimo dog that has a barking problem. (Sound familiar?) And I wonder how the positives would view his solution of ten years ago.

Other shows that "you might also like": Pets & Their Vets, Dog Days, Puppy Love

***

[6/7/11] Sadly (at least for archival purposes), the show is no longer on hulu. When I wrote this, I thought it might be available on AOL video, but no dice.

***

[10/18/11] Found (via google) some videos from the show

How to handle a barking dog at the door
How to stop a dog from humping legs
How to take the pack leadership for dogs
How to settle a rescured in his new home
How to apartment train a puppy
How to teach a rescued dog to urinate outside
How to stop TV addiction in dogs
Best ways to pick up dog poop
How to deal with dog dominance
How to teach your dog to listen to basic commands
How to train a territorial barking dog
How to make your dog come to you
Teaching a dog the social hierarchy
How to stop a dog from howling in the night
Walking the dog tips
How to get your dog to walk beside you

and lots more!

Evidently it's now officially on dailymotion (judging by the little OFFICIAL sign in the search. And a lot on 5min.com too.

[1/10/12] Hey, it's back on hulu!

[5/18/13] Now I see hulu posted some (most? all?) of the videos at dailymotion.  So maybe it'll still be there if it's taken off hulu.  They also posted some dog whisperer videos too.

There's also this neat site called Good Dog Zone where they categorize dog behaviors and show the relevant parts of the video.

[1/4/15] Good Dog! no longer on Hulu :(

Kimo running wild

After feeding Kimo in the back, I went back in. But noticed Kimo sitting down and waiting.

I thought he might be sitting for me to take him out to poop. So I took him out. No poop. After a while, I took him back via the Ewa gate. Opened the gate and took off his leash. Then he noticed a cat nearby and took off after the cat.

I saw him run up toward Katherine's house. I went up and looked around. No sign. Then I hear some huffing and puffing soon followed by a streak of white. It was Kimo still running around, apparently still looking for the cat. He didn't stop and kept on going.

Went back to the street and waited around. Then I hear more huffing and puffing another white streak. It was Kimo running around Sakuda's place. Went behind to look, didn't see him. Then more huffing and puffing. Kimo still running around. A couple more times and he slowed down by the front. But didn't come when called. Reached down to grab him, but couldn't grab his collar. I grasped at the middle of his back. He growled and continued running some more. More huffing and puffing as he continued running around.

Then he headed down the Fong's steps. That was good because Fong's backyard is sort of enclosed with the other steps blocked with a small gate, though Kimo could probably squeeze through it. I waited by the based of the steps. Kimo ran around in the back. Still wouldn't come to me. Jumped up at the stone wall, but it was too high for him. Finally slowed down and he started stretching. I think he was out of gas. Probably never ran so much in his life.

Then finally he came to me as I was still sitting on the bottom of the steps watching. Put on his leash and took him home. One the way back (DH side), he stopped and starts wretching a little. I think he was exhausted. Poor guy.

I was quite disappointed that wouldn't come to me. Though glad he didn't run to the other streets and finally got him back. The chicken jerky treat he normally eagerly runs to had zero effect in luring him. Still a lot to work on.

[Friday 7/23 PM, posted 7/24]

visiting Kam School

Hear barking. It's RMAS. Take out Kimo, pick up Hershey.

Kimo seems less reactive to RMAS (though acted up a bit once), but stay at a distance and lag well behind as they pee and sniff.

Let them pass as they come back and head to Puna. Lolena Hill. BigBoy sees us but doesn't bark. Then up Aulii and on to Puna. See Daryl coming down. Head to Buddha's house. See the carriage. Buddha comes to door and looks at us and barks after a little while. Betty comes out to look and see us and brings out Kaylen. But then when she goes to get Buddha he runs away. OK, no Buddha today.

We decide to go up the hill. Lulu comes out, doesn't bark at first, then barks as we come closer. That brings Joey out and he starts barking. Sorry no treats today.

Decided to walk up Kam School since the gate was open. It was a nice stroll since the road is much smoother.

Head back. See Dottie and Hoku. Go down to Aulii and turn around. Betty goes home. Wave goodbye to Kaylen.

Hoku's house. Despite the long walk, Hershey is still peppy and plays and runs with Hoku. After a while though, they both slow down. And both lie down. Meanwhile, Kimo sits next to me and watches.

OK time to go home.

On the way back, see Sonny with her head sticking out the door. Go to greet her. Kimo sniffs as we leave.

Greet Maka next door too.

Walk the stonewall with Hershey and Kimo behind me. Garrett (the mailman) sees us and waves.

[Fri 7/23, posted 7/24]

The Secret Life of the Dog

is a BBC documentary mentioned on dogwhispererfans (as they were discussing dogs and wolves).

It's been removed from youtube, but can still be currently viewed at tudou.

Here's another (via Watch Movies AZ)

[7/4/12] Later "Americanized" with a different narrator and shown as Dogs Decoded on Nova

Mochi in the garage

barking in the morning, hey that looks like Mochi in AmyP's garage. I see a dog that looks like Fifi, and a person that looks like Kimo with a baby carriage. OK, I guess it is Mochi. Amy had told Kimo that she was moving and had some kitchen bags and such to give away so he went to look and get them for his church.

Took Kimo up. Kimo and Mochi sniff. Mochi goes forward and Kimo backs off. I go to pet Fifi and Fifi backs off. I guess she's kind of cautious.

Walk back with Kimo and gang. Gerald comes with Hershey. So we all walk.

Coming back, Hershey poops.

I decided to take them for another lap. Then Kimo and Ann and baby go driving to Amy's garage to pick up the stuff

***

Later in the afternoon, I went out as Kimo was barking at something or other. I stayed with him and treated him as the guy working at Iha's house came back to the truck. Then as this Japanese? guy was walking. I noticed he started walking on our street recently. Maybe under doctor's orders to get exercise. Then Keith came out w/ Pat. Surprisingly Kimo didn't bark as Keith came running down the steps. And I treated/distracted him as Keith was walking by. Hey no barking this time :)

Though later he went wild at something on the street. I went out to look and saw someone turn around way up the street and walk back. Maybe it was Melissa with Rudy and Blue?

Took Kimo out. Nalu's dogs were barking this time. Even when we were kind of far away.

Then I was coming back, Malia was coming up with baby and Petey. I put Kimo on the other side as we started getting near. And as we passed, stopped to turn around to join them. But then Petey charged at Kimo and Kimo went wild.

After Kimo calmed down, I turned to follow them at a distance. But then I heard Koa barking. He was at the fence so I went over to pet him.

Next was big Koa next door off-leash and Jason had him sit as we passed.

Later, more barking. It was Koa loose. I took him home and Koa jumped on the sofa and lay face down comfortably.

Another dog day.

kikopup

kikopup seems to be a pleasant well-meaning young woman who's made a bunch of training videos on youtube demonstrating clicker-training.

Here's a few that caught my eye

who is kikopup?

leash walking tips

loose leash walking

Dogmantics episode 1

and a bunch more

***

[9/22/10] michelle.ucciferri @ pos4reactivedogs also likes David The Dog Trainer, another clicker trainer. Here's one of his videos training a puppy to walk. It seemed to me that he sure used a lot of treats. And did do some gentle leash pulling. (Kind of the opposite of Brad Pattison.)

***

[7/17/12] On the other hand, here's BuffaloDogTraining with a more traditional style.  Not that he's abusive or anything in my opinion.  So maybe, not on the other hand. [via dwf]

Dog Language

How to communicate with a dog in their own language (calming signals video) [kikopup via Pos-4-ReactiveDogs, 7/14/10]

how dogs communicate [via dogbehaviorscience]

How To Read Your Dog's Body Language [via Modern Dog Magazine]

How To Become An Animal Communicator

see also previous posts

Dog Body Language

Calming Signals

women vs. men dog training

I don't know if this is true, but I seem to notice that many or most of the dog experts are women. To name a few: Karen Pryor, Patricia McConnell, Jan Fennell, Sophia Yin, Tamar Geller. I just name those because I have or read their books.

And there's also the experts at dogbehaviorscience: Kayce Cover, Sandy Case (Sandy in OK), Terry Pride. Though they seem to be bickering against each other now since Kayce is not strictly a clicker proponent.

Anyway, they all seem to be against the [harsher] techniques used by Cesar. (Well, I don't know about Jan Fennell since she's not really new school and kind of came up with her own system). And if that's true, they'd definitely be against Brad Pattison.

[And just look at all the commenters at beyondcesarmillan and see how many are women]

Of course there are exceptions. Ian Dunbar and Nicolas Dodman are against Cesar too.

[But then again, most of the experts/commenters at dogwhispererfans are women: e.g. Lori Reynolds, Meg Francoeur, Mary Nellum not to mention the founder CJ Anderson. Hey, they're all women. NTTAWWT]

So I wonder if it's kind of a man vs. woman thing. That man is just naturally more aggressive thinking than women? Both Cesar and Brad know martial arts. Cesar was a judo champion in his youth and I believe Brad is a karate guy (not sure where I read or saw this).

And even Cesar himself is quoted, "Women are the worst offenders in his world. In one of the outtakes included in the four-DVD set of the first season of “Dog Whisperer,” Mr. Millan explains that a woman is “the only species that is wired different from the rest.” And a “woman always applies affection before discipline,” he says. “Man applies discipline then affection, so we’re more psychological than emotional. All animals follow dominant leaders; they don’t follow lovable leaders.”

Here's the first thing I found on the internet written by the spiritdog:

The differences between men and women dog trainers are vast. By in large, men dog trainers tend to be a little to rough in their training methods. And women dog trainers tend to rely a little to much on, clicker and / or treat training.

Which kind of corroborates what I was thinking (which doesn't make it right, but it seems like it).

***

I remember the dog training class I took Kimo to when he was young. The guy would have you put a choke chain on and "pop" the leash so the dog would sit down. When it didn't work, they would say you didn't pop it hard it enough (or probably more accurately crisp enough). That made many in the class squeamish, doing that to their poor innocent dog. [It seems like the dark ages now.]

However it did seem to work after getting the hang of it. Kimo would automatically sit when we stopped walking. That did wear off though when my house-sitting stint was over. Another scene that stands out in my mind was one of the trainers dragging/fighting/yanking a big aggressive dog around separate from the class. I don't seem to remember him getting any great results.

Anyway, that's the kind of old school training that still goes on here. I remember Doreen telling me (a few years back) that that's the kind of class Hershey went to also. And of course these trainers were all men.

***

I found these articles interesting for some perspective. The second one is by clicker proponent Gail Fisher.

A Short History of Dog Training

History of Dog Training

Keith up the staircase

take out Kimo, Hershey is back, take out Hershey
here comes RMAS / cross street, Kimo doesn't go wild
off to see Hoku
Lolena Hill, Aulii, Puna, see Daryl coming out & Betty, Kaylen, Buddha
Kimo smells Buddha, no problem, Daryl wants to pet Hershey, Hershey growls
Kimo goes to smell Daryl, tell Daryl not to pet him
Nicole comes out w/ Cleo / Hershey play bows then wants to play
walk with BKB, Hoku watches us, neighbor dogs bark, Lulu & Joey bark

that afternoon...
Keith and Kimo barking at each other
go to get Keith as Gerald picks up Hershey
try walking Keith, pulls ahead so I stop
go up to see Cheryl as Sears truck delivers appliances
practice going up and down steps / Kimo seems uninterested
uh, oh, Koa loose, go take him & Kimo for walk, take him home (Eddy was home)
see Mufi volunteers (two young girls in red shirts) passing out flyers

[Tue 7/13, posted 7/18]

Roxy

Here Kimo barking in the afternoon, see two boys talking with Mr. Chung and Mr. Yokomoto.

Turned out they were looking for the small dog that lives behind Katherine's house. It's a miniature pinscher that I saw loose last week. The name is Roxy.

Hopefully I'll see her in the back again soon.

[Monday 7/12, posted 7/13]

I saw her back home yesterday (Tuesday) when I went out on the road to see Keith when Gerald came to pick up Hershey and was telling Pat about it.

banning pet sales?

As Philip Gerrie tells it, the idea of banning pet sales in San Francisco started simply enough, with a proposal to outlaw puppy and kitten mills.

West Hollywood, Calif. had done it, with little fanfare. Why not the city of St. Francis, patron saint of animals, which prides itself on its compassion toward all creatures great and small?

So Gerrie, a bee keeper and secretary of the San Francisco Commission of Animal Control & Welfare, a seven-member advisory board on animal issues to the city's lawmakers, decided to suggest adding the idea to the commission's agenda.

"Then we came across the idea of adding small animals as well," Gerrie recalled, "since all these animals are being euthanized" by animal shelters.

The proposed ban on puppy and kitten mills became a proposed ban on the sale of just about every animal that might end up in a shelter: gerbils, guinea pigs, birds, hamsters, turtles, snakes, rats. Sales of rabbits and chicks are already banned in the city.

The idea came back to bite the commission. It led to the panel's biggest, longest monthly meeting in recent memory, not to mention blogger fodder around the world.

Animal control and welfare commissioners say all they planned to do at their regularly scheduled meeting Thursday evening was discuss the idea, hear out those on all sides of the issue - pet store owners, rescue groups, pet owners and maybe, just maybe, take a vote on a ban.

After a vote, the proposal would have to find a sponsor, preferably two, on the Board of Supervisors, pass muster as legislation with the city attorney, and then pass the Board.

But once Gerrie's idea made the front page of The San Francisco Chronicle Thursday - "Sell a guinea pig, go to jail," the story began - it was famous.

Or infamous. The Chronicle story prompted 793 comments and counting, many playing on only-in-San Francisco stereotypes. "Bay area people truly are nuts!" read a common refrain. It prompted CNN's Jack Cafferty, who called the idea "not half bad," to ask readers their thoughts, prompting 15 printed out pages of debate from around the globe.

Koa loose, Kimo eats

Koa kept getting loose last night.

I took him back, made sure he had water. And fed him some.

The water dish was kind of filthy and I rinsed it. I hand fed him some food, but he didn't seem skinny feeling his side, so I think he's getting enough (or more than enough to eat).

About the third time, I took Kimo out with me and I think went back with Koa off leash. But after we took him home (and Kimo explored a bit in the back) and were heading home, Koa came popping out on the road again.

The next time, I think there must have been some fireworks or something because I was in the back waiting for Kimo to eat and Kimo was sitting down in the bushes frozen like he was scared. Then Koa shows up again at the back gate. I let him in and had him sit on my right. Then Kimo comes out of the bushes and sits on my left between the chairs.

After a while, he went out and ate his food. Maybe he was concerned that Koa might eat it instead. Then I took Koa home again and this time I blocked the bottom of the gate with a board I saw against the wall. I'm still not sure that's how he's getting out, but he didn't come back after that.

black specks

I noticed some black specks on Kimo's fur a few days ago. I combed some off his ears and other parts of his fur.

I don't know if it's just dirt or flea dust (or flea dirt). Since he's scratching I think it must be flea dirt, though I don't see any fleas. [But later I saw one crawling around the fur on his neck.]

I had bought and put on some Hartz UltraGuard last week (since we ran out of Advantix), but apparently it doesn't work on Kimo's fleas. UltraGuard gets some pretty poor reviews on Amazon.

So I told Donna and she got some Advantix from Dr. Lau (the other vet Dr. Kamiya doesn't carry Advantix only Frontline). I thought Advantix was via prescription only, but I see it available at Amazon via a third-party.

Put it on in the late yesterday afternoon. Doesn't seem to be scratching as much, so hopefully it's working.

Ricochet the surf-ice dog

Ricochet becomes a surf-ice dog

[via Rita @dogwhispererfans]

Kimo and the bee

In the morning, I read the paper in the back and fed Kimo a little

Then I wondered if Kimo pooped in the yard since I had mowed the lawn the previous day. Nope, don't see it. While I was out there, I took some grass clippings from the side and transported them to the slight depression near the clothelines.

In the meantime, Kimo saw me out there and came out and pooped. I guess he felt more comfortable coming out when he saw me out there standing on the grass. Then he ran back to the concrete slab.

A bit later, I see Kimo sniffing the ground. After a while at this, I saw he was sniffing a bee. Afraid he might get stung, I got the broom and tried to get him to move away from the bee. He didn't like this (taking away his prize). He attacked the broom. I stood firm blocking him and eventually he settled. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the bee after that.

[Fri 7/2, posted 7/3]

Martin Deeley

Yes, there does exist a number of professionals who get along fine with Cesar.

One of them is Martin Deeley who owns (or co-owns) the International School for Dog Trainers. On the site, there's an interesting photo with Martin along with Wendy Volhard, Brother Christopher, and Ian Dunbar. All smiling. Brother Christopher and Ian Dunbar side-by-side smiling. Who would have thunk it?

Googling Deeley and Dunbar also brings up the International Association of Canine Professionals which Deeley co-founded. Among the members, Bill Campbell, Ian Dunbar, Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson, Martin Deeley, Bash Dibra, Wendy and Jack Volhard, Carol Lea Benjamin, Monks of New Skete, and Cesar Millan. I see Joel Silverman in there too. Looks like mostly "old school".

*** [4/10/12]

I see [via dwf] that Martin Deeley has written a book. It's an ebook sold at onlyindie. Only indie is interesting because you get paid by the number of people who buy your book. The first 15 downloads are free. Then the price rises by a penny for every sale. Right now the price is 8 cents which means he's sold 22 copies (at most -- the price lowers if no sale is made in 24 hours). The only thing is you have to spend at least $3 to buy credits so you can buy a book.

Deeley also has a blog (see previous link). One thing I didn't know. Cheri Lucas is the wife of Jerry Lucas the former NBA star. Another neat article was his meeting with Pat Parelli (the horse whisperer that was on Cesar's show). And that they both are friends with Ian Dunbar and Cesar Millan. From his writings, Deeley seems like a good and nice man.

Kimo and the chicken bone

I was going to cook chicken w/ pasta and decided to strip the meat off the bone. Hey why not give Kimo a chicken bone to munch on. I had been reading that raw food is better for the dog than dog food. And chicken bones are OK (though it's not unanimous) to give to the dog if it's raw and NOT cooked (in which case they might splinter).

OK, chance it. I showed him the bone (chicken thigh) which still had some meat on it. Kimo scampered down from the top level of the steps to the landing. And started munching on the bone. After some crunching, the bone was obliterated and gone soon enough. That seemed to go OK.

[Thursday 7/1, posted 7/3]