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Group Class Barking Problem – Post Your Solution – Video
We’ve had a moment to brainstorm about motivating a dog in a high arousal state, such as barking. (In case you missed it, here’s that post.) Now, let’s take it one step further. Imagine this is happening in a GROUP CLASS environment
Watch the video…. Wow. That’s a lot of barking!
What would YOU do, as an instructor in this situation?
How can the handlers get their dogs motivated to pay attention to them?
Any and all dog-friendly ideas are welcome. Share your top tips, and then stay tuned because I’ll be sharing a very unique solution to this by an excellent CATCH workshop instructor in a second video.
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10 Replies
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I think using some management techniques, Ike gates or something to give more space but bock the vision a little. Than the dogs could focus on the group training more.
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I would step behind a barrier, practicing on focus, using up/downs by Leslie McDevitt. Once I had the dogs focus I would slowly step out of the barrier, continue up/downs with “look at that”.
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Utilize:
Side barriers / some with front closures as needed.
In some cases training can occur within the barrier if this is a Reactive Class.
Work with a “mat” and go to mat exercise.
Have the dog face you.
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@PawsUp @stomper16 @Achtung Great ideas on using management, especially barriers for setting these dogs up for success. Your ideas for redirection and training games are good, too!
In a little while, I’ll be posting another unique solution to this issue using a motivation and natural calming behavior that is specifically canine.
What do dogs LOVE to do that is something natural and intrinsically motivating for them?
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What do dogs LOVE to do that is something natural and intrinsically motivating for them?
Chase?
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Great guess! See the solution used by the workshop instructor in this post.
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Jump in on the brainstorm exercise we posted, here.
If a dog is motivated to bark or lunge toward other dogs who are barking, what can you use as a worthwhile motivator to do something ELSE?
We’ll be sharing a video from a recent workshop at CATCH with a LIVE solution this week – but first, let’s brainstorm some more on ideas that might work in a GROUP CLASS session?
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I ask guardians to bring a long-lasting chew to their class for their dogs. Something like a bully stick that’s going to last for a while.
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That’s a good idea. I have used the high-value, long-lasting treat as a settling/attention-gaining technique and it works. I did have it come close to back-firing when a couple of pups started contagious resource guarding. There’s a fine line between a “valuable enough to settle for the reward” and “too valuable to give up,” especially with other dogs nearby.
I also like visual barriers to interrupt the process.If (big word) the handler or I can get the dog’s attention, I like to use a high-speed drill/reward process, e.g. sit, down, stand, touch, sit, down, sit, down, etc., throwing out quick cues in random order with intermittent rewards to engage a barking dog and have them shift gears. The rapid-fire cues/random-interval rewards seem to engage the dog’s heads and stomachs pretty consistently.
The most challenging part IMO is getting the handlers to default to working their dogs when there’s a bark-off in class. Handlers tend to get embarrassed and then freeze up, so the barking increases and spreads. I like to stress to new students that all dogs bark, barking in class is to be expected to get handlers to be comfortable enough when it happens that they don’t stress out.
I am definitely looking forward to the alternate method technique.
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Wise words here, @Chris – thanks for contributing!
I like to stress to new students that all dogs bark, barking in class is to be expected to get handlers to be comfortable enough when it happens that they don’t stress out. -Christopher Rohland
See the workshop’s innovated and intrinsically rewarding idea in this post.
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