-
Tough Walks
Hello! I hope everyone is doing well. I have a 5 Month old GSD and we have been working hard training everyday. Everything has been going perfect except that she keeps barking at everyone she sees during her walks. We walk twice a day. We go to the dog park 3/4 times a week and she socializes with dogs and people with no problem! Only when we walk. But when she does get the opportunity to meet someone new in our home it’s extremely easy. She barely barks at all, easy meet and greet. Any tips for our walks would be appreciated! Thank you.
-
8 Replies
-
Maybe train her to hold items in her mouth.while walking. Make it a game “Hold”-or “Take” have her keep a item in her mouth a few seconds & build on adding duration.
Short version idea
Start with a game of Tug with a items she likes…Practice inside the house to teach her to keep item in her mouth. After a few seconds. Reward. Then add duration.
Take Tug outside to play. Then take items with you on her walk, playing Tug …..Hopefully she likes the item enough to help her have something in her mouth while walking & playing with her owner. Fun for both of you.
Good luck.
-
Thank you so much Denise for this technique. I will try this next! I appreciate it!
-
Love this idea!!!
-
-
Hi!
What a cutie!
It sounds like she has the opportunity to be socialized with dogs and people. I wonder what that looks like in the sense of, is she or has she been allowed to play with every person or dog she sees.
Do you have any video of her barking on walks? If you can capture video safely it can help identify what the cause of her barking likely is, by looking at her body language. Knowing the distance, type of people and possibly what the people are doing when she barks may help too!
A few thoughts that come to mind are;
1. frustration- not being able to reach the people (or dogs) to interact with.
2. She is entering adolescence- there may be some changes as she is developing into the dog she is suppose to be
3. Fear based behavior?
4. Feeding off handlers leash hold- is there tension in the leash when the handler sees other dogs or people?
More info would be needed but, I am glad you recognize that this is something you want to work on now!
-
Hi Jennifer! Thanks so much! During the time at the park she is not able to play with every dog she meets but most dogs play with her. She doesn’t walk up to every person she sees at the park but she doesn’t bark at them either. I can absolutely make a video this week! I really appreciate your time and help
-
-
Beautiful pup!
OOooohhhh yes please, video! It would be great to see her in action. If possible, have a friend capture it while you handle her so that we can see her whole body through the sequence from noticing the distraction to escalation, to “dial down” as you move away.
This could make a very interesting submission to our Live HoundTable Body Language Breakdown BEET in Motion event this month! We’re asking for video samples to help to quickly recognize and interpret body language. Might you be willing to share yours for this event?
I’ve known a lot of barky adolescent GSheps – and Jen is right – there can be a lot of different reasons for it. Love Denise’s ideas, too.
It may be that the pup is simply too excited and needs to learn to relax. One game I love because it’s sooo easy is to “camp” in a parking lot, far from the entrance of a big box store. (In order for this to work, you have to be far enough away that she’s not immediately barking at first.) Bring a chair and a book, and a comfy mat for the pup. Just sit there and watch the world go by. Toss treats if you see her notice something and NOT bark. Over several sessions, “camp” closer and closer to the entrance, always keeping her under threshold and reinforcing/counter-conditioning her behavior and emotions.
Let us know what you think, @Ant
-
Hi Catherine! Thank you! I will absolutely record a video clip. I appreciate the help and advice. I have been working with Denise idea first, yesterday our walk wasn’t that bad! I will be recording part of the walk this weekend
-
Pawsome – looking forward to hearing more! Thanks for the update.
-
-
Log in to reply.