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Originally Posted by sweetlee  I don't understand why exercising him in the yard would be necessary. When we are out on leash, all is GREAT. It is when he looks out the window, or the car window that we have a problem.
When we go out for walks, Dodge is super behaved. The people that don't cross the street or step around us, comment on what a nice, (and beautiful) boy he is. Even a couple of people who have had their little dogs off leash run up to us, have told me that I have a very well behaved dog. The people in the small pet stores we visit and at the vet love him. He always is polite to the the other animals there including cats.
We are going back to school May 1st actually. And Dodge will no doubt bark and growl at the other dogs or people when we pull up, and then when I let him out of the car, all will be fine.
I am REALLY limited here on trainers. We use a trainer who works with positive reenforcement, and Dodge is the class superstar when we go. She has used a squirt bottle on ONE dog who kept barking during class. but he was a lab and thought that was great fun trying to "catch" the water.
I guess maybe I should pull up a chair, sit in front of the window and reward him with treats when he comes to check things out and quiets when told.
My trainer comes highly recommended from the shelters, the rescues, and the vets, and other than the AKC classes,she is it. I will try and visit with her privately at some point, although she is ALWAYS in class it seems. Being pretty much the only dog training center around she keeps very busy.
I am also going to do some research here,and try and find the difference between reactive and protective behavior? I figured it was protectiveness because it is only the house or the car. But he KNOWS this is MY house on everything else. That is why I am a bit stumped.
It makes sense though, if her were protective of me, he would probably make a big deal of people coming near me when we are out and about.
Thanks everyone,
Sharon |
Sorry, when I read your post early this morning, I read it that this behavior was while you were on the walks. My bad.
This window behavior is barrier aggression, and it has to do with territoriality.
Every time someone comes into view and he barks them "away", he is being rewarded for his antics. Since I like my dogs to alert me that someone is approaching, I will generally allow one or two woofs, but I do not allow them to get carried away. With a dog that behaves dangerously at the window, the woofs are not allowed at first, and we boot camp it as described below. I don't like to "correct" a dog for barking - I WANT the news from the dog, but if the dog has taken the behavior to frenzy mode, leash corrections might be necessary to redirect him onto you. Remember, it's always easier to get a dogs attention BEFORE he's in full blown drive. So....
You might indeed try hanging out with him (have some extra yummy treats at hand) on leash at the window. Relax and watch TV or read a book. When he sees an "intruder", go ahead and divert his attention to you, call him into another room, and then ask for a known behavior; i.e. sit or down... I use "down" because the dog can't move as fast from that position. Reward him well, then release him and take him back to your perch.
After you've rinsed and repeated this to the point that he happily goes with you (without any help from the leash), then try redirecting him to a different spot in the same room. After you've practiced this, and Dodge can keep his attention and focus on you, then allow him (slowly!) to get a little more involved with the "intruders" by allowing him to "say hello", but redirect him BEFORE he gets worked up to the point of no return. As he succeeds, start extinguishing the treats, and perhaps change to a toy or tactile praise.
When you are attempting to teach him good manners at the window, you do not want to allow him access to the window when you are not present, or he will undo any work you've done by getting the self reward. Hope that makes sense.
I have one girl that is simply not allowed loose in the house when we aren't at home. I can easily control her behavior at the front window in my presence, but I dare not trust her not to go through the window if I'm not here. Something for you to think about. The other dogs are territorial, but they don't bounce on the window risking a catastrophe like Miss S does.
Hope this helps.