Enthusiasm & Barking

[TrishB]

One compliment that I've always gotten from Judges has been Parker's enthusiasm. "It's so nice to see an enthusiastic dog.", "He's so happy!", etc.

Parker will get excited enough to bark when we're working. It's a real job of containment with him. It tends to be between exercises, like "Com'on!! Let's GOOOOO!" play bark.

Thing is, he's a 113lbs male with a BIG BARK. Any hints on curbing the barking without curbing the enthusiasm? I'd rather have the bark if it means I have to lose that happy, gleeful, prancing dog beside me.

[groupieindenial]

I'm guessing if you teach him to bark on command, then you can communicate with him when you don't want him to "speak" if he knows what "speak" means. When he barks when you don't want him to you can say "NO speak" or "bad speak".

Vegas was never much of a barker, but if he's especially hungry, and I make him wait before he can eat his food in his dish, when I release him he'll let out a little "woof" as if to say "Finally YESSS!"

[TrishB]

hehe
Parker will bark on command (command or hand signal). I am correcting him for it right now. It's just tough because his being so 'up' is something I encourage. It's a very careful balancing act between enthusiasm and containment.

[Judi W]

In the ring, vs training........

In the ring,
One thing you should consider is having the entire series continuing, moving from one exercise to the next without a big deal release. Some judges will appropriately take some points (and maybe some big ones) for out of control/misbehavior. I pretty much say, good dog, heel, and move on to position for the next exercise. Not all judges want to have to wait until the handler has their dog calmed and under control to start the next exercise. Primarily, as a handler, I don't want the flow of the work interupted.

[groupieindenial]

So with training, is it too simple to assume that if you don't reward or praise when he barks, that he'll eventually associate it with the barking? I mean the barking isn't whats being requested when your doing excercises. Trish, is he barking when being released? Or during the excercises?

[damp]

An adult dog, who loves to work, should very quickly get the message, that this is not acceptable behavior if you correct him. Tell him to knock it off and praise when he behaves. It isn’t different to all other teaching.

I don’t think he will lose the enthusiasm and the love to work, but sure… you will lose scores in trials for “ill-timed barking”!

[TrishB]

Originally Posted by groupieindenial

So with training, is it too simple to assume that if you don't reward or praise when he barks, that he'll eventually associate it with the barking? I mean the barking isn't whats being requested when your doing excercises. Trish, is he barking when being released? Or during the excercises?

Nope - as Judi suspected - it's during the release. We're not ready to link them all together. The retrieves and jumps are still very new to us. But I'll be sure to maintain the flow. Good points!

[Miabella]

I have taught my dog a series of spins and other tricks that she loves to perform. I use these between exercises as a way to keep her happy and up while maintaining control. It is not a release, but it is a stress reliever for her because it is easy and fun.

[SABELLESMOM]

Allow me to tell a quick story (which I've no idea how to encorporate into obedience training) and see if it could apply in your case: My normally calm, comfident, never make trouble in the car adolesent girl, Raven, began baring at a motorcycle behind us one night on the way to class.

Perhaps he was "too close" or maybe the dark looking face shield bothered her or was reflecting sunlight...I don't know! She's not had a problem with motorcycles before. This one bothered her! Why, this time? DUNNO.

The barking seemed to come when he got close, but I wasn't sure. It was not a particularly loud cycle. But it was very unerving to have my calm girl start acting annoying and foolish no matter the reason. I thought..."Well, what would Abbie (instructor) have me do?" Then it came to me: "Reward the behavior you WANT!" So I wanted for a quiet moment, clicked and offerred a treat. Again, she'd bark then stop...click treat! By the 3-4th time she understood to "be quiet!"

I don't know if you can encorporate this in any way. Just remember it was the ONLY thing I was doing with her at the time. After all we were in a moving vehicle. Finally she simply laid down and ignored the motorcycle altogether. When she did that, she got a click and a motherlode of treats!

GOOD LUCK!!

PS: We've had other motorcycles near...I'd say she's cured!

[LynnS]

I would guess that Parker is keying off of your enthusiasm....
Judi's suggestion of toning down your release (even if you are not going directly to another excercise is a good one).

In addition to solving the barking issue, Parker will not be confused when you tone down your praise in the ring...

[laurlitt]

Barking is actually a form of leaking (losing) drive and enthusiam... by having him be quiet he caps (maintains) the enthusiasm inside and when it's time to go to the next exercise he should be more ready to go.

I would teach him a quiet command and quickly reward when he's quiet. A dog with drive will not be squashed by being taught to be quiet... it should be just the opposite.

[Skip]

Originally Posted by TrishB

.....
Thing is, he's a 113lbs male with a BIG BARK....

I've heard him up close. Very friendly...but his fun bark is one of those that SOUNDS more serious than I think Trish wants him to use in the ring. Nice dog Trish...it was great meeting the 2 of you recently.

[TrishB]

Originally Posted by Skip

I've heard him up close. Very friendly...but his fun bark is one of those that SOUNDS more serious than I think Trish wants him to use in the ring. Nice dog Trish...it was great meeting the 2 of you recently.

Thanks Skip. And you're right. I personally don't have an issue with the bark. However, I do know that it's not appropriate in the ring and I'm also fully aware that it scares some people. So I'd rather not have the bark, just not at the cost of my happy go lucky attitude pup.

I'm going to curb the barking, try to maintain the focus rather than doing big releases. There will be some from time to time when we're really concentrating on a tough task (retrieve over the jump comes to mind). But Judi is right - linking them together should maintain the momentum and retain the focus.

It was great seeing you too Skip! And your lovely boy too. Are you going to come up to the Nationals?

[Judi W]

There is a handler at our training club whose Berner expresses his enthusiasm quite vocally. Because she was quite pleased with the enthusiasm, he has expanded the barking and noise even though she has not overtly praised it. It is to the point now where he really sounds off at each retrieve or jump and where most handlers pretty much stop their work until he is finished because like Parker, it is one very loud and even aggressive sounding bark.

Remember, that if you are pleased with something even if it is secretly pleased because you believe it expresses enthusiasm, the dog will know and continue if not expand upon the behavior. Even if between exercises at a trial, there are other teams working and what appears to be uncontrolled or noisy action as close as the next ring is quite a distraction. Most Rottweilers can accept praise and stress relief without getting noisy about it. Tone down your "exercise finished" praise until he learns to accept it with more control. You can give a good pat and rub and good dog without having him go wild. It is very hard to take something down that the dog has developed and that he believes makes you happy. Easier to develop methods that you intend to continue.