Ct For Dogs?

[lou*]

Hi everyone

I know this is isn't really equine related, more canine (enlightened canines anybody!) but I have a problem that I haven't been able to solve with my dog, and wondered whether (and how) to start clicker trainig with my terrier.

She is very well behaved, not a typical terrier, but she has recently begun to bark incessantly when people come to door, and then when I let them in she barks as they talk to me.  I'm not sure if she is being protective of me, or jealous because she isn't getting any attention.

Have tried most ideas - have even watched 'Its the dog or me' on channel 4 for some more ideas, but because she only barks at the door, or people coming through the door it is difficult because she doesn't bark 'at random'.

Would clicker training be suitable for something like this, and if so would there be any books I could read as a starting point?

Thanks

Lou xx

[Woody]

Hi

Google Kay Lawrence and www.teachingdogs.com, great e-group and a whole organisation dedicated to training through positive reinforcement and operant conditioning (clickers)

Woody

[Murphysmum]

Jusr wondered what you are doing whilst your dog is doing all this barking?

[Heather]

Hi Everyone,

No doubt Becky will chip in later if she is around, but she was first a CT trainer of dogs, being a remedial trainer of dogs first and foremost as a career, then transferring thet method to her work with horses, so ask away!


Heather

[vic]

Both my terriers have benefitted hugely from clicker training and I have used it on my horses for a couple of years now, especially for specific behaviour required on ''no room to swing a cat'' film sets  :P
I'm not very good at explaining how to teach it tho'  
I learnt the basics years ago from my dog-training freind and I then worked out a system that made sense to me, so it may not be the orthodox clicker method, i don't know.

What I am sure of tho, is that clicker training will definitely sort out your problem, since it will be solved by overlaying the unwanted behaviour with a trained behaviour instead.

If no-one else comes up with an 'official line', I will give you some ideas, but i'm sure there will be far better than me  :blush:  

[Becky holden]

Hi Lou
Yes clicker training would most defiantly help with your problem, but its a mistake to hit the problem on the head with dogs as they are a pack animal and see use as their human pack! Dogs dont really think in terms of jelousy, as for being protective, if she see's you as pack leader she should see it  as your right to invite people in, and not carry on barking. If you were out of the house or didn't answer the door then fair enough it would be her job to carry on barking. So first of all you must establish whether you are in fact ruler of the roost for any form of training to work and be consistent with results. Books by Jonh Fisher will help you with pack behaviour "think Dog" will probably be the best one.
  WHen she carries on barking is she barking at you or the visitor? Does she bark once the visitor has sat down? Is she a dog that enjoys her toys, if so does she collect one to show off with?
Right on to the clicker bit!! First of all you need to condition the noise then you need help off somebody to knock on the door, acknowledge she has done a good job in telling you there is somebody at the door say "ok quite now" wait for silence-click-treat, repeat the click as often as you can whilst she is quite, then repeat the knock on the door, work through this process a couple of time and its is best that the person who is knocking doesn't come in the front door once the exercise is over, if its a member of the family ask them to come round the back, or if a neighbour explain before hand your intentions. Once you start to get results then you can allow the person to come through the door, and repeat the process but i will need to no her attitude towards them before i can really advise you there.
The other choice you have is teaching her to bark on command and then teaching her the quite command,
A good web site for books is www.crosskeys.com lots of books to choose from! I could spend a fortune!! :P

Hope this helps
Becky    

[lou*]

Thanks everyone!    This will be a great starting point and I am glad others have had success with it.  I will look up those links you have suggested.  
Becky, she doesn't collect her toys to show off with, she jumps up from her bed, goes to the door, barks at the person behind and continues barking at them when they are in the hall. I tell her no but she seems to stop barking when she wants to, not when I want her to! <_<
Murphysmum - I have tried everything from ignoring her to telling her off, but she seems to just ignore me!  

She is a rescue dog and she also barks at doorbells on the tv :blink:  (!) so not sure if that has something to do with it or not?  I don't mind the tv barking as normally it is a quiet, stifled half bark (if that makes sense) it is just the barking at the door as it can be very off putting for visitors.

Lou xx  (off to check out those websites and damage my bank balance from the sound of things !!)

[hinny_heart]

Hi, Lou, years ago I had a rescue terrier who was a hysterical barker, she used to get so overexcited (and a bit distressed with herself, too) that she would wet herself while barking and leaping about. I used something that Becky's suggested to you, which was to  teach her to bark on command first (and reward her for it!) and then teach her to be quiet on command.

It worked SO well and there were no more hysterics or overexcitement or weeing!
I can't remember where I read about it, and although at the time it seemed a bit cockeyed to teach her to do what I wanted to stop her doing, it was the only thing I found that worked for Jill.

So if you decide to do that, don't worry if it sounds the wrong-way-round!