going crazy when people walk dogs by my house

[ash1975]

My dog goes crazy when someone walks their dog by my house she barks and her hair stands up,my dog is on the deck of my house. She is almost two years old how can i stop this,i know the people walking the dogs think that im crazy because of the way my dog acts. Would a barking collar help or shock collar??? When she does this i go get her and put her in the house.

[Marjolein]

how 'bout correcting her? Don't go for the easy way with the collars right away. Go out there and make clear this behaviour will no longer be tolerated.

[ash1975]

But HOW DO I DO THIS????? I NEED HELP,

[Marjolein]

But HOW DO I DO THIS????? I NEED HELP,

This depends on your dog, for some dogs a short firm word (like "NO!"), others need a little shake (like throwing your keys right in front of the dog on the floor) and others need just a look...
Best thing to do is to find a good dog trainer who can teach you how to correct, and how to praise your dog It's hard to say from behind a PC.

[Dutchringgirl]

When Sadie was younger I would grab her nose like Thalie would do and say "QUIET". Then it just evolved to where I can just say "QUIET" and she stops.

[ash1975]

Ok thanks for the advice.

[Christie M]

My dog goes crazy when someone walks their dog by my house she barks and her hair stands up,my dog is on the deck of my house. She is almost two years old how can i stop this,i know the people walking the dogs think that im crazy because of the way my dog acts. Would a barking collar help or shock collar??? When she does this i go get her and put her in the house.

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[Sugars Mom]

But HOW DO I DO THIS????? I NEED HELP,

I also wanted to add that trying to get through to them to NOT do something is part of the battle. I have found that replacing the unwanted behaviour, (the barking like crazy,) with something you DO want them to do, or something that is OK for them to do, like "go lie down" or whatever else you may think of, and really completes it all. I look at it as then they have a new "job" to do.

For example,when Sugar is barking and jumping at the squirrels in the backyard, I tell her to leave it, look at me, and come. In the beginning I had to go in front of her as she was so into the squirrels I swear she didn't even hear me. Its a ton of work as you have to get up EVERY time and do that until she gets it, but now she usually always listens to me and comes to me when I call her. Treats to reward when she comes also helped.

Just my

[Dutchringgirl]

a solid recall can do wonders! No matter how intent Thalie is at chasing something, once I recall, she leaves skid marks and turns to come. Thalie also knows a whistle recall to and many times Ill just whistle to break her attention on something else and bring her attention back to me.

[Raven]

Am a little late in posting to this, but having owned a few highly reactive rescues, re-shaping this behavior doesn't happen overnight, especially if they've been engaging in this practice for a couple of years.

You've been offered good advice on the forum. Without knowing what you're training consists of and what her command-response ratio is....

It would seem that she might blow-off a "no" in the middle of her blowing up--and does she know what it means?; how is her general obedience and do you work on obedience and structured play every day? (It's all part of where you need to be with her "greeting committee style.")

With my last two, this situation was handled differently with each dog because they had different personalities and backgrounds. If basic obedience is not a problem, a couple of other things to try (that has worked for me) is:

1) Rapid fire reinforcement: when the dog is "caught" doing an acceptable behavior (even when not asked)or does what it needs to do when told (when it's extremely hard for them to do that particular thing), slam them repeatedly with positive reinforcement with something that means something to them. If that's a pat on the head and a verbal "atta girl," do it over and over at the moment. (Someone else may have better knowledge about stroking while a dog is in a reactive state, but stroking may help surge the adrenals--what you don't want--so pets/pats would be best.) If it's a favorite treat, slam them with the treats and the verbal you use that let's them know they've "done good."

**Rapid fire when they are "caught" doing something acceptable even when not asked, you say? They catch on: "Hey, I'm just being quiet and getting all this...what a good gig!" It won't immediately transfer to the problem situation; it's part of the shaping is all.

2) Again, depending upon their obedience level, you can request an incompatible behavior from them. For instance, "lie down." It's hard to act like Rambo when they're down. You may have to start, as Lisa suggested, with a solid recall--to bring her in whenever she acts like a jerk--and immediately "lie down" once she's in. Then let her out again; acts like a jerk--consequence is: in the house, lie down; let her out again; acts like a jerk--consequence. They get it pretty quickly. Just don't forget to release her--making sure first that her training has left her knowing that once she's placed down, she doesnt move until she's been released. When you release her, she needs to come to you, not just off wherever she pleases.

Work daily with her on obedience and structured play. Be consistent and fair. Reinforce any improvements.

P.S.: If you use tug as a reward...I wouldn't engage in it as a reward in this situation.

[Cooper]

I have a "Penny Shaker", bunch of pennies in a can usually works. Just shake it when they do something wrong and say "No". Works for me.

[Jan]

Keep working on it. When a dog behaves in a way you don't want to you have to be persistent no mather what. That's the bottomline.