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How to Stop Your Dog From Barking Out Windows

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Dog Barking at Windows: It’s Not a Good Thing

How to Stop Dog Barking
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Recently, we started walking our dogs on the weekend through our new neighborhood. A cul-de-sac and grass-edged sidewalks are a bit different for us. We’ve lived downtown for so many years, we thought we would enjoy the slow-paced suburban life for a while. Well, walking dogs through a neighborhood is not as peaceful as walking downtown. I was pretty shocked at the difference. The main factor is bored suburban dogs are allowed to bark aggressively at walkers behind windows. Some dogs even chase walkers from window to window in their home.

Why Dogs Barking Out Windows is a Problem

Dog owners mistakenly assume their dogs are daydreaming on the window edge, watching squirrels dash and wagging as people walk along the sidewalk. However, this is not reality. Allow me to explain what’s really happening.

Dogs will do anything to cure their boredom, but their new hobby may drive you and your neighbors crazy. It’s not fair for dog owners walking their leashed dogs on public sidewalks to be threatened by a barking dog. It’s downright rude and not appreciated by fellow dog owners.

Understanding the Different Perspectives

Pedestrians

When a dog barks out the window when someone walks by, it’s jolting for the pedestrian. It doesn’t depend on the barking dog’s size–even a small barking dog is scary. I’ve witnessed everyday runners without dogs shake their heads in disappointment. No one deserves to be threatened by a lunging dog, even if your dog is behind a window.

Dogs Walking With Owners

Dogs walking with their pet owners are probably the most affected by dogs barking through windows. It’s pretty darn scary to them. Think about it from a human perspective: what if you’re walking along, minding your business and an angry person opens her curtains and starts screaming from inside her home? Then she shouts obscenities to you, staring angrily, flipping you off and beating on the glass, as you pass by. Then it continues, even after you’ve walked away from her home, you can still hear her screaming and beating on the glass. Yeah, I would call the police.

As a dog trainer, I’m the one consulted to teach the dogs minding their own business during walks how to overcome such obstacles. And it can take months. Please don’t allow your dog to harass others.

Your Neighbors

I wouldn’t be surprised if this situation hasn’t already been reported to your Home Owner’s Association (HOA) or even the police. I promise you your window-barking dog is earning a terrible reputation. If anything ever happens, your neighbors will report your dog as aggressive. Yes, it’s hard to hear, but you deserve to understand what’s said behind your back.

As a fellow dog lover who lives in a dangerous dog society as you, you’re most certainly not helping a dog’s image.

Your Dog

This is a terrible behavior for your dog to practice. It not only teaches him to bark at everything that walks by, but it also increases his stress level. Plus, window-lunging dogs learn barking makes the moving object go away, which makes the behavior worse and likely to happen more often. You may have probably noticed your dog charges toward your visitors when they walk in the door. This is the behavior your dog taught himself when barking at strangers through your window.

RELATED: Training Dogs Polite Greeting Behavior

How to Stop Dog Barking Out Windows

If your dog runs toward the window to bark, I urge you to stop this behavior now. Here are a couple of solutions that work even when you’re not home.

Management

Make sure your dog doesn’t have access to sidewalk-facing windows. It’s the quickest way to stop this unwanted behavior, especially while you’re away from home. Place sturdy baby gates in hallways to restrict your dog’s access or crate your dog when you’re not home.

As you’re probably well aware, closing heavy curtains or blinds doesn’t work, especially if used as a management tool alone. Most dogs will shred them in a frenzy to view through a window. However, closed curtains coupled with restricting baby gates are quite effective.

Relieve Boredom

Just like children, when dogs are bored, they can easily cause havoc. When you’re going to leave your dog home alone all day, hide frozen food stuffed toys throughout the house to provide your dog plenty of mental stimulation. Or better yet, hire a dog walker for a noon walk. Walks not only provide mental stimulation, but physical exercise as well.

Redirection is Your Friend

In a quiet location, teach your dog the “touch” game. “Touch” is when a dog walks toward you and touches his nose inside your hand. This is a great way to ask your dog to do something else rather than bark out the window. It’s essential to practice in a quiet place, so your dog understands the behavior thoroughly before using it as a redirection tool.

With management in place and lots of practice under your belt, ask your dog to “touch” the moment he hears someone walking past your home. If your dog starts barking, it’s too late. When your dog turns toward the front windows with his ears perked up or takes a step toward the front, say “touch” and reward your dog heavily when he responds. Always use super yummy treats and reward often. When I say reward heavily, I mean give your dog five pea-sized treats one after the other.

After lots of practice, you’ll soon notice your dog walking toward you when he hears someone walking past your home. Reward heavily!

If your friend or neighbor has this issue, please print this article for her. If it’s someone you don’t know, print and place in her mailbox. I firmly believe people do better once they know better. 🙂

How to Deal With Fear Aggression in Dogs

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Dealing With Dog Fear Aggression

Fear Aggression in Dogs
wujekspeed/Deposit Photos

Is your dog showing signs of fear and aggressive behavior at the same time? This behavior can be categorized as fear aggression. Fear is not uncommon in dogs and most aggressive behaviors derive from it. This behavior could be caused by a multitude of things, such as genetics, possible mistreatment or lack of socialization during the impressionable stages of the dog’s life (fear imprint period). Sometimes you may be dealing with a combination of these things, depending on the dog and situation.

What Causes Your Dog’s Fear?

First, you want to identify the source of your dog’s fear whether it’s strangers, other dogs or specific objects. Once you can identify the cause of your dog’s fear, you can work on the behavioral threshold (the distance where the dog is not reacting). This will help your dog learn to overcome and deal with the cause of his fear.

As someone who has owned a dog that suffers from fear aggression, I recommend working with a professional dog trainer who is experienced with this type of behavior. Dealing with fear aggression can be complex and a little overwhelming for a dog owner to deal with, so coupling up with a dog trainer will help your dog tremendously.

What You Can Expect and When

You’ll see your dog’s fear aggressive behavior become more intense around six months of age or at the beginning of the dog’s adolescence. The sooner you begin modifying this behavior, the better. As stated above, you might see your dog show signs of fear toward strangers, other animals and even inanimate objects.

Flight or Fight Response

Some dogs will show the flight response (running away) to the things they’re fearful of. This is generally categorized as being fearful. On the other hand, you might have a dog that shows the fight response (trying to move toward the object), which is considered fear aggression. The dog that shows the fight response is trying to scare the thing she is fearful of away.

Your Dog’s Body Posture

A dog suffering from fear aggression may bark, growl, show teeth, lunge and hug the ground within seconds, or have his hackles raised from the tail all the way to the shoulder blades trying to appear bigger than he is. His body posture may make him come off as indecisive. One minute he’s lunging and growling and the next he’s cowering and running behind you.

RELATED: Dog Aggression

How to Train a Dog With Fear Aggression

First and foremost I want to state that using any correction on a fearful dog can be detrimental to dog training. This will only cause a bigger negative association to what the dog is fearful to. The dog is scared. You can’t tell him to stop being scared. Building a positive association and teaching redirection with the use of positive reinforcement techniques will be ideal in a situation like this.

Select a High Value Reward

Begin by finding the highest value reward for your dog, such as steak, chicken or liver. A head collar is also a great tool to use in this training program, as it gives you much more control. Our goal is to have the dog become aware of the triggers and not react to them.

Treat Your Dog Around Triggers

As soon as your dog sees the trigger, feed your dog a treat one after another. Do not give the dog a chance to redirect onto the stimulus. While the dog is focusing on you and the reward, start moving the dog away from the stimulus where you know he won’t act aggressively. You will begin doing this for several weeks in small increments.

Move Closer

Once your dog is successful at seven feet from the stimulus, begin moving closer. For the next couple of weeks, work with your dog at a distance of five feet. As your dog’s confidence builds, then work with him at a closer distance.

Involve Strangers

When your dog is comfortable around strangers, start using them in your dog training. A great way to begin is to have strangers toss high value food rewards near your dog, as they walk by. Do not have strangers approach quickly or look at your dog–have them just toss a treat and move on.

If your dog doesn’t react to this, then you know you’re making great progress and can move forward. If your dog does show reaction to the stranger, take a couple of steps back and continue to build her behavioral threshold without additional stimulation from strangers.

Take It Slow

Remember to take these exercises very slowly. By going at a slower pace, you’ll be much more successful. It’s normal to want to push a little more when you see progress, but I wouldn’t recommend doing this, as you can overwhelm the dog and jeopardize your training.

I know this can be a frustrating situation, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. My Boxer Chanel began showing signs of fear aggression at five to six months old, which escalated quickly. She is now seven years old and lives with cats, a three-year-old child and another Boxer. There was a lot of training and emotions involved over the years, but I wouldn’t change it. She is my success story!

Sources:
www.iaabc.org
www.apdt.com
www.aspca.org

Dog Breed of the Week: Weimaraner

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Meet the Weimaraner

Weimaraner
VKarlov/iStock

The regal looking Weimaraner originated in Germany, as an all-around gun dog that could hunt a wide variety of game. Back in the day, Germany had very strict breed standards for the Weimaraner, which were overseen by the German Weimaraner Club. The breed was finally brought to the U.S. in 1929, excelling in obedience competitions and gaining exposure and interest in the breed. The AKC began recognizing this breed in 1943 as a gun dog in the sporting group.

General Characteristics and Temperament

The bold and outgoing Weimaraner stands anywhere between 23″-25’’ at the shoulder. Males are slightly larger than females. Their weight ranges between 55-90 lbs. You will find these dogs to be full of energy and playful, which may require you to come up with creative ways to expel all that energy. In addition to their playfulness, they will alert you if something seems off and protect you when needed.

Health and Nutrition

Weimaraners tend to be pretty healthy and have a lifespan of 10 to 13 years with the only major health concern being gastric torsion (bloat). However, you can help prevent bloat by feeding small meals throughout the day. There’s still a lot of speculation about bloat, but several veterinary universities are in the process of researching causes and links.

RELATED: Should You Let Your Dog on the Couch?

Weimaraner Grooming

If you have chosen a Weimaraner as your pet, you definitely get off easy in the dog grooming department. With these dogs having short smooth coats, you can get away with regular baths. Of course, you want to make sure their nails are kept trimmed and their ears cleaned to prevent buildup or overgrowth.

These dogs are best as indoor dogs with access to the outdoors on a regular basis. They can’t tolerate the cold weather, but they can tolerate heat.

Dog Training and Exercise

Last, but definitely not least, Weimaraners are best matched with very active families, as they require a lot of physical and mental stimulation. This dog breed is not meant for apartment living because they require a good amount of time outside to stretch their legs and run.

Exercise plays a big part in dog training and behavior for all dogs. The Weimaraner takes training well and learns quickly, but can be a little stubborn at times, especially if he doesn’t have the proper amount of exercise. Providing the Weimaraner with the right amount of exercise ensures a clear mind for training. By using positive reinforcement-based techniques, you facilitate a rewarding and productive experience for your dog.

Not every dog is right for every person. When choosing a dog, you want to make sure you find one that best fits with your dynamic.

For more information, please visit Weimaraner Club of America.

You may also like: Boxer

How to Teach Your Dog Chin Rests

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Chin Rests Make Grooming and Medicating Your Dog’s Face Easier

How to Teach Your Dog Chin Rests
NevaF/iStock

While chin rests are a fun trick to teach your dog, you can use this behavior for so many different things. If your dog is fearful of human contact, teaching your dog to rest her chin in your hand teaches her body handling and close human contact is a good thing.

When to Use Chin Rests

Anytime you need to examine, brush, bathe, trim or medicate your dog’s head or neck area, chin rests will make it much easier for both you and your dog. Also, an awesome side effect is it builds confidence while teaching dogs that body handing is fun and very rewarding.

Visiting the Veterinarian

Annual dog exams always consist of two things: ear and eye exams. These exams are a struggle for most dogs. When you think about it, it’s kind of weird having someone look into your eyes with a funny gadget and stick a hard plastic cone down your ear canal.

Teach your dog to calmly rest his head in your head, so the veterinarian can get a good look into those peepers and ears. No more wrestling and forcing your dog to the ground. You’ll be shocked how easy it is to teach too.

Applying Medication

Some time in your dog’s life,  he’ll need medication applied to his eyes and ears. Here’s where chin rests will make putting medication on his face much easier. It’s also a great way to clean your dog’s ears.

RELATED: Best Probiotic for Dogs

Grooming

Ninety-nine percent of dogs need to be brushed, but it seems most will duck their heads down as a brush moves toward their face. Instead of chasing your dog around the house with a brush, train your dog to rest his chin in your hand. Once he learns chin rests, slowly introduce a brush. Don’t touch him with it yet. Instead say “yes” and treat him when he sees the brush. Only then do you slowly move the brush closer, touch his head and brush once. If your dog backs away, you’ve gone too far too soon, so take a step back.

By teaching your dog to calmly rest his chin in a stranger’s hands, your groomer will most definitely find it useful. The dog groomer can quickly trim around your dogs’ eyes, muzzle and ears without holding his head still.

Building Confidence

Teaching your dog human hands and close body contact is fun and rewarding is empowering for dogs, especially fearful ones. If your dog ducks or moves away anytime you reach or move toward him, I highly recommend teaching chin rests.

How to Teach Your Dog Chin Rests

You’ll need lots of super yummy treats cut into pea-sized bites. I recommend using hot dogs and cheese, as they’re super yummy and your dog is willing to work hard to earn them. Another important factor: don’t stare into your dog’s eyes or face while teaching this behavior. It’s extremely freaky looking to dogs and humans alike. Rest your gaze on your open hand instead.

Step 1: Just Reach

Before reaching and grabbing your dog’s chin, we need to teach him to stand still while you reach for his face (don’t touch his face yet). Most dogs back away and, if you watch really closely, so do people. 🙂

  • Reach toward your dog, leaving three feet in between your hand and dog. As you’re reaching, mark the behavior by saying “yes” and then give your dog a treat.
  • If your dog backs away, increase the distance between your hand and dog. Or make your hand movement smaller (less swinging, slower movement).
  • Practice four to five more times and end the session.

WATCH: Teaching Your Dog Chin Rest Part 1

https://youtu.be/9e2P-UQRws4

Step 2: Touch Under Chin

As with anything, there are a couple of ways to teach your dog to allow touching of his face. You can shape and capture behavior or lure–it’s up to you, your skill level and dog’s personality. Here, I’ll teach you how to lure the behavior.

  • Slowly place your palm under your dog’s face and feed him five or six tiny treats one after the other.
  • Once five or six treats are given, remove your hand.
  • Now, try again. You’ll probably notice your dog standing very still, as your hand moves toward his chin (a good thing!). Lure and feed five or six treats again.
  • Practice three to four more times and end training session.

If your dog steps back while you feed or approach him, go back to step one and practice some more.

WATCH: Teaching Your Dog Chin Rest Part 2

https://youtu.be/petL_MI7MS8

Step 3: Rest Chin

Now, we’ll teach your dog to lower his chin in your hand.

  • Place your hand about ½ inch under your dog’s chin (you’re not touching it) and use a treat to lure his muzzle into your hand.
  • Once you feel his muzzle drop into your open hand, say “yes” and give him a treat.
  • Practice a few times and end training session.

WATCH: Teaching Your Dog Chin Rest Part 3

Step 4: Rest Longer

Now that your dog has learned to drop his chin into your open hand, we’ll teach him to hold it there longer and relax.

  • Hold your open hand out and click (or say “yes”) once your dog holds his chin in place for a second.
  • Now, click (or say “yes”) when you notice any type of relaxation.
  • You can certainly teach your dog to look at you too during chin rests. This is excellent for eyes exams. Say “yes” when he looks at you.
  • Practice a few more times and end training session.
  • Slowly increase duration of chin rests by adding an additional second during each training session.

On average, a 10-second chin rest is sufficient. If your dog needs his head groomed, then one minute is plenty. After a quick break, hold your hand out for another chin rest and groom for another minute.

Step 5: Pass It On

When guests come over, ask if they can help you and your dog work on a few things before sitting down and chatting. Bring your dog into the room–on leash is easier, so your dog doesn’t jump on them. Practice all five steps with them and you’ll notice the training session moves much faster since your dog already knows the behavior.

Chin rests are super cool to show off to friends!

Why Do Dogs Freak Out When You Touch Their Collar?

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Stop Touching My Collar: Why Collar Touches Freak Dogs Out

Touching Dog Collar
tamifreed/Deposit Photos

Does your dog slink away or dodge your hand as you’re reaching for her collar? This is quite common among dogs. Rather than letting your dog freak out when you touch her collar,teach your dog that touching her collar is fun. Sound crazy? It’s not. I can help you fix this issue within 10 to 15 minutes.

Collar Dodging: It’s an Epidemic!

It’s embarrassing. No one wants to be that person chasing his dog and when he finally touches her collar, she takes off again. Some dogs will come right back to you when called, but once you put your hands on her collar, she’s gone again! So why does this happen? Allow me to explain it from your dog’s point of view. I’m sure you’ll have some light bulb moments. 🙂

Ninety percent of the time when someone reaches for a dog’s collar, he’s ending a play session. The person is attaching his dog to a leash to return home or walk him to his crate. Yup, dogs have learned that collar touches mean fun ends or they’re in trouble. No wonder they run away! Think of it as the “last call” announcement you’ve learned at the nightclub when fun has come to an end. Fortunately, we can change your dog’s reaction to collar touches. 🙂

How to Train Your Dog to Enjoy Collar Touches

You can certainly teach dogs no matter their age that collar touches mean yummy treats or, better yet, fun hasn’t ended. Dogs are never too old to learn.

You’ll need super yummy treats, such as hot dogs, cut into pea size bites. You’ll need a clicker to mark good behavior and, of course, your dog’s collar.

Step One: Touching Collar Brings Out Treats

  1. Put your dog’s collar on and sit on the floor. Usually, your dog will walk toward you when sitting on the floor.
  2. Reach out and touch your dog’s collar. As your fingers touch her collar, say “yes” and give your dog a treat.
  3. Move your hand away. After you say “yes,” practice again.
  4. Practice four to five more times and end the session.

WATCH: Touching Your Dog’s Collar Part 1

Step Two: Hand Slides Under/Over Collar

  1. Now, reach your hand under your dog’s collar. As your hand slides under the collar, say “yes” and give your dog a treat.
  2. Remove your hand immediately after saying “yes” and try again.
  3. Practice a few more times and end the session.

If your dog backs away or ducks, go back to step one and practice some more. Once your dog stands still when you touch her collar, then move onto step two.

WATCH: Touching Your Dog’s Collar Part 2

Step Three: Hold Collar

Hold your dog’s collar with your hand either slipped under or over her collar.

  1. Slide your palm under your dog’s collar or hold the collar with your palm facing upwards.
  2. Once your hand is in place, hold for one second. Say “yes” and give your dog a treat.
  3. Practice four to five more times and end the training session.

WATCH: Touching Your Dog’s Collar Part 3

Step Four: Walking While Holding Collar

Usually, this one causes a bit of conflict for most dogs, especially fearful dogs. This is made worse when dog owners use way too much force while holding their dog’s collar.

Goal: Your dog follows along while you’re holding her collar.

  1. Stand up and hold your dog’s collar.
  2. Feed your dog, as you’re walking forward and feed often. Every time you step forward, your dog gets a treat.
  3. Practice walking one to two steps and end the behavior.
  4. Over the course of two to three days, increase your steps. Continue giving your dog lots of treats.

WATCH: Holding Your Dog’s Collar While Walking

Step Five: Practice Outdoors

It’s time to practice in the real world. You can certainly incorporate this new behavior in everything.

  • Playing fetch: Collar touch and throw the ball as a reward.
  • Play session: Collar touch and release dog to continue playing.
  • Meat time: Touch collar and place filled dog food bowl down.

Now, your dog should happily wait for you to grab her collar. Collar touches are fun now! As for last call, you’re still on your own. 🙂

Dog Training Nation is a dog training blog for pet owners and dog lovers. We cover a range of topics from puppy socialization tips to dog aggression to dog health. It is our hope you share our content to make the world a better place for dogs.

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