Barking demandingly for toys. . .

[noludoru]

. . .is not a behavior I like.

Evil Demon Dog who I am house-sitting does this obsessively. It's not a behavior I'm fond of, since I can't stand barking. Can I have some help with training him out of this or at least working on it this week while I'm here? I have a few ideas but I'm not the best trainer, so I'm hoping for a tried-and-true sort of method.

Here's what Freddie does: he drops a toy in your lap (or if I happen to pick it up) and then gets super excited about the idea of me throwing it for him. He'll wiggle all over for a sec, jump around, and occasionally listen to "sit" or "down." After a few seconds of all that, then he gets frustrated because you will not throw the toy for him right that second and he growls and barks. No matter what you do, the barking escalates. Setting the toy somewhere, holding it in the air, dropping it back in your lap, etc doesn't work - he's still focused on the toy and freaking out over it. Only hiding it works to stop the barking, but he usually attacks the hiding place.

I have tried ignoring him, but he continues barking for minutes on end I doubt he'll stop. He just gets himself more worked up. I wont throw the ball for him when he does this, because I don't want to reward him for the behavior, but what do I do to work on minimizing this?

[Catsi]

He sure loves his ball!

You say if you hide it he stops barking. Maybe putting it away if he barks, rewarding him (with food maybe?) when he sees it and doesn't bark and only throwing it when he sits/drops calmly.

It may take a while, but if you put it away when he barks consistantly he will understand the new rules.

[Dogs6]

Get ear plugs and let him bark it out until he is quiet????

[lizzybeth727]

Originally Posted by Dogs6

Get ear plugs and let him bark it out until he is quiet????

THIS.

Sorry, I REALLY REALLY hate demanding behavior too, and I have a friend whose dog does this same thing.... and he barks LOUD.

The other alternative would be to take the toy and walk away, to another room and close him out. For example, when he drops the toy in your lap, calmly hold it and walk out of the room, into the bathroom or something, and close the door so that he's outside the bathroom. Do it calmly so that he doesn't think it's some game you're playing. He will probably bark at the door, but at least the bark is a little quieter. Just wait him out, and when he stops barking and leaves the door, THEN come out (and stash the toy somewhere).

As a matter of fact, I would probably hide ALL the toys from him, until I wanted to play with him. THAT might just prevent the problem from starting in the first place.

[noludoru]

Thank you all! I think I'm going to try the suggestions of hiding the toys and walking into another room when he dumps the toy on me. Hopefully that will work. He's already way better behaved since I'm the only one here - this is actually the only problem I've had with him. That and barking in his crate for 15 minutes straight while I'm trying to sleep...

[Sweet72947]

I agree with putting up all toys, only playing when you want to, and walking away when he barks.

If he weren't only being watched by you for a short period of time, I would also work on his self-control in general (sitting for food/treats/going outside, stuff like that), but I don't know if you have enough time for that.

[Criosphynx]

As a matter of fact, I would probably hide ALL the toys from him, until I wanted to play with him. THAT might just prevent the problem from starting in the first place.

yup this.

[noludoru]

I have 5 more days with him, so not really. Plus, any work I do with him will go to hell when they get back.

They're always amazed when he behaves for me, haha. I'm the only guest he doesn't really jump on anymore. I've just been really consistent with him about ignoring the jumping and giving him attention the second all four feet hit the ground. Normally he bounces around you and flails wildly at your legs for 5 minutes when you walk in the door, and then any time after that he wants attention.

Edit, Crio, I didn't see your post - that's my favorite suggestion. Stopping the problem before it begins didn't really even occur to me. My dog always has toys lying around, but then again it's never an issue with him.

And Freddie is STILL. BARKING. *sigh*

[Criosphynx]

Mine doesn't bark, but its the pathetic/goobery drop the ball at your feet thing over and over (shes too short to put it in my lap)....I think I was head in the toilet drunk and I felt a tennis ball hitting my thigh....so I took them all away LOL

[Sweet72947]

They're always amazed when he behaves for me, haha.

I know how that is. Dogs always behave better for me than their owners. I'm reminded of two little terriers I petsit regularly who actually have begun behaving in my presence. Although now I just need to figure out how to get that humping to stop.

And how to get the one dog to poop OUTSIDE, not in the child's playroom! I'd close it off, but there are no doors.