Author Topic: Barking at children  (Read 844 times)

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Offline smiler_sll

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Barking at children
« on: September 25, 2017, 09:37:44 PM »
Hi, we have a 9 month old cocker spaniel. We have worked hard training her and she is great with regards to general commands (sit, stay, lie down, shake paws, waiting to take her food) and her recall is coming along well. Our biggest problem however is how she interacts with our children. We have a 5 & 6 year old both of whom love her.

Whilst we are in the house she will pretty much leave the children alone (although she can be persistent in trying to jump on the sofa with them!). Most recently we have had issues with her barking at them when they play together but do not play with her. We have 2 rabbits which she will ignore if it is just me and her at home but when the children are around and playing in the garden she woofs like mad at the rabbits - in what I perceive as her wanting the rabbits to play with her as she jumps on their run. It seems as though she feels that if the children are playing together she should have someone to play with too.

The situation has been escalating to the point that now whenever she is in the garden with the children she woofs uncontrollably and I have to bring her indoors where she then proceeds to bark through the patio doors at which point I then usually put her in time out in her crate whilst she calms down. A similar situation arises if we all go for a walk and the children stop to use the local park. There are railings around the park where I will stand with her whilst the children play. She woofs continually the whole time they play. I have tried positive reinforcement with treats when she is quiet but that approach seems to now be failing.

I suspect the issue is some kind of hierarchy issue and wonder if anyone else has any experience of this and how best to overcome it. When we attended puppy training the trainer suggested we ensure the children fed the dog so that she perceived them as a higher order than herself which we have tried to employ, although as you can imagine 5&6 year olds easily loose interest in feeding the dog on an ongoing basis.

Any advice gratefully received. Next step is to seek some professional 1-1 help from a dog behaviour specialist.......

Many thanks

Offline hoover

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Re: Barking at children
« Reply #1 on: September 25, 2017, 10:57:28 PM »
Ollie will bark at my partner and I if we are playing basketball as he can not readily join in ...too big and heavy a ball😁. He is so used to bring included in all other games like catch, football, frisbee, running, cycling that I assume he feels frustrated when he is not in on the action.

Hierarchy issues...well I, unlike a lot of others, certainly believe these can exist in family and dog dynamics but I would be more concerned at a dog displaying intolerant behaviour such as snapping at children who came near them which I would consider a sign of a dog attempting to pull rank. There's a lot more to this in terms of children's unpredictable behaviour  which can make a dog feel uncomfortable of course, but an acceptable pet behaviour then would be to move away rather than to try to regulate the children's behaviour with aggressive responses.

If you're not experiencing behaviours like this I don't know that you need to think it is a hierarchy issue rather than a frustration issue and general elevated arousal at the activity that is going on. (But i also personally believe you have had good general advice  about getting kids to feed and train for treats etc)

You can possibly redirect her so she is engaged in an activity of her own whilst the kids are playing, or better yet get everyone involved in a game of 'find it' where the kids show her a toy,  tell her they are doing to hide it and then shut her in a room whilst they tramp through the house and garden to find the best hiding spot. Release her and ask her to find it ...kids can help guide her if she is struggling ☺ can play this with treats too. Kids can plant them in various places. Tell them they have to go through all the rooms  and make noises opening and closing drawers etc as she will be listening for them and will know to go straight to the right room if that is the only one they go to.

Offline lescef

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Re: Barking at children
« Reply #2 on: September 26, 2017, 09:33:18 AM »
I have a very similar situation with Bramble. I think it's down to over arousal. She is now five and still does it! >:(
A positive behaviourist will help you to manage the situation as I think that's all you can do. A few suggestions - don't let her practice the behaviour whenever possible (difficult with children around I know), redirect with a toy/ chew or put in her crate but before the children start playing so that you're not rewarding the barking. My problem is also that treats wind Bramble up so she can't help but bark! Because she is so easily aroused I find verbal praise and a stroke when she is being quiet at any time of the day works really well. They're clever creatures and it becomes learned behaviour sooooo quickly! >:D
Lesley, Maddie and Bramble

Offline lescef

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Re: Barking at children
« Reply #3 on: September 26, 2017, 09:45:00 AM »
Lesley, Maddie and Bramble

Offline smiler_sll

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Re: Barking at children
« Reply #4 on: September 26, 2017, 01:20:32 PM »
Thanks everyone, I nipped to the pet shop this morning and bought a Kong puzzle toy which she'll need to manipulate to get kibble and the like out of. We've just given it a go (whilst I'm quietly doing some work in the study at home) and she's fallen asleep next to me after trying to get the treats out so I'm guessing its a hit! Getting the children to hide treats around the house also sounds like a great plan. They are clever little dogs!

I shall give redirecting her attention a go (and will give the calmness focus article a read) and see how we get on and persist with the children feeding her. I'm also going to try to get the children to be less sibling like with her - she and they just love playing around on the floor which is probably reinforcing Bluebells thinking that she's one of them.