Barking Question

[kavon]

I keep Bella in her crate at dinner time. She sits were she could see us while we eat. She won't stop barking,etc. I don't like yelling at her as I find myself doing. I tried moving her crate to other places-this I think confuses her!? I mean, she should know here place of sleep and stay-right?

Any advice on what I should try-

-Thanks,

Kavon and Bella

[bubba]

While we are eating, both dogs are allowed to be loose in the kitchen to do as they please. This does not mean they are allowed to beg. When they were smaller, they were given something to occupy their time with while we were eating, so they became used to that and have never caused a problem. Basically, they are ignored so they don't think they can sit and beg for scraps, but we do talk about them and to them if needed.

pat.

[kavon]

Bella is 3months old - should I be keeping her in the crate at dinner time?

[laura]

I have read it is best to ignore. Bella is receiving a reaction from you even if it isn't a positive reaction. It would be hard to ignore her, but I think everyone eating would have to disregard her and pretend she isn't there.

If you don't think that is going to do it, then squirt her with water each time she barks and say, No! Then immediately after that say good girl. She gets a no when barking and a good girl when quite.

Whatever you decide to do be consistent! That is the key. You must be strong. All of your efforts in training will be for nothing until you learn to communicate to Bella what it is you expect of her.

One more thing, I trained Sophie on a training collar since she was 4mths. I hooked her leash to my side and she walked everywhere I walked. I used heal when I began walking and sit, stay, down, etc. depending on what I was doing. Now she is very aware of where I am and knows her place is by me when we are out. She never strays or always walks with me.

If you are using a training collar on Bella I would have her lay down at my feet during dinner. Each time she would bark I would first say no. Second bark I would pull the leash sharply and say no again. Then she will begin to associate the word no with the training collar and not with me. I would follow up with an immediate good girl. It might sound confusing, but she will know the word no very quick.

I don't know if you are interested but I am reading this great book by Myrna Milani, D.V.M called Dog Smart. It isn't so much a training book as much as how to understand your dog book.

Good Luck!

[toomanypaws]

With 3 cairns in our home, just ignoring them barking would never work. I keep a rolled newspaper. I don't use it on them, I just smack it on the counter to tell them to quiet and that works for me. My two oldest are in the kitchen, babygated away from the table where we eat at in the breakfast room. The youngest is put in her port-a-crib and still gets just a small amount of food for dinner. I'm just breaking her from her 3 meals a day. We also love to throw a sheet down on the rug in our family room and eat. The girls are still kept in the same places staring at us the whole time.

A port-a-crib was the best thing for me when my cairns were puppies. Now it's Hannah's and she knows when she's put in there, it's rest time. She can see me through the sides. If she yaps, I just show her the rolled newspaper and she quiets back down.

That's what works in this cairn home.

[Guest Guest]

I have two Cairns and neither of them begs or barks whilst we are eating dinner. My first Cairn I trained as a puppy and the second is 1-1/2 years old and he's only been with me for two months.

Ignoring -- truly ignoring! - does work. I did exactly as you are doing with Bella. I started them off in their crate in eye sight of the dinner table. I COMPLETELY ... and I do mean COMPLETELY ignored them. That means NOTHING - not even eye contact. As far as my husband and I were concerned they simply did not exist while we were eating. If you squirt them or yell at them or make loud sounds or give them dirty looks you are reacting to them.

When they got to the point where they were consistently quiet in the crate I then tried them loose. Rudi (my new one) for the first meal or two tried to get up on our laps at the table, but we pushed him away without comment and that was the end of it.

Both my Cairns now lie down quietly or play together while we are eating at the table.

Neither of them beg either if we are having a snack on the sofa while watching TV. Same procedure, even if they were sitting next to me. I would push them away with my hand if they tried to get into my plate and would ignore any noise. When they were perfectly still and quiet I would give them a bit of a treat. Both learned that being quiet and still was rewarded - any other behavior was not.

Stacey

[kavon]

I will try the ignore method. My wife can't take the barking though

The only problem that I see with ignoring, I'm not sure if shes asking to go 'OUTSIDE' or not.

BTW - She knows OUTSIDE- SIT- GET THE BALL-I'm working hard for this doggy.

Thanks again...

[CarCarDawn]

Hi! Riley was allowed to roam as a puppy when we sat down to eat a meal - - he never begs but sits quietly (hoping for something to drop) while we eat. The only noise out of him is an occasional "sigh" - - I believe the "ignore method" does work but with everything - - it takes time. These dogs are extremely smart and catch on very quickly.

Shaking pennies in a can worked well with me and Riley whenever he started on his barking - - good luck!

[MikeC]

Hi Kavon,

I agree with CarCarDawn. We ignored Duffy's dinner time antics (the barking and begging) when he was younger and now he will sit or lay down next to one of us and stay quiet, also hoping for a morsel of food to fall. He even behaves himself when we have company over. Good luck with Bella and she is still a baby. I'm sure as time goes on, she will catch on. These Cairns are extremely intelligent little critters.

MikeC

[Guest Tototoo]

Ignoring worked best for us too and mostly we never even know he is around except for the occasional ball thrown in our laps. That behavior gets a strict NO and a go lay down.

He's also very good at cleaning up after dinner, with two little children, its one of the main reason we got him! Only problem is if we don't clean-up the table after dinner and take the kids up for their baths right away, He jumps on the table, then he not only does floors but he'll do dishes too!

K

[Eliz222]

We ignored too. Now, both dogs will sit by us (under the table). We don't even let them sit and stare while we are eating.

Tototoo, the vision of your dog "cleaning the dishes" cracked me up! LOL!

[toomanypaws]

I guess I should have explained better. The barking thing isn't because of us eating, it's beacause I have 3 cairns. That's where the rolled newspaper came in. Kiara was always a dream, never cared that we were eating. Since Abbey and Hannah joined us, I have to be firm and I will show them the newspaper and tell them to lay down, which they do within view of us. Little Hannah is the only one that will still try us but is doing good. We also ignore the girls when we're eating and I should have made it more clear in my earlier post.

[abe's dad]

We use the ignore method here as well . Like Riley Abe will give the pitifull sigh and if the meal smells extra good you can expect a furry little head resting on your foot just to let you know that he is still there and waiting patiently