Why is my dog barking at other dogs? Easy training advice.
Okay, here's my blog post about figuring out why my dog barks at other dogs, written in a casual, personal style:
So, my dog, Buster, he's a good boy, mostly. But he has this thing about other dogs. We'd be walking, everything's chill, and then BAM! He'd just lose it, barking like crazy at any other dog we saw. It was embarrassing, honestly, and stressful for everyone, including Buster, I'm sure.
First, I tried to avoid other dogs. Seriously. I'd cross the street, duck behind cars, you name it. This, obviously, wasn't a long-term solution. It felt ridiculous, and it wasn't fair to Buster to limit his walks like that.
Then, I figured I'd try distracting him. I loaded up my pockets with treats – his favorite, stinky ones. The idea was to catch him before he started barking, shove a treat in his face, and praise him for being quiet. This worked… sometimes. If I caught him early enough, it was like magic. But if he'd already spotted the other dog, forget it. He was in full bark-mode, treats be damned.
What changed finally!
- Figured Out His Triggers:It really helps to find the start point. I started paying really close attention to Buster's body language. I noticed he'd stiffen up, his ears would go forward, and he'd get this intense stare going before the barking started. That was my cue!
- Created Space: I am getting in a larger space. Instead of trying to walk right past the other dog, I started creating more distance. If I saw a dog approaching, I'd step off the sidewalk, move to the side of the road, whatever I could do to give us more room.
- Started Using a Different Tone Keep clam and change voice. I tried to use my sound with him. When I saw another dog, instead of tensing up (which he totally picked up on), I'd use a happy, upbeat voice. I'd say, "Oh, look, Buster, a friend!" even if I felt like hiding behind a tree.
Honestly change the voice tone did the trick,It wasn't an overnight fix, but slowly, surely, it got better. We still have the occasional bark-fest, but it's much less frequent, and I feel like I have way more control. Now get the happy walk with my dog!
