Give ‘crazy’ dogs a task so they forget about barking

Dear Cathy: I have two adorable shih tzus. When anyone comes over to the house, they bark like maniacs. The 4-year-old gets aggressive with the 2-year-old in the process. Five minutes later, they are totally calm.

Also, when I take them for a walk, if any person or dog goes by, they bark incessantly and want to go toward them. Every other dog is so well-behaved, but mine are crazy. Please help. — Linda, Setauket, New York

Dear Linda: When it comes to barking at the door, shake a can of coins, use a Pet Corrector (a device that emits a hissing sound) or other noisemaker to interrupt the barking while saying “stop.” When they quit barking, ask them to come to you and sit. Give them a reward word, such as “bingo” (each dog should have his or her own reward word), then give them both a treat.

Work on training the 4-year-old first, because he or she seems to be the dominant dog and the 2-year-old will follow his or her lead. Ask someone to ring the doorbell or come in the front door repeatedly, so you can repeat the lessons several times in one training session. What you’re doing is giving the dogs a task so they forget about barking.

As for walking them, you will need to do so separately at first to train them not to bark and lunge at other dogs. Teach your dogs to heel and always look to you for direction.

Hold a treat in your hand so the dog can see it. If the dog starts to bark at another dog, quickly turn, walk the other way and say “heel.” Your dog should stop barking, follow you and look up at you. When he or she does, give him or her a reward word and a treat.

You should quickly turn in the other direction at least a dozen times during a short walk, even if another dog or person is not present. Your unpredictability as to where you are going helps your dogs learn to pay more attention to you.

Both of these things require a considerable amount of training. Don’t give up.