Follow Maya’s animal instinct
Just like people, dogs respond best to positive training methods and so you will find my practice uses only progressive techniques designed to help both your dog and you towards a happier future together.
All techniques practiced by me are non- invasive and cruelty free.
Okay so I’m not suggesting here that the bulk of people who train their dogs by outdated methods are trying to be cruel to their dogs – but I’m here to say there are now much better ways of letting your dog know his behaviour is unwanted than by making harsh noises in his sensitive ears, spraying water in his face, shocking him whenever the barks, rolling him on the ground, using one of the many horrendous ‘ correction sprays’ which are unfortunately on the market or even worse.
Because if you think about it these are pretty awful methods and only ever serve to instil fear in the dog so he stops the behaviour simply because he doesn’t want to be hurt.
So you think you gain because the annoying barking stops right?
Wrong. The barking stops whilst the punishment is in progress stop the punishment and the behaviour will revert because the dog has not learned what else to do.
More importantly the dog has learned to be afraid of you, his guardian and protector.
He has not connected his behaviour with his ‘ correction’.
He only knows he gets punished whenever he sees the spray ( or whatever) and when you think he has been cured because his behaviour changes as soon as you show him the spray without actually using it – it only means his fear has deepened.
So to let our dog be the happy, confident hound he is meant to be we want to use non- invasive techniques to change behaviour and this can take many forms.
Let’s return to the barking in the car scenario:
If you have more than one dog take each dog out separately ( and you would be wise to plan this approach carefully first). Do not undertake if you are already feeling harassed and stressed.
Get dog in car ( dog fully secured). Drive off
When dog starts to bark say firmly ( don’t shout) Quiet! You can accompany this with a palm- down hand signal if you wish.
When dog continues to bark ( chances are he will initially)
Stop car, unsecure dog and take him out ( calmly)
Have him on- leash at this point if he is still barking wait till he is quiet and when he has stopped tell him to sit.
When he is quiet say Quiet! and show the hand signal so he can connect the word with the signal. Praise. Put dog back in car. Secure dog again Quiet! Hand signal. Praise. Drive off...
No denying you will need a generous amount of patience for this exercise but once your dog gets it, it will ‘ stay got’.
Once he understands you can introduce a tasty treat at the start and the end of the car ride ( if he is not prone to car sickness and if he is the introduction of a new ‘ car toy’ will do the trick just as well) as an incentive.
But remember every dog is different and what works for dog 1 may not work for dog.
It is working with your dogs like this that brings their characters to the fore and gives you both a greater understanding of each other.
Dog training should, wherever possible, be fun and when it becomes stressful for you or the dog take a little break and try again.
Remember two things:
1) most dogs can be fixed but there are no quick fixes
2) in order to bring your dog( s) to success 80 per cent of the work will be done by you
Remind yourself of these things on a daily basis and you are halfway there!
For more training tips or to book one- to- one training with Maya please contact lorraine. howard@ trinitymirror. com or visit Maya’s website at www.mayacaninebehaviourist.com.
MAYA’S ADVICE:
Hi guys and thanks for your question. Safety first then.
You must safely secure both dogs in the car with safety restraints to avoid jumping.
This is essential for the dog’s safety as well as your own and holds true for all dogs travelling in cars even the well behaved ones.
If you were to brake suddenly an unrestrained dog would have a hugely increased chance of injury, of injuring someone else or worse so please secure dogs in cars, regardless of behaviour. There is a wide range of dog transportation restraints available for dogs of all shapes and sizes and I strongly urge all pet owners to do the same.
So now to the barking/ whining. Of course this can drive you crazy especially in a confined space but you say the dogs are happy and quiet after the walk so this suggests they are not spooked by the car but are hyped up and excited when they know a walk is in the offing.
That being said, some questions for you to consider:
Are the dogs as excited when they get ready for a walk that doesn’t involve the car?
How are they in the car on a trip that doesn’t end in a walk? For example on a visit to a relative or on an errand or do they associate the car only with walks?
Do you cue them to be excited ‘ who’s going on a walk then?’
You say you have separated them when in the car but have you tried taking them separately for the walk in car? If you did what happened?
All behaviours are learned conduct so in order to unlearn one set of actions and reactions - get in the car – going for a walk – hype up – act crazy - we need to put a different and more acceptable set of noninvasive behaviours in their place.