Is this a bad thing?

[Horsefeathers!]

My beloved gang, bless their little pea pickin' hearts, can be sort of obnoxious sometimes. I try to be a good neighbor and I will not leave them in the yard to bark and carry on. However, come feeding time, I put them all outside so that I can get bowls ready. Try doing it with them underfoot. Occasionally (bad weather or something), I'll kennel them first and start preparing bowls, but it sounds right like a, well, kennel in here. So outside they go, but I usually have to constantly run out there to tell them to be quiet, knock it off, cut it out, etc.

Anyway, they're not usually too rowdy in the yard EXCEPT feeding time... they stand on the steps and BARK BARK SCREAM BARK BARK BARK. They get downright crazy. Actually, it's really only a couple of them that are the most obnoxious, but they make enough fuss for them all. I am not prepared to do shock collars, citronella collars or any of that, but I've found that bitter spray is an AWESOME training tool even though it's not designed to be used that way. When the main culprits start with the fuss, I eagerly run out the door, pinch up their lip and give a squirt of bitter spray right into their mouths. I do this happily and cheefully as if it's a reward. I'm trying to get them to think that when they bark, they're asking for a "treat" and I reward them accordingly. Make sense?

It's working WONDERFULLY. If anyone were to come to my house now while they're outside, you'd think "dogs? what dogs?" because it's so quiet. What I want to know is if anyone thinks this is a bad idea.

[Guest Anonymous]

Horsefeathers! napisał(a):

However, come feeding time, I put them all outside so that I can get bowls ready. Try doing it with them underfoot. Occasionally (bad weather or something), I'll kennel them first and start preparing bowls, but it sounds right like a, well, kennel in here. So outside they go, but I usually have to constantly run out there to tell them to be quiet, knock it off, cut it out, etc.

Anyway, they're not usually too rowdy in the yard EXCEPT feeding time... they stand on the steps and BARK BARK SCREAM BARK BARK BARK. They get downright crazy. Actually, it's really only a couple of them that are the most obnoxious, but

Just an idea.......how about teaching them all to SIT AND STAY inside while you make food? We have 5 dogs, and ALL of them go on sit stays just behind the line separating the kitchen and living room (where the carpet and tile meet). If anyone moves, we stop making food until they get back in their place. So they learned really fast that the quicker they get in position and stay there, the sooner they eat. :angel:

If what you're doing works for you, fine..... I just won't put up with that kind of crap from my dogs!

P.s. - this is one reason I can keep multiple bullies together- *I* am the boss, and we do things MY way- if I allowed mine to carry on like that in the yard, there would be a fight break out before the end of the first week. :agrue:

[Guest Anonymous]

OOPS sorry that last post was from me......not used to posting on this board, and didn't realize that it doesn't automatically put in your user name!! :o

[Lokipups]

Nope, not bad at all. Kind of like the oral version of an e or citronella collar, icky and distasteful, but a deterrent nonetheless :wink: .
I have up to 5 in my house and can't make it through a week without a fresh bottle of aspirin, how you do it amazes me :thumbs: .

[Horsefeathers!]

That would be great ideally. I may eventually achieve that goal (heaven knows we are working toward it). Still, there are ten dogs in my house of varying ages, breeds and progresses in their training. Some have been here a few months and some have been here their entire lives. The oldtimers are pretty reliable about their sit/stays, but some of the others haven't quite gotten the hang of it and sit/stay to them means until I'm out of sight. They do each have to sit/stay before I actually put the bowl down even once it's prepared. It's a work in progress, so I was kind of thinking of this as a quick fix for now? :oops:

[Horsefeathers!]

Loki, I have to admit that I couldn't do it alone. My husband is very supportive and active in their care as well. :)

[Guest Anonymous]

That's a horrible 'reward' you're using. :o I know cos' I tasted that vile stuff - it stays in the mouth forever!!

I do have a suggestion though. How about adding the 'Quiet/Hush' command right after they shut up - that way they might graduate to a better (real :lol: ) reward in time.

[imported_Kat]

well hey if it works, and just as long as when they are given another command they aren't reluctant to do it for "fear" anticipation of a nasty reward :P

[katetsai]

I've have done the bitter apple spray thing to stop my dog from barking also. It worked for awhile, but the natural dobie instinct wins out... I stop using it because she doesn't do it as often anymore, especially she is starting to get use to the neighborhood people anyway(we been in the current house for almost 2 years). Also, I got tired of looking at my dog foaming like a mad dog trying to get the yucky taste out.

I have accidentally ingest some a few times, and it's definitly not good taste, but it's better than shock collars for sure.

I feed dry dog food, so it doesn't take that much time to get the food ready, but I do make her sit & stay watching me putting the food in the dish. She'll droll like niagra fall waiting for the "ok" command to eat. Although once awhile she'll sneak a taste in cause she's so anxious to eat!

Good Luck with the training.