Help! Is my dood turning into a bratty boss!!?

[Amanda & Riley]

Although my Riley may be small (10 pounds at 12 weeks), I am afraid her some parts of her personality keeps on getting bigger and bigger. It started about a few weeks ago...

 

Barking to get our attention whenever she wants it. We try our best to ignore her..

 

This past Saturday I took her to her first puppy class. I was prepared to have the star student in the class!! Now Riley is smart... and she knew how to do everything that was asked of her, but I was absolutely SHOCKED that I ended up having the "loud, obnoxious" dog in the class!! She would not stop barking the entire class. I was absolutely horrified. The instructors were telling me to give her treats to keep her quiet.... But isnt that reinforcing her behavior?? I could only imagine the other families going home and speaking about how annoying Riley was and why I could not get her to calm down.

 

I realize it might have been partly my fault... I did not take her for a walk before the class, but I am not sure if just taking her for a walk will stop this behavior next week!

 

Any suggestions?? --- For both at home and in class??

I dont want to have a bossy pup!

[Heather Martinez]

Teddy was the barking dog in his first puppy class too! He sounds just like Riley. We first learned about bully sticks in class and we would give him one at the start of class so that he had something quiet to chew on while the instructor was talking and the dogs needed to sit quietly. This way we were not reinforcing the behavior because he got the bully stick at the beginning of class. By the end of class he was much better at being quiet. Teddy was 13 weeks old when he started puppy class.

 

Regarding barking for attention at home, we've used a soft muzzle, which was recommended by our trainer. When Teddy barked, we said QUIET. We gave him two chances, then put on the muzzle for a couple of minutes. He stopped barking for attention within a couple of weeks of using this method, and now he never barks when we're in the same room. He also never barks when outside on walks, at other dogs or people, so Riley's behavior in class won't necessarily translate to the outside world.

[Bonnie and Kona]

The soft muzzle sounds like a good idea. I was going to suggest putting him in a down/stay for a couple of minutes... some training position to re-enforce that you are the boss not him. We struggled with Owen's bad behavior until the wonderful people in the training group gave me this advice. 

[Mary Beahm]

There are so many kinds of muzzles!  The vet used a soft one but told me to go to a store and get it.  So many different sizes as well.  My doodle is 30 lbs (medium sized)  If I measure around her mouth by her nose it is 9 inches which seems awfully large to get that size muzzle.  I will probably have to get one on the internet but still need help with which one and what size.  Thanks.

Mary

[Meridith and Lola]

A suggestion for the barking at home is to get a soda can and put some coins in it.  When Riley starts barking for attention, shake the can (preferably not where Riley sees it - like behind your back or a pillow).  The sounds should immediately snap him out of his current state.  It doesn't work for all dogs but it worked immediately with Lola. Only had to use it a few times over the course of a few weeks.

Good luck

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

I second the can trick...Even though Bailey isn't a barker,  It worked like a charm for digging.  Only had to "shake the can" twice...and she hasn't dug in almost 2 weeks

 

Hope you find something that works...

[Amanda & Riley]

I am going to try the can idea! Thanks!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

She's just being the class clown! LOL!

A walk may help settle her down and always making sure she potties before class. Hope it goes better next week!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I think she is just YOUNG--a baby.  My Spud was chatty and he still is somewhat but he is fun, active, energetic, and smart.

EVENTUALLY--you can teach her to speak then teach her not to speak but for now, she is just a baby. 

[Becka]

I would ask the instructors whether the treating is reinforcing the behavior--in our puppy class, we only rewarded our dogs if they'd done something right, so sometimes the owner of the barking dog would ask the dog to sit or lie down so that they could then treat the dog. But actually giving the dog a treat for barking does seem counterproductive in the long run, and I think you are correct to question that strategy. I'd be very interested to know what the instructor's logic is.

 

Don't worry too much about what the other families were thinking of Riley--they all have puppies, so you know that they're all used to some kind of misbehavior at inconvenient moments! When Sadie was in puppy class and we were trying out the gentle leader collar, she would flop herself down right at the entryway of PetSmart and nothing I did could get her to move. This happened a couple of times and we always managed to gather a crowd. So embarrassing.

[Amanda & Riley]

Hah aww that is too funny!!

I will ask the instructor on Saturday about giving her the treat... I also like the bully stick idea.

[Bryce P]

Huff is super bossy too, mostly to get attention or go potty or a treat. He is always "talking" to us. It can get annoying but you get used to it.

[Amanda & Riley]

Yeah! I need to ask my trainer.... when I am working on her commands, she will do them but will bark while doing them. Should I reward her for doing the command even though she is barking and being bossy??