Barking while in line

C

Crouton

Forums Regular
We're taking agility classes and this is one time I just can't control her barking. Usually at home I'll say enough and give her a snack and she'll stop but it's when she's waiting in line to go that she's super excited and impatient and starts to whine and bark.

I've tried putting her in a sit and telling her watch me and even holding her muzzle shut but she's just barking. I don't remember it being this bad in the past but I think it's because this class that I'm going to now is enclosed in a smaller setting whereas before the locations were warehouse size or outdoors any advice is appreciated.
 
Sigh...I hear you. I'm interested in any and all suggestions too :eek2:

What I've been working on is keeping Clancy busy doing 'tricks' so that I can reward him for doing anything other than barking. \Touch, sit, down, heel, front, touch, spin, down'....round and round. So much for being able to watch the other people run their course :rolleyes2: But he is getting better.

Now we've just started working on actually having him stay in the crate in between runs - quietly. I save the super high value treats (cue my husband in the background: 'what do you mean the roast chicken is for the dog?') for stuffing his Kong which he only gets in the crate at agility. It's slow progress, but there is progress so maybe some day...some day!

On the bright side, he doesn't bark while working. Well, not yet anyway :lol:
 
Crouton said:
...but it's when she's waiting in line to go that she's super excited and impatient and starts to whine and bark.
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I think you hit the nail on the head - she is excited and really wants to run. I wouldnt try to squash that enthusiasm by trying to stop the barking but rather use the opportunity to channel her energy into something else. Try teaching her to tug (which doesnt take a lot of attention on your behalf), otherwise just do some obedience commands or if you have the space let her chase a ball (thats why I do). If you want to watch other people run you will just need to crate your dog while you watch. When I train if I am not intending on giving my dogs attention then i tie them up. I personally think its unfair to expect them to rev up and respond to me on a run but for me not to respond to them when they are revved up.
 
I think Caro is right...Lexi does the same thing. If she is not running and someone else is, she lets everyone know how impatient she is.

I've tried a lot of different things, but nothing has worked. She is only quiet when I give her a job (tricks or tugging) but as soon as we stop, she starts up again. It's not realistic to expect that at class or at a trial I'll be focused on her non-stop, so I try to leave her in the crate until it's closer to her turn.

She's just really amped to be out there. The one thing I would recommend is just make sure that you work on control with her every once in a while. For example, get her really worked up tugging or playing, then ask for a sit, then reward with more play. You just want to make sure that she doesn't start to lose her brain when she gets really worked up.
 
I was gonna say I wish I could get that type of enthusium from Cosmo, I would be only too happy to put up with a little barking at that point. Instead of trying to have to hype him up before every run.
 
The only thing that stops any of mine that do it is to put them in a crate and cover it. Now, the only time mine do it anymore is if I'm running another of mine (which the rest go NUTS over) or at a trial. The covering them in an ex pen does the trick to get them to quiet down. The one that DID used to bark at others while waiting her turn outgrew it.
They are just overly stimulated by the environment, and rightfully should be. Corrections aren't something I'd do, as you don't want less enthusiasm over agility. The only other thing besides crating and possibly covering is to redirect the energy. However, that means you have to be on and entertaining the dog the entire time. I find it difficult to do when I'd rather be watching the class, and observing mistakes, and good handling choices.
 
HopeShelties said:
The only thing that stops any of mine that do it is to put them in a crate and cover it. Now, the only time mine do it anymore is if I'm running another of mine (which the rest go NUTS over)
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Same here! I can crate Lexi and she's quiet as long as she can't see or hear us. But, if she hears us or sees us running Bentley, she goes crazy.
 
Sca is TERRIBLE at flyball about this. The instructor says it is good since he is enthused.... though we did have to go away from the group once since he was scaring a new dog by going bonkers :rolleyes2:
 
Cran is a fool at agility practice- if someone else is running and he's looking at the course, then he's barking.
he gets lots of watch me/treats- if he's looking at me, then he's not barking.

He has been to trials and been crated there- so I guess he's ok with that- and the crates aren't usually as close to the ring as we are in practice.
 
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