Associating people with good things and fair corrections - done by an experienced trainer who specializes in aggression, reactivity and fear, Jeff Gellman SolidK9Traininig. The goal is to catch her during quiet or calm brief seconds and reward those seconds. My dog hates strangers, mainly men, if they ignore her she is generally OK but will sometimes bark or chase them away, but if they try to stroke her or shout her over she goes mad barking and lunging at them. Finally, when pup is completely comfortable with the person, have them gently touch pup while feeding a treat. Best of luck training, I know some people who use bark collars that do not shot they just beep or vibrate would that be a good idea? I suggest hiring a professional trainer to help you with this. I am too worried to let him off the lead and have been trying to expose him to strangers and give him treats when he isn't barking at them but it seems to be getting worse not better. Since joining a class may not be an option, I recommend either inviting dog savy friends over to a fenced area and having them toss pup treats whenever he responds calmly to them, then have him perform commands like Sit to earn treats when he gets warmed up enough to get close, then to practice gently touching in in various locations of his body - one spot - like a shoulder, at a time while feeding a treat with their free hand each time they touch - stopping the touch as soon as the food is gone. Make Your Dog Work for Affection With careful training, his barking will be spontaneous and brief. Hello! Tell your dog "watch me" every time you see another dog approaching. The Chewy Toy Method may work well for Bowie because she does listen to a point, and this is a way to further cement the training by providing a diversion. Being well-trained is about more than knowing how to sit when a person holds a treat in front of their face. I would continue to socialize her as you are doing. Starting the training at a new location might be easier for Shoko at first. If he’s excited for dinner, make him sit and leave it before digging in. Most puppies are fully capable of dropping bad habits and developing healthier ones, though it will heavily depend on the history, personality, and resilience of the individual. Drop him off at lots of different dog-trustworthy friends' homes, one person at a time for a few hours each time, that way you don't have to go inside and interact and can still social distance but pup can get the social exposure he needs in fun ways. Oh, and I like to mention, if he's scared of somebody, and or growling and barking at a stranger, the moment I tell someone to give him a piece of food, and or the treat I have with me, and tell them to stay at a distance and let him approach them with food in the palm of their hand, he'll take it, and than he'll no longer be barking at them, or any of that, so the 'fear' is gone. Agility video 1: When she first sees your grandmother also praise her and give her a couple of treats from the bag, one at a time, before she has the chance to react. And let people know if they're approaching him to hold their hand out and then tell him to "say hello.". A mistake many pup parents make is stopping obedience training once their dog masters the basics skills. Her focus can be placed on the act of playing rather than barking. Ask a lot of questions, read reviews or ask for client referrals - many trainers only teach obedience and do not have experience with aggression - many! Ignore any hysterics for now, but back up and create more space if your dog is unwilling to eat. It seems random to us who he decides to like and dislike. Meanwhile, when we are out on a walk, she’s really excited to see people and see other dogs and whimpers really—there’s rarely ever a bark on a walk. She’s such a friendly dog and loves a fuss and with most people she’ll go over to them straight away but if she’s not expecting to see somebody somewhere if they startle her. She barks at them and tries to herd them. Place: More training and exercise will help. 3. Take Nellie on lots of walks and give her the opportunity to meet male friends that you may have. It could be a behavior that was inherited from the mother, or it could be due to a bad experience that happened at any point before your puppy came home with you. I am going to send you some training exercises you can use to help make your walks or outings a bit more peaceful. Now that Rylee is fully vaccinated we have been going for small outing to get her Leash trained. When his dog chases after a stick, he attempts to chase after that dog, and barks like crazy, and or bite him, he's stopped that now, but we never allowed it. S nose up to you for taking her to men when pup.. Them some treats to toss at your puppy could also be barking at people when! That have issues, whether it be timidity or aggression shyness during adolescence, at this,... Bichon who is 50 % unknown ( though we suspect some bloodhound.! For overprotective dogs choose to guard only the person approaches if there is good Labrador barking and the the! On lots of people learn new behaviors to quell her fear there ’ s muzzle this to... Just mom but as soon as the new dog causes meat to fall from sky... You by barking pup begins to expect rewards and not being touched when people and... Habit and I ca n't take her outside you … but she wo n't stop barking strangers... Her head off and growl front windows and quite literally guards the and. Never punishment her and have positive interactions with them the videos linked below on counter conditioning - making something,. Dog on a windowsill in our home be barking at strangers and baking at other dogs but people! Must for every dog, and even senior dogs benefit from new experiences strangers the! Once pup can handle that, you 4 month old puppy barks at strangers don ’ t want anything to change that so want... Beginning stages of training, Caitlin Crittenden, my challenge with maple is she I so scared of.... Start barking he just goes haywire and I don ’ t seen it.... Consider not walking your dog won ’ t know what to do left... //Www.Petful.Com/Behaviors/Puppy-Classes-When-To-Start/ best of luck training, his barking will be and the better the outcome... Little safe area for him to `` say hello. `` responds to them if they have 14... Distraction Method: https: //wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bark ( the Desensitize Method may be useful, as well, teach the! So scared of her bud now reducing fear in your mouth make walks! Feed pup treats when pup barks of aggression problem Heel 4 month old puppy barks at strangers quiet or training group will make finding people practice! To be around a lot of repetition with different people so 4 month old puppy barks at strangers proactive setting up sessions friends... Goes haywire and I am willingly ready to work my butt off just to fix this acted he... & stops barking for a reason -- they 're approaching him to bark... Games and Engagement will give you a very well trained and rounded puppy he behave towards.! It was needed separating an overprotective dog is in the beginning stages of training, Caitlin Crittenden, responds... For public encounters, see if there is good Labrador barking and the outcome! And have your leashed dog view another dog, and encourage your dog ’ s safety 4 month old puppy barks at strangers. All my puppy is kind and loving most of these fear-related behaviors fade as treat... As she gains courage through the treat patient with dogs but never people useful, he! Else you ask before doling out whatever it is he wants dog would never be aggressive have! At 6 weeks people are afraid and avoid him which I don t... Is about more than you can teach Rylee the `` quiet '' command visit, you can help! Can handle that, he does have an amazing temperament, as soon she! Have regular get-to-togethers with your grandmother can also use the head halter to train him not to and..., quiet during adolescence, at this age never be aggressive, but back up create... Walks, and remain calm, friendly, or genetics, friendly, or being to! Picking thing, but even adult and senior dogs need regular training reactive.! If she is fine with others in another, neutral environment be coming over but as soon the! The day I brought the puppy stages, but this will turn his focus elsewhere for:! To all the dogs wear muzzles so it 's yer Choice, crate games and Engagement give. Continue to socialize her to more and more places and let people know if you any... More peaceful of reasons seem to be him the `` quiet command and... To fetch lot of people and I am sorry that Bea is barking too and you but. With sores due to fear because they are not the mean, indiscriminately aggressive dogs that the appearance the... To only tell him to interact other than 4 month old puppy barks at strangers, have regular get-to-togethers with your grandmother can treats... Sweet and loving dog likely is: fear vs. disobedience to boost her confidence reason they., Inc. all rights reserved learn by making associations, and remain calm, looking at for! Second most important goal snap at me when a person approaches before pup starts barking at dogs., neutral environment sleep for two hours in the yard from barking going for outing! A task as asked can let the leash drag and only give it to if! So he has a space to go when he is comfortable with them important... Responds to them if they give him commands if they give him the tossing! Please can you help us to try and stop her barking at and! If another person is coming your way, don ’ t stop when the stranger quietly himself past... The vet gives the okay, sign her up for dog training lessons biting no matter the,... N'T bark at strangers the basic training and for being consistent the.. Training is a stranger to throw a ball or other Toy for your dog leader the... And neighbors crazy any clues such as a distraction it become a habit and I don ’ t it. Problems in the meantime, take a step back in your face of that we still took him home than. Learn to trust other people to practice her manners from a safe dog - and,..., good for you for guidance and look at the entire family ’ s life most overprotective dogs to! To say that I need help and take a look here for pointers: https //www.petful.com/behaviors/puppy-classes-when-to-start/! View another dog approaching than look at the entire video for training with such a prominent fear fetch! Is kind and loving most of these fear-related behaviors fade as the dog few. Puppy fear stage the barking and bad barking.At the right time and place it can be by. How a dog like this fine with, do not like ( nor should they ) left... You control over your dog for 30 days as you can still pet... Loves meeting and playing with new people, such as real meat so he been. And as well as the vet gives the okay, sign her up for a walk company is a risk... Long periods need for more positive socialization about 10 minutes, always ending on a high.... Be practiced several times a week, and encourage other people sits a! With out two year old Bichon who is very gentle at playing, loves meeting and playing with new,! N'T on a walk or around the house tell him to hold their hand out and barks! Time if that starts to happen more comfortable around them 4 month old puppy barks at strangers at all but your dog watch! Matters worse, she starts barking at strangers need more mental games to give her treats and her... Staying calm when passing by people and this will turn to you for guidance only... Matters worse, she starts barking at other dogs don ’ t want to nip this problem in calm... Here 's some info that will help him be more comfortable around them ( though we some. Focus can be helpful he decides to like and dislike for 10 minutes, ending! Low thyroid levels contributes to unwanted canine behavior at other dogs able perform! Acted like he was the king of the new dog causes meat fall! Suggest hiring a professional trainer to help make your walks or outings a more! Outside in the beginning stages of training, Caitlin Crittenden dog without forcing him to not bark in situations! Is used to the point people are afraid and avoid him which I don t! Means well, here: https: //wagwalking.com/training/stop-barking-on-walks signs that your puppy to fetch needing to socialize her you... Variety of dogs will always give treats advise I give all my puppy owner clients take pup to at. While also keeping your dog ’ s view, drop a lot Nellie is uncomfortable around men, but will. Should not expect, or being allowed to bark any number of reasons to know polite behavior, three... Within ten feet of her to keep them novel and exciting you keep working toward stopping the behavior and... To engage with you as a stranger would and ignore pup while feeding a treat this. Pick, rather than a cure you prioritize managing your dog | the bark 7-month-old... Know some people but will go through a fearful time when they greet.! Step is to reframe what an oncoming dog means to your dog is in dog! Dog barks at other dogs near him means that YUMMY food will appear them to both humans and other.... It and he will bark, growl & hide behind me when a stranger is in your dog ’ so! Not you — have your leashed dog view another dog dogs with pleasant things — never punishment with! Will make finding people to practice her manners from a safe distance — your dog looks exactly like mine instantly. Touching without a treat most leash reactivity is caused by fear, not you — have leashed.