F ALL 2006 • V ol. 41 No. 3 - San Diego Humane Society and SPCA

Ask a Trainer
Bark-O-Rama
Q: When our three-year-old neutered mixed breed
is on a leash, he has a barking attack anytime he sees
another dog; he goes nuts! Once he is near the other
dog he is fine, but just seeing a dog sends him into a
barking mania. In your opinion, what method is best
for resolving this problem?
– Seeking a Solution in San Diego, CA
A: Thank you for your question. As always, with
behavioral changes, or with potential reactivity or aggression,
I recommend you take your dog to the veterinarian to rule out
any medical problems. If the dog is not feeling well, he may
be more protective of himself, especially around other dogs.
The likely cause of the “barking mania” you described is
barrier frustration. In this case, the tension on the leash is the
barrier and may be triggering frustration, fear, or anxiety,
causing the dog to become anxious or feel trapped by the
leash. This type of frustration can cause a dog to respond with
“aggressive” kinds of behavior.
A dog can experience more than one feeling at a time, and
become conflicted. He may be excited and want to interact
with the other dog, and then become frustrated that he
cannot go to it. This may result in barking and lunging.
These behaviors can persist if the dog continues to feel
frustrated while on the leash. The dog may even begin to
anticipate this unpleasant routine
associated with initially seeing the
other dog, or even with hearing another
dog’s collar jingle. The dog then can
become conditioned to react this way
and he is likely to react more quickly
each time.
Fortunately, we can change how
the dog responds in these situations,
using positive reinforcement training
and behavior modification methods.
Teaching the dog to walk with you so he does not lunge or
pull on leash is necessary for preventing barrier frustration
and other problems. Establishing a strong foundation in leash
walking before working around other dogs or distracting
environments is essential.
I recommend you take a private lesson or a private
behavior consult with one of our behavior trainers. We can
see your dog and show you how to perform proper leash
walking training and how to use humane equipment like a
SENSE-ation harness. Until we meet with you and your dog,
When dealing with
any reactivity or
aggressive behaviors,
having a behavior
trainer work with you
is a great start.
it is best to avoid situations that may trigger your dog’s
barking. For now, take a vacation from walking your dog
where he might see another dog.
When dealing with any reactivity or
aggressive behaviors, having a behavior
trainer work with you is a great start.
We will show you positive reinforcement
training techniques that will help your
dog positively resolve frustration, fear
or anxiety that he may experience, and
teach him what you want him to do
when he sees another dog.
To sign up for the Feisty Fido class,
or for a private consultation or private
lesson, please call (619) 299-7012, ext. 2334 or 2335.
Sincerely,
Margaret Lenoir, Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT)
and San Diego Humane Society and SPCA Behavior Trainer
Have a question for our Behavior and Training staff? E-mail us at
behavior@sdhumane.org.
Photo: Sarah Whorley
AnimalFare • Fall 2006
www.sdhumane.org
11