Helper barks at other dogs. A lot. They don't have to be particularly close or really doing anything, but she goes on high alert and starts to wiggle and squirm and bark. So Tim and I have started taking her to a reactive dog class.
The class is great. Both trainers are well read and have lots of experience. The class is also small; it only has four dogs. Unlike the basic obedience class we tried to take (and ended up quitting), this class is all positive. It uses some techniques that I really like, but what is phenomenal about this course is the in-class set up.
The arrival of the dogs is staggered so that no dog sees any of the other dogs come in. Once inside the building (which is pretty bare), each family (dog + people) go to their individual cubby. The cubbies are formed by x-pens covered with a black lining. There are two chairs, a water bowl, and room for mat or blanket for the dog. The point of the cubbies is that the dogs are in the same room with other dogs, but they cannot see each other. The cubbies are 20 + feet from each other. In the middle of the room there are cones to remind people to stay far enough away from the other cubbies and to help direct the people when asked to walk their dog outside their cubby. Basically, the cones are there for each communication and precision. During the class, people+dog teams take turns walking outside there cubby, slowly decreasing the space needed away from other dogs for the dog to stay calm.
The main technique used is called dropping a 'here'. The process is you drop a cookie in front of the dog and say 'here'. Simple, right? What it does is more powerful. It breaks the dog's focus on whatever sets it off, it lowers the dog's head into a position which naturally calms your dog (and possibly the dog 15 feet away which was what your dog was worried about), and when the dog has eaten said cookie, it will look to the sky from where it came and you can say 'Good!' and give another cookie to reinforce a good behavior. I think it's important to notice that since this is entirely positive, you are introducing anything else for the dog to be nervous about. Additionally, you are playing off natural 'doggy' behaviors to get something you can reinforce. If you time this correctly, you will drop a 'here' before your dog gets too excited. By reading body language I can almost always do this before Helper barks. Then since she's distracted, she doesn't bark, and if I'm on a walk, the other dog is usually already gone. She's learning (at least on walks) that other dogs present an opportunity for cookies. She's not stressed out because she thinks she might get correct or have to give a behavior she really doesn't want to give (like when some people teach a strict 'look at me'). Walks have become way more fun for both of us! I still avoid places with lots of dogs, but walking around our neighborhood is fine.
The most important part about using this technique is practice. When I first started, it would work, up to a point. For the past several weeks, I have been practicing dropping 'heres' even then there are no distractions. For example, she might have to do two or three for part of her dinner. We'll practice on a walk maybe 15 times, one at the door inside the house, one right outside, one as we're leaving our lot, and the list goes on.
Mainly, I've very happy with this class and with the progress Helper has made. We still crated Helper after 30 minutes of class today, she had had enough, but we also made it for 30 minutes with her sitting/downing/squirming about as calmly as she gets in a room with 3 other dogs.
One note, we are using this class and training in conjunction with a thunder shirt and a DAPs collar.
