Demand barking

We humans can get very emotional at times about our dog’s behaviors. Demand barking is a behavior that drives many people (including myself!) up the wall!

It’s a special kind of bark, higher in pitch and often directed right at our faces.

One of Matilda’s 1000 bad habits when she came to me was demand barking. She’d stand in front of me, look me right in the eye and demand that I entertain her.

It’s the canine equivalent of tugging on your shirt and saying, ‘mommy! Mommy! Mommy!’ Until you lose your temper and scream, ‘what!?’ Thus - rewarding the behavior with the very thing our dogs and children desire - our attention.

And while it is absolutely imperative we provide our dogs - especially these high drive working dogs - attention, and outlets for their crazy. It is just as imperative that we teach them how to stand down.

Doing nothing for these kinds of dogs is a skill. And like any other skill, we need to teach it.

The best time to tech it is when our dogs are already tired. But not over tired, which makes things worse. Every dog is different and you’ll have to find this place through trial and error.

It’s best to create wind down plan for our dogs. It won’t work to try to go from charging around being stupid to nap time.

Instead, build in a bridge. Some quiet training, or a chew toy, something to make the step from chaos to control less precipitous.

Once they’re in a relaxed state - napping or just resting - I name it - settle.

You can also use a place cue here.

What’s important is that you show them that if I’m relaxing, you’re relaxing.

If at any point your dog tries to get attention through demand barking or other annoying behaviors you reiterate your Place, or Settle cue.

Don’t look at your dog when they’re demand barking or say their name. Simply deny them the thing they want (attention, play, interaction) and remind them of the job at hand.

Many of these high drive dogs see relaxing as a job and settling is work and they’ll do it if shown how to.

The most important pieces to eliminate demand behaviors are: provide ample quality training and interaction , and create clarity around relaxation.