Cato, 7 months now, started going ballistic in the vehicle a while back, pedestrians, bicyclists, dogs, etc. (mainly when in motion). I've been doing approaches with strangers (turning our backs if he barks, approaching only if he is quiet...still doing this and he is making progress there)

But when driving, he knows the quiet command, so when he did not obey, I tried a correction him with a prong. (with long lead up to drivers seat) It was a swift correction that apparently worked, because for about a week and a half afterwards, did not bark overall, and if he did, I'd say quiet and he would quiet. I began to inundate him in pedestrian situations when in the vehicle, busy high traffic situations and he was to the point that he was ignoring all of it. Awesome, I was feeling really good about the progress...

So then, I screwed it all up. I decided to take him into the football game pedestrian traffic, thinking there would be streams of people up and down the sidewalks, however, there were many stray drunkards and frenzied people meandering in between traffic, up close and touching the vehicle. Cato was ballistic. I tried the prong and it did not phase him, came up the leash a bit when I did (mainly a frenzied attempt) and at that point I took off his prong and ignored him, saying good boy when he *was* quiet. Bad deal and wrecked what progress whe had made.

I am now traveling with him in low to zero ped traffic to basically start over. I do not want to use the prong because of possible associations with the people. Now, I am wondering if I should put a sheet over his crate when traveling for a bit until he gets comfortable in the car again? ANyone ever done this? Help.

Bump
anyone have any ideas?

Michele and I have had a few pm's on this and I'm interested in other opinions.

Michael,

Sorry i ment to post something up a while ago when i first read that.

OK its my understanding you dont want your dog barking at all when people walk by. Correct?

(you know i like to keep it simple)

Well to me it seems you already know what to do. You messed up and insted of trying to repair something that is broken you are going to completly restart the building. Makes sense to me.

Do exactly as you where thinking. Start with the kennel covered. then take it off with other guys you work with walking by and around. And then do the steps you did the first time. You know where the dog broke. So when you get to that point work on the high traffic streets for a bit longer of a time and try and avoid the drunks until you are ready for them

So pretty much i didn't say anything. I just agreed with what you where thinking.

If I may, why would you NOT want him to do this?

Is it age/confidence related in your mind? Or just annoying?

A: I agree with what Michael said. I'd just go back to the begining. It sounds like that is your plan anyway. It may be slow going, but with the patience you have already shown, you will make it work .

B:

 Quote:

If I may, why would you NOT want him to do this?

I can answer that from my point of view. It is annoying on many levels.

As a dog owner, I want my mutt to listen to me. Alerting me to an issue is one thing, even a strong alert, but he needs to stop when told.

As a driver, it is distracting. I need to be paying attention to the road, especially if there are people walking close to my car.

As the person walking past the car, It can be anything from scary to funny to just plain old annoying. Quinn once did that to a poor old lady walking by the car while we were stopped at a light. It looked as if she were about to have a heart attack. I felt so bad I wanted to get out and appologise. When it is young boys/men, they find it funny. I have caught three twentyish boys, tapping on the window, trying to make him bark more agresively. When loading groceries in my car in a parking lot, having the car next to me shaking and barking is just plain annoying.

I personally prefere my dog to lay quietly. He is smart enough to preceive danger. ( The evil side of me likes the idea of some dumb@$$ not knowing that a 105 lb Rott is laying in wait. Talk about a heart attack )

 Quote: JessicaKromer

When loading groceries in my car in a parking lot, having the car next to me shaking and barking is just plain annoying.

LOL.
I *am* that car, only driving down the road. (or if you are within 5 feet or so of my vehicle when parked.)

 Quote: JessicaKromer

I have caught three twentyish boys, tapping on the window, trying to make him bark more agresively.

A leash slap will work on more then just dogs...gr.. *angry face goes here*

Ok. Have been driving in low ped areas, double click sound when he is quiet and he has picked up on that as a quiet command (around the house and other low stim areas). Also, treating him when he's quiet.

However, he is making little progress, still barking ferociously at people, dogs, kids, sometimes cars and even if we stop at a light and he gets sights on a human behind the wheel of the car next to us.

I am thinking one of two things at this point.

1) Cover the crate with a sheet and give him a bone. Do this for about a month or longer, any time he is in the vehicle to get it into a comfort zone for him, good things happen there...then slowly reintroduce people.

OR.

2) FLOOD him with people within 5 feet of the car. Have them stand there, talking, what ever...looking at him or not, me in the back, treating if he is quiet. If I do flood him, I am wondering if he will realize his frenzy is futile and there is nothing to worry about?

Thoughts, opinions please.

What about a bark collar?