I've thought of that as a last resort. Don't know much about them...

My thinking was/is just to get him back in a comfort zone in the car. Thinking that the prong amped him more in that situation and that a bark collar might do the same thing? Also, how long before a dog is conditioned to a bark collar? WIll he have to wear it forevermore?

Will read up on the bark collar.

I don't know the history of your dog. I'm going to assume he's 7 months old & high drive? Is it possibly not a sensitivity issue so much as a 7 month old "I'm a big dog now" issue. If that's the case, I would go back to a method similar to what you were doing before.

I would have a pinch on a long line with the dog in a crate and a friend driving so I could concentrate on the dog. It's important that you remain very calm & when you give him the command "quiet" use a normal tone of voice. If he doesn't obey, give him a REALLY good correction. If he continues to bark, continue to correct him, but don't repeat the verbal command and stay very calm. The corrections needs to be hard enough to get his attention away from the people. As soon as he submits, reward with treat & quiet, soothing praise. It sounds like you were headed in the right direction, but when he didn't listen to you at the stadium, in essence you "blinked" as far as he's concerned!

If she used a bark collar would he still alert in a "rough" situation?

My Tiekerhook dog did the same thing. I used the above method to teach him quiet, it worked. One day when I was stopped at a light, a strange man ran up to my car & started to open my passenger door. The dog was lying in the back of my S/W & when the guy started to open the door, he came unglued. The man slammed the door shut & backed off & ran away. I'm just lucky he didn't have a gun, but in any case, the dog saved me from what we think was a hijacking attempt. After that, I didn't mind the barking so much anymore!

Oooh at 7 months, maybe not (I'm a bad auntie).....I would do the treat and praise for quiet in the car....

I used the bark collar when Jesea turned a year old....before that a blanket over the crate worked.

What I'm thinking now, is *try* the sheet over crate thing tomorrow.

Reason I postponed is because I tried it in the house once when he was flippin, just wanting to be out, and that doggie (YES, HIGH drive VOCAL doggie) just quieted, but was busted about a minute later pulling the entire blanket through one lil square on the front of his kennel!!! Ruined my blanket!!!

So. Will see tomorrow with bone and sheet, see if it will calm him. If I can get him conditioned to being calm in the car, for a while, then reintroduce the world later, save the prong for then. ??? I am thinking the sheet may calm him, but is only prolonging really dealing with the issue, because he really is fine in the car if there are no people...so...Hmmmmhph. HE DOES not bark if he's got a bone back there, but again, feel like we are just avoiding the issue and maybe even making it worse for the times he doesn't have a bone. ???

Meanwhile, with earplugs...over and out.

 Quote: michele mcatee

busted about a minute later pulling the entire blanket through one lil square on the front of his kennel!!!

"Take THAT, you fiend!"

 Quote: Michele McAtee

I am thinking the sheet may calm him, but is only prolonging really dealing with the issue, because he really is fine in the car if there are no people...so...Hmmmmhph. HE DOES not bark if he's got a bone back there, but again, feel like we are just avoiding the issue and maybe even making it worse for the times he doesn't have a bone. ???

Hi Michele,

I like this idea. I'm with Carol, as much positive reinforcement as possible and set him up to succeed which this plan does. I don't think you are avoiding the issue at all. You're taking his training back to the beginning. The sheet gives him distance from his triggers and providing him with something positive to redirect his focus too such as a bone are sound training tools.

IMO the more quiet successful rides you take with him the greater your foundation to continue with success as you slowly reintroduce distractions. I don't think this will make it worse when he doesn't have a bone because eventually you can fade that out but right now just try to get some quiet rides under your belt.

Now if this doesn't work; Susan's suggestion to have someone else drive while you work with the dog is superb. It will be much easier to time your corrections and also observe to predict when he may go off and interrupt him before he does. I think that would be tough to do if you are driving because that usually entails drinking coffee and talking on your cell phone...lol...kidding (I spend too much time in my car.)

Goodluck

I just want to interject one little thing. If she does use a correction method, I think she should not correct the dog when he barks, but should correct him if he does not shut up when she gives him the quiet command. This way he will still alert.

 Quote: susan tuck

I think she should not correct the dog when he barks, but should correct him if he does not shut up when she gives him the quiet command. This way he will still alert

This is what I did before, (because of the reason you stated) "quiet" then when he didn't, correct. He went nuts and into higher drive with his frenzy, and came up the lead. I've since realized that he was not necessarily COMING UP THE LEAD, but rather misplaced outlet for his frenzy, as *obviously* the dog does not *know* the quiet command under heavy distraction. UNFAIR of me to have even corrected in that situation.

We are definately a lot further along in working "quiet" under heavy distration...by DEFAULT!!!! I was actually planning on working on some other things...

First working line for me... I, once again, really appreciate the insight offered here.

 Quote: connie sutherland

 Quote: michele mcatee

busted about a minute later pulling the entire blanket through one lil square on the front of his kennel!!!

"Take THAT, you fiend!"

Yeah, that is a drawback, and Jesea did that too (I lost a great jacket as well ) . I tried a dark sheet rather than a blanket,and it seemed to lay flatter so she could not get a hold of it.

Yeah, lost a couple of good sheets, one blanket, and one shower curtain. Amazing not only what they can pull through a 1 square inch opening, but how much of it they can pull through.

Fun pulling it out while they're pulling it in. Seen by dog as "oh! my favorite thing! TUG!"

Rascally rascals.