I can't decide whether Kasey will figure out that I'm lying to him or not! When someone rings the door bell, Kasey starts barking - which is a good thing. If it's a sales person, or someone I don't know, I want him to keep barking for a bit. I don't answer the door if I'm alone, so after a minute, when I don't go to the door, he stops barking. But when it's someone I do know, and I want him to stop right away, I haven't been able to train him to stop when I say stop. But, I found out by accident last week, that If I say, "it's ok, it's just Jeremy (that's our son)", then he stops barking right away! I've done it several times to see if it was just a coincidence or if it really makes him stop - and it always works. But something tells me I shouldn't be doing that! I've tried to think it through and figure out what the consequences could be - like will he ever figure out that I'm lying and Jeremy usually isn't the one that's there?! and then it will stop working!

This really sounds dumb now that I'm typing it!! But it sure is tempting to keep doing it - it's like having an 'on/off' switch on my dog's barking!! What do you guys think - besides the fact that I'm probably being lazy in not working to train him to stop the right way!

"it's ok, it's just Jeremy" IS a "quiet" command, IMO.

What does he do when he finds out it isn't Jeremy? I suspect nothing. Which would lead me to believe that the whole phrase, or something in the phrase is cueing him to quit barking.

Beyond my expertise to explain, but I wonder if a command could now be phased in, in place of "it's ok, it's just Jeremy"?

 Quote: michael_wise

.... I wonder if a command could now be phased in, in place of "it's ok, it's just Jeremy"?

Like using same phrase, same tone of voice, and the words "good guy" in place of "Jeremy"? Good idea!

I use "lawn guys!" for "It's OK; we know these people" with my dogs, no matter who it is. Same thing -- accidentally discovering that they had connected "lawn guys!" well with "no more warning bark needed." So far my dogs have not whipped their heads around accusingly when "lawn guys!" turned out to be "FedEx guy."

I imagine that it's my tone of voice and the circumstances and the same words each time, but if I was worried about using a person's name who might also be used in another context ("Bite Jeremy!" ... kidding, of course; maybe "Where's Jeremy?"), then I'd start a new generic word, being careful to use that same tone, inflection, facial expression, etc.

JMO. I'm very happy to have the dogs giving one bark and stopping when I say "It's OK! Lawn guys!"

I was thinking the same thing - that somehow he's learned that phrase to be a signal to stop barking and so maybe it doesn't matter. In answer to your question, he doesn't even seem to care whether Jeremy is really there or not - he doesn't go looking for him or anything (if you tell Kasey that daddy's home, then he goes to the back door and waits for him to come in). Jeremy is not around a lot, so he's not a 'major' player in Kasey's life - he likes him, but Jer doesn't feed, train, or play much, so Kasey doesn't need him!

Kasey knows names - he knows dad, Jeremy, Jennifer and mom. So if you say one of those names, he stands at attention and looks at you like he's waiting for them to show up. So I think the name definitely has a lot to do with it. I seems as though he's like the secret service and knows that those people are on the 'it's ok to be in my territory list'.

If the dog were searching for Jeremy after he didn't show up at the door then I'd say you were lying.:wink:

So do you really say, "It's ok, it's just Jeremy."? If so, might try another experiment.

In the exact same tone and manner, like Connie pointed out, that you would usually say the entire phrase, just say "It's ok.". Won't hurt to give it a shot.

I think I've read that when changing a command, you say the new command before the old one.

That is all above my training knowledge, and I don't want to get you started off on the wrong foot.

I'm with Connie, though. I'm grateful for ANY verbal command to shut up an excited barking dog.

Well, I am embarrassed that I poo-poo'd the idea of quieting the dog with upbeat reassurances, but I had to go back and apologize when I saw that my every-time "It's OK! Lawn guys!" actually worked, along with the regular requirements that they all sit a certain distance from the door before it would be opened, etc. (the usual door behavior).

That is, me coming and looking out the window and then saying (basically) "All is well! I'm in charge now; barking time is over!" ended the barking before we all trooped to the door, and then the required door-manners kept the excitement level down.

It wasn't instant. But I don't begrudge one minute spent on it.

Ha! I love the 'lawn guys'! I'm going to try substituting a different name for Jeremy next time I need to use that phrase and see if it works, but my guess would be it won't. Maybe I'm giving Kasey too much credit, but I think it works because he knows who Jeremy is, and that he's 'allowed' to be here. We'll see.

I love the phrase because not only does it cause the barking to stop, but he also calms right down and greets whoever it is without all the excitement there is if you don't use it. We have him lay in a 'place' if we are going to actually open the door for someone.

Thanks for your input, and I'm glad to hear that Connie 'lies' to her dog too!!!

Ok, you guys, I've been experimenting! When someone rings the doorbell (which we've had a lot of UPS practice with Christmas coming!), and Kasey starts barking, I have tried replacing 'Jeremy' with something else. I use the same tone, voice infection, and everything, but it doesn't work! I tried 'it's ok, it's just the UPS man', and 'it's ok, it's just the gardner', etc. but he doesn't fall for it!

I was thinking about how smart he must be to know the difference! - but my husband countered with "he must not be too bright to keep hearing that Jeremy's here and not figure out that it's hardly ever him!!". Oh well!