Dexter doesn't usually bark at all, he has picked up a few bad habits such as begging for doggy day care but he stopped doing it at home I assume because he has realised it won't get him anywhere. Other than that no barking at all except for one situation....crazy play with other dogs!! When they are playing it starts with the normal grunting and whining which in trying really hard to get used to, but he has started bark (loudly) mid play and generally if the other dog isn't playing back anymore. I'm really looking for advice on how to train him to stop this? If there are any treats visible or smell able he just stops and sits and waits for a treat so technically we are not teaching him that barking is bad...if he doesn't bark normally how do we pinpoint to him that this behaviour is not acceptable?
Hmm, sorry but I'm not sure how to fix this but if it's any help, Ella stopped on her own. There were a couple of months where she'd do the head down, bum up, tail wagging and barking her head off at dogs that were having a rest (probably sick of playing with a bouncy puppy haha) but I think she just grew out of it. Not sure if this is the same for all dogs but hopefully it is for Dexter ☺
I really really hope so, hes really found his voice, the rest of the family and other dog are struggling to climatise to his bellow!
How do other dogs tend to respond to the barking? Do they seem to stop playing? If they stop wanting to play with him that's perfect - he'll learn that barking doesn't get the result he wants. Our dog Obi, who we got at 9 months, used to bark like mad to try to get other dogs to play. It never worked (because other dogs generally find it as fun as we do) and so eventually he gave up doing it. Other dogs taught him not to bother.
I'm not 100% sure, the other dog backs off and then they show teeth to each other which suggests to me it's aggressive but then they begin playing again it's just there's a quick timeout, Dexter barks the whole way through and then they continue. My finding it quite difficult but my instinct is to stop them completely because it seems so aggressive but I know it's perfectly normal, but then the barking begins and it's just plain annoying! I put the lead on a we did 'settle' for a bit and that really worked. I guess I should be greatful actually that he doesn't bark for our attention or anything at home!
There are two kinds of showing teeth. One is mouth wide open and snappy - that is playful and friendly (it doesn't look it!) The other is mouth tight closed and the sides of the mouth raised to show the canines. Any of that is very worrying and a sign of aggression. I strongly suspect what you are seeing is the former! Here are Gypsy (my last pup) and Tatze playing nicely - yes really! As soon as it annoys me all play stops.
Hehe, mine look and sound ferocious when they're playing: They give a lot of calming signals - most obviously lots of sneezing and snorting - whilst they're playing, just to let each other know it's still just a game. The snarling of real fighting is completely different to that of play fighting.
These photos great! That's exactly what Dexter and Marley do with each other, Boogie I have watched the video you posted on my other thread about the pup annoying the older dog, it made me feel much better, although your two seem much calmer and more responsive! Dexter and Marley are relentless and LOUD it's really stressful, we have began working on in your bed at home in his own and hope to build it up a bit to get a response when he is playing with Marley
Bella barks and shows teeth at her best mate Rosie but never with or at any other dogs. It's all good fun, but Rosie is older and tires easily so when she's had enough and Bella barks in her face she's started to growl and give her a back off bark back, works for two minutes then they start playing again, it's really annoying any only the adult intervening saying Bella do you want to go in the kitchen stops her barking..... I'm hoping she'll grow out of it.....
