It’s easier to teach your dog to shush when he is calm and focused. Therefore teaching your dog to “Woof” on cue is the first step in “Shush” training, this enables you to teach “Shush” at your convenience, and not at inconvenient times when the dog decides to bark.

First we have to teach this as a trick for a reward, like a treat.

Set up an accomplice outside the front door to elicit the barking so you can practice.

Say “Woof” (or speak, bark, alert) which is the cue for your assistant to ring the bell. Praise your dog profusely when he barks; maybe even bark along with your dog. This is a game; do not become frustrated, he will get it.

1. Your cue “Woof!” “Speak” whatever you choose you must be consistent.
2. Do something that will make your dog bark
3. Praise from you: “good! Wonderful!” after a few barks
4. Your cue “Shush”
5. Show the dog the food treat
6. The dog is distracted by the treat so stops barking
7. Get 3 -5 seconds of quiet during which you are praising “goooooooood Shush!”
8. Give the dog the treat he has earned after the 3-5 seconds of perfect quiet
9. Do it again from number (1) and gradually extend the length of time of the “Shush” up to a minute or two.
10. Do it over and over until your dog knows the game. It may take several sessions, so hang in there.

How do you know if he understands the game?
He knows the game when he “Woofs” on cue and doesn’t need the trigger anymore and he quiets on the first cue to “Shush” without you showing him the treat.

He still gets a treat though, that you have already placed in your pocket or next to you. But if he gets in even a muffled bark or two, say “Oh! Too bad” and start counting the “Shush” time from the beginning again. He needs to learn that barking during quiet time was a mistake that cost him his treat.

By alternating instructions to “Woof” and “Shush”, the dog is praised and rewarded for barking on request and for shushing on request.

Speak softly when instructing your dog to shush, and reinforce your dog’s silence with a whisper of praise. The more softly you speak, the more your dog will be inclined to pay attention and listen and therefore not bark. Use treats that are high value to your dog and that he does not usually receive. Make it worth his while to control himself.

You have to have the ability to yo-yo the dog back and forth between the bark and quiet in training sessions before you take it on the road for real situations. Barking is compulsive for many dogs so you have to build this up to actual visitor trials.

When you can turn the barking on and off anytime as a trick you can now start practicing in real life situations. The first few times may be rough and you may need to show the treat up front only if necessary. Or you can reprimand hopefully in your home, setting this up is the best option here. When the dog ignores you “Shush” cue, flatten him with the growliest, loudest “I said Shush” you can muster, even better get every family member to simultaneously do this. When the dog quiets “what a goooooooood super dog you are” in a very sweet quiet tone.

Something else that can help you with the “Shush” is to have the dog do a down-stay as well as being quiet. To earn the treat, he must remain on a mat near the door and keep his mouth zipped during the quiet period.

Dianne Sarasin’s Quick tips e-Book will be available soon through the Ottawa Dog Blog

It’s Christmas Eve day! What better time than this for some dogs decorating the tree?

According to the Canada Safety Council, studies show that the in 71 percent of dog bite cases the victim knew the dog and 25 percent lived with the dog. Out of those, 64 percent of dog bite injuries were children under the age of 10. Parents can take a large “bite” out of these high incidence rates simply by learning some basic guidelines that will help their children avoid getting bitten by their own dogs as well as educating their children to be safe around other dogs.

Tips for parents:

• Never leave a child or baby alone with a dog.
• When visiting friends or relatives, who have a dog, don’t allow your child to play in the yard unsupervised.
• Do not allow your child to feed a dog unsupervised, as some dogs can be very protective of food and never allow your dog to snatch food from your child.
• Do not allow your child to pull on the dog’s collar to lead it outside the house – it could bite them.
• Children without adult supervision should not be allowed to walk a dog. A child could unwittingly be dragged into a fight with another dog.
• Never let children discipline a dog.
• Your child should always precede your dog through a door or gate.
• Never buy a dog as a toy substitute. Dogs are living, breathing creatures with feelings.

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This week we have MORE amazing tricks by Caleb the amazing Ottawa superdog.

Last week I posted a video about a pretty awesome dog and some amazing tricks. In response to that, we have found an amazing OTTAWA Superdog. His name is Caleb and he is pretty awesome.

Welcoming a baby into your home can take some adjustments, for both you and you dogs. Here are some tips from Alana & Marco who run the Kingston / Belleville and Ottawa West Bark Busters.

• Make any changes to your dog’s environment and routines at least 2 months prior to bringing your baby home (i.e. dog is now outside more, feed and walk times are variable, not sleeping on your bed, etc.)
• Start ignoring your dog’s demands for attention. Call him to you for pats. The demanding will only get worse once baby is home.
• It is best to use a crate/portable den for your dog to sleep in and to provide his own “safe place” when you need him away from you or your baby.
• Ensure your dog has at least basic obedience training in place and working.

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