[Orshe29]

Hello! I have a 14-month old miniature schnauzer whom I've had for a little over a year now, along with an almost 2-year-old son and the pair get along great! However (this will be a long post) I have two persistent problems.

1) My dog found his voice around the time he turned 1. Rarely ever barked unless to potty or to warn us of a dog's presence and then stops barking right away. Now, he barks at the doorbell, when people are in the house, or as they leave. I know mini schnauzers are alert dogs but he can be persistent, especially when with guests. He zooms right next to us and barks at the delivery man or guests at the door/inside (doesn't run out. Just stays by the open door and barks continuously). He jumps on them if they're inside and continues to bark until they greet him. His favorite treats won't deter him. With my spouse, son, and me, he doesn't bark. Sometimes he jumps but we wait until he's sitting before we greet him warmly. I tell guests to do the same but they don't. My guests don't mind the jumping since he's small (but I mind). They do mind the barking, though. I'm trying to and poorly teaching him Quiet. Otherwise I lure him into sitting or laying by me before guests arrive but I don't always know when the doorbell will ring. He's been doing ok with just a few barks but when guests are in, it's just straight barking (and pouncing at them if he's not by me) for 2-3 minutes. What do I do? If I catch guests beforehand with treats, he will bark for a bit and then stop (which is fine) but if there is no lure or stops to him being at the door, then it's continuous barking at guests. This kind of leads to point 2.

2) My dog was basically raised with my son. I think I did well in desensitizing my dog to young children or just my son. He doesn't bat an eye or get distracted by my son and my son knows how to interact with a dog (but we have never left them alone together and probably won't until my son is much older). My dog and son loves to play fetch and tug-of-war with each other and my son always gives him treats or "helps" during training sessions. But... My dog reacts differently with my nephew who is 8 and has high, HIGH energy. Ever since we've had our dog, my nephew has played rough with him and let him mouth or nip him. They would roll on the ground together or my nephew will put my dog on top of him and just laugh. I will stop it when I see it or hear a, "Hey, stop biting!" I tell my nephew that he can't roll around on the ground and he can't play as rough because it teaches him that my dog can be rough with him. My nephew hasn't stopped so I just have my dog leashed, sitting or laying beside me or crated because my dog pounces at him and barks at him. He barks when my nephew leaves or enters the room, even when crated. He listens to my nephew's commands when they play fetch but otherwise he's always pouncing, biting at his pants to bring him down to his level, or mouthing my nephew's hands. I want my dog to have free roam of the house but it's like all control and training is gone the moment my nephew is over. He won't listen to my spouse or me and he just wants to play with my nephew but in a way that I think can get aggressive. He also does this to my other nephew who is the same age but is different toward toddlers and babies around my son's age (meaning he will sniff and lick them but is pretty calm around them).

Sorry this is long! What advice does everyone have?

 

[JoanneF]

A few things come to mind. If I could start with your nephew, it sounds like your dog has learned that kids of that age have that sort of play style and they are fun. But it is easily fixed - be firm with your nephew, no playing like that. Perhaps you could get your nephew to train your dog to do tricks instead, so he is still engaging with the dog but in a more appropriate way.

I tell my nephew that he can't roll around on the ground and he can't play as rough

My nephew hasn't stopped

If necessary, tell your nephew that he won't be allowed to see the dog at all unless he stops. You are the adult, and in your house, your rules apply.

For the barking, schnauzers are barky dogs but I like this method.

Get a yoghurt pot, and smear the inside with wet dog food, squeezy cheese, yoghurt or anything else your dog likes. When he starts to bark, you can offer the pot to lick - he can't bark and lick at the same time.

As he is doing that, repeat the word that will become your ”quiet” cue.

After some repetitions and you think he has got it, give the cue and if he stops barking, give the pot as a reward (if he doesn't stop barking, stay at step 1 for longer).

When he is stopping on cue, gradually increase the delay between the cue and reward.

Once it is reliable, you can start fading the reward to something more convenient.

And with the jumping, it's hard for a dog to learn a ”don't do ” something, just like it is for us. If I said ”don't think of an elephant” what's the first thing that comes into your head? So ask for a behaviour that he can't do while jumping, like a sit. It's impossible to sit and jump. But the sit has to be far, far more rewarding for him, to make it his preferred behaviour.

we wait until he's sitting before we greet him warmly. I tell guests to do the same but they don't.

Again, you are going to need to be firmer with your guests. Your house, your rules ...

You will also find that teaching him some impulse control will help. This video explains it.

 

[Orshe29]

A few things come to mind. If I could start with your nephew, it sounds like your dog has learned that kids of that age have that sort of play style and they are fun. But it is easily fixed - be firm with your nephew, no playing like that. Perhaps you could get your nephew to train your dog to do tricks instead, so he is still engaging with the dog but in a more appropriate way.

If necessary, tell your nephew that he won't be allowed to see the dog at all unless he stops. You are the adult, and in your house, your rules apply.

For the barking, schnauzers are barky dogs but I like this method.

Get a yoghurt pot, and smear the inside with wet dog food, squeezy cheese, yoghurt or anything else your dog likes. When he starts to bark, you can offer the pot to lick - he can't bark and lick at the same time.

As he is doing that, repeat the word that will become your ”quiet” cue.

After some repetitions and you think he has got it, give the cue and if he stops barking, give the pot as a reward (if he doesn't stop barking, stay at step 1 for longer).

When he is stopping on cue, gradually increase the delay between the cue and reward.

Once it is reliable, you can start fading the reward to something more convenient.

And with the jumping, it's hard for a dog to learn a ”don't do ” something, just like it is for us. If I said ”don't think of an elephant” what's the first thing that comes into your head? So ask for a behaviour that he can't do while jumping, like a sit. It's impossible to sit and jump. But the sit has to be far, far more rewarding for him, to make it his preferred behaviour.

Again, you are going to need to be firmer with your guests. Your house, your rules ...

You will also find that teaching him some impulse control will help. This video explains it.

Thank you so much! I will definitely do this. I truly appreciate it!

 

[Schnauzaluv]

Omg your little schnauzer sounds so much like mine! We are currently teaching how to act when guests come over, so by trial and error I found that keeping him on lead when guests arrive goes much better. If he starts barking at visitors, I interrupt and take him for a 'walk' around the coffee table (in another room). I say "ok, let's go around!". Then before we go back I say "ok, you calm now?" and we try again. Repeat around the coffee table if he starts barking again. I always, ALWAYS reward with verbal praise for sniffing calmly or even just looking at the visitor(s). Little by little it's getting better and better.

Once he is calmer and he can actually listen to me (because when a dog is all worked up, they can't focus on anything else), I let him off the lead and then take off his harness. Last night after I had taken off his harness and let him free, he started barking again, so I just said "ok let's go around (the coffee table) and we did 2 rounds without the leash.

Right now we are pretty much just working to get our dog comfortable with visitors, it's a lot of effort, but as he sees more and more visitors and becomes better to act around them, the more it will become second nature and I won't have to spend so much time there. A dog just needs direction, someone to show them what is an appropriate way to greet visitors because apparently in their books (instinct), visitors aren't so welcome.

For jumping up and biting at my hands, I personally just pretend he means to give me a high touch (with his nose to my palm) instead of biting me and dragging me down. (It's how I taught a high touch). But a better way is to ask for an alternate incompatible behaviour if you don't want him jumping at all. My spouse plays rough and rolls around on the ground with our dog, so I don't have any advice there. They do love that style of play, but it's important to teach impulse control and not to bite too hard. Also if he gets too worked up, my spouse will bring the energy down and take breaks all throughout playing, I know that's not something for nephew could manage. He is biting at your nephew's pants and hands because your nephew lets him. So I agree, your rules apply. The more he practices this, the more it becomes staple behaviour how to act around kids of that age. As Joanne says, there are plenty of games you can play with your schnauzer, and schnauzer just absolutely LOVE games, anything that gets them using their minds.

Try some impulse control excersises, I use the one Joanne posted at the beginning of a training session if he's too hyper, or any time I need him to calm down or focus. But impulse control for a schnauzer especially is a great thing to learn!

Ps: I also taught him 'little woofs' so I can ask for that instead of full on barking.

 

[Schnauzaluv]

Also as I have found out, when maintenance workers come to the house like internet repair, there's no reason I have to teach my boy to be freindly and when there's commotion like that he's just too worked up, so next time we will put him in a separate room with a stuffed Kong or bone. Friend visitors are a different story, I want him to be comfortable with it, but there's no need for me to work at it for repair workers that only come once to the house.

 

[Orshe29]

Omg your little schnauzer sounds so much like mine! We are currently teaching how to act when guests come over, so by trial and error I found that keeping him on lead when guests arrive goes much better. If he starts barking at visitors, I interrupt and take him for a 'walk' around the coffee table (in another room). I say "ok, let's go around!". Then before we go back I say "ok, you calm now?" and we try again. Repeat around the coffee table if he starts barking again. I always, ALWAYS reward with verbal praise for sniffing calmly or even just looking at the visitor(s). Little by little it's getting better and better.

Once he is calmer and he can actually listen to me (because when a dog is all worked up, they can't focus on anything else), I let him off the lead and then take off his harness. Last night after I had taken off his harness and let him free, he started barking again, so I just said "ok let's go around (the coffee table) and we did 2 rounds without the leash.

Right now we are pretty much just working to get our dog comfortable with visitors, it's a lot of effort, but as he sees more and more visitors and becomes better to act around them, the more it will become second nature and I won't have to spend so much time there. A dog just needs direction, someone to show them what is an appropriate way to greet visitors because apparently in their books (instinct), visitors aren't so welcome.

For jumping up and biting at my hands, I personally just pretend he means to give me a high touch (with his nose to my palm) instead of biting me and dragging me down. (It's how I taught a high touch). But a better way is to ask for an alternate incompatible behaviour if you don't want him jumping at all. My spouse plays rough and rolls around on the ground with our dog, so I don't have any advice there. They do love that style of play, but it's important to teach impulse control and not to bite too hard. Also if he gets too worked up, my spouse will bring the energy down and take breaks all throughout playing, I know that's not something for nephew could manage. He is biting at your nephew's pants and hands because your nephew lets him. So I agree, your rules apply. The more he practices this, the more it becomes staple behaviour how to act around kids of that age. As Joanne says, there are plenty of games you can play with your schnauzer, and schnauzer just absolutely LOVE games, anything that gets them using their minds.

Try some impulse control excersises, I use the one Joanne posted at the beginning of a training session if he's too hyper, or any time I need him to calm down or focus. But impulse control for a schnauzer especially is a great thing to learn!

Ps: I also taught him 'little woofs' so I can ask for that instead of full on barking.

Thank you so much for your sharing your experience and what you do with your miniature schnauzer! I'll also try walking him around. He's an energetic dog!

 

[Orshe29]

Omg your little schnauzer sounds so much like mine! We are currently teaching how to act when guests come over, so by trial and error I found that keeping him on lead when guests arrive goes much better. If he starts barking at visitors, I interrupt and take him for a 'walk' around the coffee table (in another room). I say "ok, let's go around!". Then before we go back I say "ok, you calm now?" and we try again. Repeat around the coffee table if he starts barking again. I always, ALWAYS reward with verbal praise for sniffing calmly or even just looking at the visitor(s). Little by little it's getting better and better.

Once he is calmer and he can actually listen to me (because when a dog is all worked up, they can't focus on anything else), I let him off the lead and then take off his harness. Last night after I had taken off his harness and let him free, he started barking again, so I just said "ok let's go around (the coffee table) and we did 2 rounds without the leash.

Right now we are pretty much just working to get our dog comfortable with visitors, it's a lot of effort, but as he sees more and more visitors and becomes better to act around them, the more it will become second nature and I won't have to spend so much time there. A dog just needs direction, someone to show them what is an appropriate way to greet visitors because apparently in their books (instinct), visitors aren't so welcome.

For jumping up and biting at my hands, I personally just pretend he means to give me a high touch (with his nose to my palm) instead of biting me and dragging me down. (It's how I taught a high touch). But a better way is to ask for an alternate incompatible behaviour if you don't want him jumping at all. My spouse plays rough and rolls around on the ground with our dog, so I don't have any advice there. They do love that style of play, but it's important to teach impulse control and not to bite too hard. Also if he gets too worked up, my spouse will bring the energy down and take breaks all throughout playing, I know that's not something for nephew could manage. He is biting at your nephew's pants and hands because your nephew lets him. So I agree, your rules apply. The more he practices this, the more it becomes staple behaviour how to act around kids of that age. As Joanne says, there are plenty of games you can play with your schnauzer, and schnauzer just absolutely LOVE games, anything that gets them using their minds.

Try some impulse control excersises, I use the one Joanne posted at the beginning of a training session if he's too hyper, or any time I need him to calm down or focus. But impulse control for a schnauzer especially is a great thing to learn!

Ps: I also taught him 'little woofs' so I can ask for that instead of full on barking.

I forgot to ask - how did you teach him little woofs? I tried teaching my dog bark but I think he knows I prefer him to be quieter unless to alert us.

 

[Schnauzaluv]

Yes, they are full on energy! I have noticed by keeping him moving when he's hyper focused (by walking around the coffee table for example), it seems to calm him better and he's happy to do it, create a break in his little over-stimulated brain. And I try to make everything a game, going around the coffee table is fun lol.

 

[Orshe29]

Yes, they are full on energy! I have noticed by keeping him moving when he's hyper focused (by walking around the coffee table for example), it seems to calm him better and he's happy to do it, create a break in his little over-stimulated brain. And I try to make everything a game, going around the coffee table is fun lol.

I like that idea!! I need to be more fun for him, so I'll try that out too!

 

[Schnauzaluv]

I like that idea!! I need to be more fun for him, so I'll try that out too!

If you make anything fun, just by your words and demeanor, it will be fun for him!

 

[Schnauzaluv]

I forgot to ask - how did you teach him little woofs? I tried teaching my dog bark but I think he knows I prefer him to be quieter unless to alert us.

I did teach him 'speak', but I don't use it too often. I try to teach him quiet, but he will usually still need the last bark lol. So I think I just waited until he did one and named it 'good boy little woofs'. When he repeats a small woof, he gets praise and the word 'little woofs' again. They will repeat whatever behaviour gets them praise depending how consistent you are and they catch on. He gets flak for barking, and he knows he has to be quiet, so I figured little woofs was a good compromise. I guess he thinks the same.

I always praised for offered good behavior and I name just about everything because it's amazing what they can learn and retain. It still amazes me.

I think it helps if I use a whisper voice as well. I say "good boy little woofs" in a super soft voice. When I want him to be quiet, it's a whisper and "shhhhhhh".

Also if he uses his inside voice (little woofs) to alert that a dog is being walked by the front window, I make sure that his little woofs alert me and I praise him. There's no need for him to carry on or start yelling if I acknowledge.