Training Samoyeds - Going out the door more quietly!

[Janet White]

Ok, some days I think "training Samoyeds" is an oxymoron. Today is one of those days.

Since we've had Ullr back with us, our nice, peaceful household has been turned upside down. And just when we think it's starting to turn right side up again (it's solidly half way there), something comes up. Ullr and Taylor are littermates and BOTH are high energy dogs. Taylor had a "racetrack" developing in the dog yard before Ullr came back. Since then, they just romp and play ALL morning long. We've pinpointed that it is Ullr who is continually getting everyone wound up.

SO...it's the start of a new month. We're picking ONE thing to focus on for this month. It's simply that "dogs will be quiet before the door opens." Sitting, staying back are down the road. Just shut your yaps! is all we ask. We actually started this on Saturday. We stood by the door waiting for the "pups" to quiet down....15 minutes was the longest. Hand to the doornob --- YAP --- hand backs away. Wait. Repeat. And repeat. And repeat. SIGH. Last night they were quiet almost instantly. I thought we were making good progress. BUT Samoyeds have to test boundaries, don't they. ;)

Woke up this morning and IT'S a NEW DAY...the slate has been wiped clean! But, we still have 30 more days to go. And it only took 7 minutes for them to quiet down. At least when they go out quietly, Ullr takes at least 3 steps down the stairs before launching the rest of the way. When they bark/yap incessantly before the door is opened, he launches from the top step, clears all ten or so and still lands 3-4 ft out from them.

Will post progress reports on March's goal.

[Janet White]

March 4 -

It's going to take all month, I can see. Taylor is getting it that the door won't open unless their mouths are shut, but we've now got them testing to see if whining is OK. Evenings are better than mornings!

That reminds me of when I was working with Zephyr on wagging her tail on command using clicker training. Once she thought she had it, she started experiementing...can I be sitting and it's still *just the tail*? Can I lie down and it's still *just the tail*? Can I roll on my back and it's still *just the tail*? What other breed tests it to this extent???? I just can't see a lab doing this!!!!! Sammies...gotta love 'em! :lol:

[Janet White]

March 7 - It seems like we're back to square one. I keep telling myself, though, that this is probably just an extinction burst...you know, that increase in the behavior you don't want because that's been the norm for so long. This is also probably what's worked in the past with us givning up on trying to slow them down as they go out the door. I have noticed, though that Ullr in particular DOES remember what we tried before of having them back away from the door. He circles around and stands farther away, thinking that's the magic trick to make the door open. So, we'll just keep at this! :) He's at least thinking, which is the first step. Having one goal for the month with training is really helping both my husband and I with being consistent with it.

[Janet White]

March 11

Ok, there IS progress, but I'm still really looking hard for it. Yesterday, Ullr came up to me and nudged/nose bumped me, then went to the door. No frantic, spinning, barking mode. I let him out INSTANTLY! I also can get Taylor to go out quietly. It's just when they're together that they lose it. BUT...when they're together and Taylor realizes what's going on, she runs to grab something in her mouth (she's always done that since she was born, but it's situational now). When she's quiet, Ullr quiets down quicker as well.

[Janet White]

March 17 - Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!!!

We are making progress!!!!!! I forgot and accidentally let them out the other day when they hadn't been quiet and boy did that allow backsliding!

But, with firm determination today, I stand by the door, dogs whining. Whining is not quiet. Someone lets out a bark. I take a step back. Taylor circles round me trying to herd me back closer to the door. Doesn't work. My arms are folded. Still a soft whine coming from Ullr. He looks up at me and realizes I haven't budged. He quiets. SUCCESS! I move. He barks. I back up a step again. He quiets. I step forward. He half barks...stops himself. Walks behind me AND SITS DOWN! He's quiet, but is coiled like a spring. I move my hand to the handle and he head butts the door and HARD! But he keeps his eyes on where the opening will appear. He's whining again. Hand off the handle. He looks up, whines (everyone else is silent). I cross my arms. He quiets. I open the door.

Firm determination. Training Samoyeds is still an oxymoron.

[Janet White]

March 19 - REAL progress!

With one door. We have two...one out onto the back deck (and the dogs have to run around the wrap around deck to get into the yard) and one out the front door (which gives them closer access to the yard). We mainly have been working on being quiet at the front door.

Starting yesterday afternoon, Ullr only would let out one or two barks before dropping it to nothing. Same today. But the other door he still is thinking he can bark non stop and get it to open. Taylor also barks more there, but she's been MUCh quieter at both doors.

Firm determination. And training is starting to show. :)

[Janet White]

April 4 - and the job continues

Well, definitely some progress over the past month, but DH and I both agree it needs more time to completely extinguish the YARK YARK YARK as soon as we walk toward the direction of the door.

It's the start of a new month...have you decided on a behavior you want to shape/reshape with your dog? Start a thread if you have!!!! :D

[Janet White]

April 13 - sigh :roll:

Taylor's been in season here, so it's been boys out, then girls out, then girls out, then boys out. That's allowed us to focus on Taylor and Ullr separately. And individually, they're not bad. Ullr is worse than anyone, but better when Taylor isn't involved.

However, when everyone is running toward the door...they all erupt still. Anyone have tips that I haven't tried or is it just still a persistance thing?

[Janet White]

April 21 - and the saga continues

Progress with this is slow, but it's better. I noticed when we were doing the boys out/girls out thing that Ullr was fine and quiet when he KNEW he was NOT going out. He would back up, not push and wait quietly. When he did that, Taylor was quiet.

This is something I think I can build on. He does the same thing in his crate. When he KNOWS he's getting out, he barks up a storm, but if he KNOWS he's not then he's quiet and patient.

SOOOOO, I've been still letting the girls out first, then as SOON as Ullr is quiet and patient and not interested in blasting through the door, I tell him what a good dog he is, "good quiet" dog! Then I open the door for him. He still blasts at that point, but with his yap shut! :D We're only focusing on the yap shut right now.

OH, and we've got a neighbor's Golden here for a couple of days...should be interesting to see if/how that affects the pack dynamics at the door.

[Janet White]

MAY 5 - So, we're in month 3 on this. :roll:

This week, I've actually been able to walk up to the door with Ullr and Taylor there withOUT them making any fuss. So, the door is opened for them. :) BUT, now it's down to situational barking. Someone comes, I come up from the basement after doing something down there for a bit (on the treadmill, laundry, working out in the motorhome, etc.), or they see an animal...cat, fox, deer, bird, etc.

The more I'm able to reward them with an open door in each of these, the better! And, while it's still situational, overall, it's taking MUCH less time for them to quiet down. The barking stops pretty much when my hand comes away from the doornob once. Then it takes probably on average about 15-20 seconds for the whining to stop. But in the situations that get them wound up, it still takes quite a bit longer.

[Janet White]

May 10 -- SILENCE IS GOLDEN (or should that be Silence is Sammy!)

FINALLY....this morning....ALL the dogs came down the stairs when I got up without a noise, no barking, no whining! I praised them, and Boss wiggled all over and woo woo'd. OK, that's permissable. I walked to the door and Taylor let out a "yip" and ran behind me...she caught herself. Ullr started to whine and STOPPED on his own! I was able to unlock the door, open the main door and open the screen door without a fuss! No bolting out the door, just happily out and down the stairs.

:D (persistance...I AM more stubborn than Sams! I just have to remind myself of that on occasion!)

[Pat Turba]

That is quite an accomplishment! We all know how "excited" Sammies get & that usually = barking! Persistence does pay off!
Pat