Miniature Schnauzer – managing their traits and behavior!

Some types of barking are encouraged; such as barking at strangers or letting you know if there is someone driving up the lane. Other types of barking are less desirable, and in fact become a nuisance.

Helping your dog understands good and bad barking is important, and needs to start as soon as possible in the training cycle.

Some breeds are more prone to nuisance barking. These tend to be the toy breeds, small breeds, and terriers – and this list includes your Schnauzer!

Larger breeds may also bark and generally are much louder than the smaller breeds. There are some interventions that prevent barking, but it is much easier to train dogs when to bark as opposed to teaching them when not to bark.

PUNISHMENT

Punishment is not an effective way to stop a Schnauzer from barking. Usually a dog barks for the reasons listed above, and punishing does nothing to change the stimulus of the bark.

Rather, it is more effective to distract the dog from the bark and then reward the dog for the following silence. Rewarding longer and longer times of silence will help the dog understand that you are OK with a short bark, but then you require the dog to cease.

TRAINING

Start your puppy as soon as possible becoming used to new situations and people. Socialized dogs tend to bark much less than unsocialized puppies, as they are more comfortable and less stressed in different environments.

In addition, leave your puppy alone for short periods of time, so he or she understands that you will often be gone and then come back. Leave toys and other favorite play items to keep the puppy busy and to help prevent barking from boredom.

If your Schnauzer is already a barker, try training them in familiar situations.

1. Have a known person knock at the door.


2. Let the dog bark once or twice, then give the “Quiet” command and have the person enter.


3. Immediately reward the dog for not barking at the familiar person.


4. Repeat this activity several times in a row so the dog understands that the knock at the door is not necessarily a stranger.


5. Reward every time the dog stops barking, immediately. The dog then realizes after the command he will be rewarded for not barking. The reward also acts as a distraction from the stimulus of the knocking.

The owner can also use a distraction method such as shaking an empty soda can with some pebbles or pennies in it immediately after the command to stop barking is given. Then immediately reward with a treat and lots of attention and verbal praise.

A water bottle that can squirt a small amount of water onto the dog’s face can also be used. The dog may begin to associate the owner with a squirt of water, however, and this should only be used very carefully – a clever dog will simply work out they need to bark and then run!

There are some commercially available collars that squirt water or sound an alarm when the dog barks - these are also effective. These “bark-activated” collars are ideal for dogs that bark in multiple situations and in many locations.

Avoid using any kind of electronic shock collars, however, as these are potentially dangerous to the dog. If you feel that there is no other option other than an electronic collar, speak to your veterinarian.

A professional trainer may be able to work with you and your dog to resolve the issue. Many trainers will come to the home to work in the environment that the problem behavior is occurring.

Remember to positively reward the dog when any situations arise where the dog quits barking on command.

JUMPING

Jumping is a problem in all breeds of dogs, and is particularly problematic in adolescent puppies. They become so excited that they attempt to jump up on humans and other animals, in their efforts to be noticed and to get attention or food.

This behavior is a nuisance, and can even be dangerous if the dog is in contact with small children or elderly people. Even in its mildest form jumping up become irritating with the dog constantly dirtying your clothes and knocking things from your hands.

PUPPIES

Start your puppy off right and do not reward or recognize the puppy when engaged in jumping behaviors. It is hard not to reach down and pet them, but avoid the temptation.

When the puppy stops jumping, immediately praise and pet them, providing attention for not jumping and engaging it the right kind of behavior.

Puppies respond to all kinds of interactions, and if your puppy seems to be a “jumper” try to discourage activities such as wrestling or rough housing with the puppy.

Direct your puppy’s playfulness towards a toy rather than you. When the puppy is playing with the toy and not jumping up, reward them with positive praise.

Talk with all the individuals that interact with your puppy, and have a commonly understood clear understanding of the behaviors that are acceptable and those that are not.

Puppies have a hard time learning when they are receiving mixed messages about what is correct and what is not. Puppies will naturally want attention, praise and treats, so use this to your advantage.

ADOLESCENT DOGS

Adolescent Schnauzers will jump mostly for attention. If not corrected while they were puppies they now become more of a nuisance than the cute little puppy jumping up. Even small breeds that jump can cause people to trip and fall, potentially hurting both the human and the dog.

One of the most effective ways to work with a dog between 6 months and one year is to use a leash training method. This requires two people, and a dog trained to sit on command. One person has the dog on a collar and short leash.

The other person approaches the dog. As soon as the dog begins to jump up the handler tightens the leash and commands the dog to sit. The dog does not have the opportunity to jump. Both people then reward the dog for sitting and not jumping up.

This has a double benefit, in that it trains the dog to sit when greeting a person, a nice habit for a well-behaved dog to acquire. The key is to reward and praise for the desired behavior, and control the dog to prevent the undesirable behavior.

With a small dog such as a Schnauzer, the handler may have to kneel or sit on the floor to be able to control the jump before it starts. Care is taken to not jerk the dogs neck, rather it is a constant tension on the leash that prevents the jump.

It is important with any breed of dog to be consistent. It is difficult for the Schnauzer dog or puppy to understand how to behave if some people allow the jumping and reward it with attention, and other people punish.

Try to be as consistent as possible, and ask others that interact with the dog to do the same.

In addition to working with people the dog knows, try including people the dog is not familiar with.

Have them provide the treat for a dog that is sitting rather than jumping. Always pair the treat with lots of petting and praise.

Hoping you learned so much from today’s Miniature Schnauzer newsletter.

Thanks,