Barking when in stay

Ledger has his bronze citizen assessment next week and we have developed a problem with him starting to bark when I put him into stay in classes. He is ok at home I can step away a good distance and can easily do the minute required but in classes he starts barking I know it will just take lots if work but I have little over a week and it seems a shame as he has come on so well with his watch and wait does anyone have anything that might work in such a short time that might help to get him through the test?

Does he have to be quiet, then, when he's staying? I would have thought that as long as he stays in that position it doesn't matter if he's noisy!

Have you taught him the "quiet" command?

Aparently he does for the test, overally he is never very vocal but earlier I found another thread on here about training to bark first so I have had a go at that today with 'woof' then 'enough' but prior to that he even managed a silent 1 minute stay out in the park will have to wait and see if it transfers to the class on Saturday :S

Can't really help but wishing you both the best for the exam. x

jshrew wrote:Aparently he does for the test, overally he is never very vocal but earlier I found another thread on here about training to bark first so I have had a go at that today with 'woof' then 'enough' but prior to that he even managed a silent 1 minute stay out in the park will have to wait and see if it transfers to the class on Saturday :S

Make sure you give him a good walk before the class - he might be too tired to bark!

Awww hope he does you proud maybe hes excited or impatient sorry cant help much

Well the final training class was a step further back with his barking getting worse it's so hard not to feel frustrated when he does it in silence at home, on the street, in the park and at my parents with their dog pestering me for fuss which stresses him out more

Tried a distraction technique with the trainer after the class and a device that jangles like keys kinda the opposite to a treat but he wasnt bothered by it in the least so it's back to cramming on the bark on command as he hasn't been vocal enough for me to need to train him not to so far

Ah well luckily the other dogs weren't bothered and remained in their stays the trainer thinks it might just be a situation anxiety but has let me know that there are plenty of other opportunities to take the test if the examiner fails him ah well que sera sera I know he has improved immensely in the last 6 weeks of training

lemmy does this but he doesnt arkhe cries. we can walk away from him and even be out of sight but the minute we get in clasleave him. bless them i think they might feel abandoned

Perhaps your anxiety about the test is having an effect? Relax and trust that your dog can do it.

Ty wrote:Perhaps your anxiety about the test is having an effect? Relax and trust that your dog can do it.

Very good point!