jumping, scrathing and barking at patio door window

[amme]

when anyone from the family is outside, but mainly me or my husband.
How do i stop this???? she will carry on with this behaviour all the time we are outside in the back garden doing something that we cannot do with her in the garden - main problem whenever we go out and clean the rabbit hutch out.

[divadexie]

Why don't you teach her a solid 'sit stay' and she can come out and be with you without getting in the way?

[amme]

I suppose i could, but how long then do you think she will be in the sit position for without getting up and running around the garden, sniffing at carious things, she is labrador/springer so she is very very nosey ?????

[Natalie]

What is she like when she's outside with you? Does she go normal and well behaved again? (as well behaved as springers/labs can be )

[divadexie]

I'd suggest working on her stay command- now to me, stay means do not move until I say.
So start off asking her to stay for a second, on the lead and don't move away. Then calmly say good girl, and then give the release command (I use ok) ald move backwards encouraging the dog. This teaches them that the release command means they can move away.
Then when she is getting good, increase EITHER the time you ask her to stay, OR move away One step at a time, until you have built it up.
If you notice at any point her concentration start to lose (looking away, yawning) tep back in and reward and release.
The more chances you give her to break the stay without your release, the more likely she is to fail. Set her up for success and she willlearn alot quicker.


Also I would take her for a good run/walk or play in the garden before doing this exercise.


Another alternative would be to hold back a portion of her food and scatter it on the garden while you are cleaning the bunny out. Labs love food, and both live to use there nose and it also stimulates the brain and tires them out