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September 28, 2010

A while back I delivered a full-on rant about the (insert strongly-worded editorial comment here) FedEx guy. So, what’s a girl to do when one of many UPS guys feeds barking dogs treats?

I totally get the conditioning aspects a la “Hey, that man gives us treats! He must not be all bad.”

But, when the treats are delivered WHILE the dogs are barking, doesn’t that just reinforce the behavior?

Perhaps I need to contact the company and see what they teach about dogs, but I’m pretty sure these delivery folks are NOT timing their treats for the split second or two that any given dog is NOT barking at them.

Maybe I need to add a new sign to the gate that says, “Please don’t feed me, if I’m barking.”

I’m too tired to rant, but while I’m asking for some nuance in my dog-delivery guy interaction … Do you think it’s too much to ask that they TOSS the treats, rather than try to hand them over?

Overly-excited dogs might just get a little shark-like while grabbing treats.

About the Author Roxanne Hawn

Trained as a traditional journalist and based in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, USA, I'm a full-time freelance writer for magazines, websites, and private clients. My areas of specialty include everything in the lifestyles arena, including health and home, personal finance and other consumer interests, relationships and trends, people and business profiles ... and, of course, all things pet related.

I don't just love dogs. I need them in my life. Seriously.

  1. In situations like this the classical conditioning aspect is more important than the operant, so I wouldn’t worry about the dog ‘learning’ to bark for treats. The dog may go from being upset and barking, to excited and happy barking, but that’s a good thing in my book when it comes to strangers around my dogs, especially my fearful boy. And it’s easier to change the behavior if the dog is not stressed and anxious.

    You can do an experiment at your local shelter (with permission of course). Go in to the kennel with a bunch of treats and start tossing them to barking dogs. Listen. Do you hear more barking or less? There’s a good chance you’ll hear less since the treats change the tone of the occasion.

    I wouldn’t worry about the UPS guy teaching my dogs to bark for treats, but tossing them is a good idea, unless you can get them to ask for a sit first 😉

    1. You are right, Debbie and AC. I get so caught up in the operant part that I forget the benefits of classical. As you may recall, our behaviorist is FOREVER pointing this out to me. You ‘d think I’d remember. :o)

  2. Sounds like going for a big toss may be all you can get.

    May also just be me, but I don’t think that getting treats reinforces barking in situations like this. It doesn’t seem like a territorial dog (which I’m making the assumption is going on in your case) is really in the state of mind to make the connection between the treats and barking. When Kona is hyperaroused, food can help divert her. It seems kind of similar to how giving a dog a treat while she’s scared doesn’t reinforce her fear. I think the reinforcing bad behaviors only happens (or is mostly likely only to happen=) when a dog is within threshold.

    Just some thoughts…

  3. I think that asking them to toss the treats is likely the best that you’re going to get. They’re actually trying to be nice (at least my delivery guys are) and trying make your dogs think that they’re nice in case of a chance face-to-face interaction in the future. I doubt that you’re going to get the concept across of giving the treat at an instant of quiet. Just a guess based on my interactions with our delivery guys.

    I know that it’s reinforcing a behavior that you don’t want but you can’t control everything… We actually allow our dogs to bark at strangers on our land. We’ve worked on an upbeat “thank you” (to the barking dogs) and then “leave it”. However, it can be hard to stop them until they recognize the visitor.

    1. Thanks, KB. I did ask the guy to toss the treats, and he got all defensive and said he did toss them. I was watching as I ran toward the gate, and if those were tosses, they were very short ones.

      Personally, when I’m trying to get them to move away from the gate (like when I would bring Katie back to play), I would really throw the treats for them to chase so that I could get her inside without them crowding her.

      We used to have just one really great UPS driver, but he retired a few years ago. So, we have a whole new cast of characters.

      I suppose I just have to let this go and realize that it is what it is.

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