*grumble* Barking on the downstay?

The steps between times may be too quickly changed.  Some OB competitors I know use a timer with an audible signal (you need a digital)  The timer sound always proceeds the release word in training so the timer becomes part of the behavior chain.  Remember to vary the time between the timer and the release.  Set the timers initially at a time you know he will be silent.  You could also consider a tether and leave if he talks (turning your back is not always so effective since dogs read body language so well, tension/muscle tone)

My advise for the barking problem is to get a bark collar. Don't buy a cheap one from Petsmart!! Go online and get a Tri-Tronics. You will be happy with that.

ORIGINAL: ldyharley

My advise for the barking problem is to get a bark collar. Don't buy a cheap one from Petsmart!! Go online and get a Tri-Tronics. You will be happy with that.

 
[sm=eek.gif] Oh, my...
 
jmho

My advise for the barking problem is to get a bark collar. Don't buy a cheap one from Petsmart!! Go online and get a Tri-Tronics. You will be happy with that.

 
I very much disagree.  That doesn't SOLVE the problem at all, and is going to be quite ineffective since you can't put an e-collar on a dog in competition.
 
What I would suggest doing, is not only c/t ing him for being in a down stay you put him in, but when he lies down on his own and his being quiet as well.  He is likely bored and protesting being in this rather dull position.
 
Something else I suggest, is giving him an extra "job" while on the down.  Strauss has a tendency to sniff on his long down, so I've taught him to lay on his side until I tell him to get up.  He's so busy thinking about holding the position on his side, he can't sniff.

Get some good ear plugs and hold the command until you get your quiet stay.  Good luck and don't get pissed off.  Be patient and show now emotion until you get exactly what you want from the dog.
 

the e-collar could work, but you'd have to trick the dog. the dog cannot associate the collar with the shock. So you'd have to have the dog wear the collar sometimes and not turn it on.
 
but I like the timer Idea, And reward before the barking begins, if you reward after, even after the dog is silent, the dog might learn bark bark bark bark silent, gets rewarded.
 
Also if he does bark, tell him no, go get him, walk him around in a large circle and put him back down in the same spot.
 
you could also put be quiet on command. have the dog bark, when the dog stops, say "be quiet" and feed him. test your training at home. ask for a bark and in the middle of it say "be quiet" if the dog stops, you know it worked.
 
then when train your long down, ask the dog right off the bat to be quiet. start a random reward schedule.maybe use the timer idea in conjunction.
 
If the dog barks, geive hime the no reward marker, go get him, walk the circle and start over.