Australian Cattle Dog (ACD) Articles and Information

Remedy for the Whining Australian Cattle Dog when the Phone Rings

Whenever we had our dog inside and the phone rang, he would get very excited, whiny, and sometimes make the yappy barks.  This was awful because it made it very difficult to talk on the phone when the dog was going crazy.  If the back door was open he would even run out side smashing through the door when the phone rang.  This was getting very old, and had to stop.  How do you fix this?

Well in only about a week or so the problem was fixed.  If only I had done this years ago. 

What I did to remedy this problem was to use positive reenforcement.  I prepared myself for the task.  I readied my dogs box of treats, and placed them next to the phone.  I had them very easily accessible.  Whenever the phone rang, I would come running out (yes, I made quite the effort), and would say good boy, good boy, as the phone was ringing.  I would then open it (mind you the phone is still ringing, so you have to be quick), grab his favorite treats.  The treats that I used are the ones that really get his attention.  They are very similar to beef jerky, he just loves them.  I would hold it up so he could see it.  He would then be very astute, and would sit up straight, and sometimes even beg.  I would say good boy, good boy.  I would quickly do this a couple of times, hopefully before the phone would stop ringing. 

I would finally then pick up the phone, still holding the treat high up so he can see it, and still holding our dogs attention.  I would continue to talk on the phone.  When I would finish with the phone, and hang up I would quickly say good boy again.  Then quickly give him the treat, praise him, pat him, and reward him with more positive reenforcement.

This lasted just about a week and a half give or take a day.  Now when the phone rings, he thinks he is going to get a treat, and is very, very quiet, and waits patiently.  Problem solved.

I still reward him off and on when the phone rings.  Probably giving him a treat about 75 percent of the time.  Our Australian Cattle Dog learns very quick, and is extremely smart.  He knows right from wrong, and knows what is going on; probably more of the time then I do!

If you have the whiny, barking, excited dog when the phone rings, I would advise using the technique to try to solve the problem.  I found that it worked way better then what I originally thought, and am extremely pleased with the results.

Good luck, and have fun!