Doggie daycare help?!?!?

Question

well I just started working at a doggie daycare and I look after around 20 dogs at once in a huge yard.....I do know alot about dogs and all that stuff but I have a soft voice so its hard for me to get the dogs attentions when they are fighting or whatever..... so my question is what other ways then yelling or haveing a "strong" voice can I getthe dogs attentions??? (as you may thought already 20 dogs tgether can get alittle hyper and theres alot of fighting and humping!!)

Answer 1

You can us a whistle or a can with pennies or rocks in it - you can clap your hands or slap your thigh - Use a loud clicker -

Sounds to me like there needs to be another person with you or that group of dogs needs to be cut in half and have 2 groups.

Also sounds like the day care facility should consider investing in interactive loaded with treats, interactive dog toys and see how many of the dogs would opt for private play verses team play -

With a group of 20 dogs - If you can get say 12 to chew of interactive, treat loaded toys, the entire group will be much more manageable - I share my home with 7 large dogs so I do understand the value of a good interactive toy.

Answer 2

You can use a "silent" dog whistle or a loud one; you can shake a soda can with some pennies taped inside; you can buy one of those ultrasonic dog noisemakers.

Don't get in the middle of a dog fight - you can be severely bitten! Use a chair or a board or a bucket of water to separate the dogs. Or you can bop them on the head with an empty 2 liter soda bottle with some pennies inside it. It won't hurt them at all, but it will startle them out of fighting.

Take a dog obedience class or read some good books to learn how to control them. Your employer should be more responsible than to throw you to the wolves with no training, so to speak.

These are the books that I recommend to my students; you can get them on Amazon.com
What All Good Dogs Should Know – Volhard http://www.volhard.com/
Good Owners, Great Dogs - Brian Kilcommins
Dog Tricks : Eighty-Eight Challenging Activities for Your Dog from World-Class Trainers by Haggerty and Benjamin
Don't Shoot the Dog - Pryor
Training Your Dog: The Step by Step Method - Volhard
Dog Problems - Benjamin
Cesar's Way - Cesar Millan
Also, watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan is the best trainer I've ever seen on TV.
http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/

Answer 3

First of all, I would be concerned for the dogs' safety in a situation like this. All kennels, especially daycares where the dogs are allowed to interact with one another, should be doing temperment testing on all of the animals to ensure compatibility. If there are fights and humping breaking out, then you have dogs that are not compatible with one another and others that may have dominance issues.

There may also be a problem with the sheer amount of dogs released together at the same time. 19 other dogs can be very overwhelming for a single dog, and this could cause aggressive or fearful behavior (ie: the fighting). This could also be a seriously difficult, not to mention dangerous situation for a single worker to handle, especially if you're soft spoken.

If you are intent on continuing to work with animals, especially canines, work on improving your strength of voice. If you cannot use a stern voice and prove that you are in charge, those twenty dogs are going to ignore you and try to sort amongst themselves who is in charge (again, a possible reason for the fighting). Consider asking some of your coworkers or supervisors for assistance in voice training, or speak with a local trainer.

While you're working on strengthening your voice, you could try using a clicker to get the dogs' attention. Work with the dogs individually, repeatedly clicking and giving them a treat at the same time so they start associating the click with good things. The goal here would be to get the dogs to all look at you when they hear that click, as if they were expecting another reward. Other options would be whistles, a penny-can, or even moroccos or a tambourine.

If you do find yourself in the middle of a dog fight, use a watergun. Not a water bottle--a watergun. Find yourself a jumbo sized SuperSoaker at a toystore and keep it hander in the room you let the dogs run free in. If this doesn't work, never, EVER try to pull the dogs apart. First, you could end up getting injured by a bite or flying claw. Secondly, you could injure whichever dog is currently on the receiving end of the bite and tear his skin even worse when pulling them apart. If you must, throw a heavy blanket over the two dogs and wait for assistance before separating them.

Hopefully this helps you out some. I would definately recommend discussing the safety of the animals and yourself with your supervisors. Ask them whether or not temperment evaluations are conducted on each of the animals before they are allowed to stay, and if there is a possibility of either lessening the amount of dogs in your care, or increasing the amount of staff assigned to that specific group.

Answer 4

Well - the fact that you just started probably means the dogs do not see you as a pack leader and until they do they won't hear you even if you yell loud. I suggest trying this. Get 10 small tin cans that are empty. Put several stones in each and duct tape the cans shut. You want to make sure they make a lot of noise when thrown. When the dogs act up DO NOT say anything - just throw a can at them - DO NOT hit them - it is not necessary. The strange, loud noise startles and stops them. When they stop - Use a dog whistle to get them to look at you and be sure you have a couple toys or sticks to toss and distract them from whatever behavior was unwanted. It takes consistancy and remember - DO NOT say anything when you throw the can.
This works because you are not involved and haven't had to prove yourself to the pack and... it even helps to prevent their bad behaviours as each time they misbehave they get startled. It will become easier as time goes on. Be sure to do things to establish you as pack leader - make each dog do something simple like a sit and then pet them. Do not give out any petting unless they do a trick to earn it. Good luck and remember - even if the dog hears your voice it translates as blah, blah, blah, sit Rover.

Answer 5

20 dogs seem to be a little much for one person to watch. Try putting pennies, rocks etc in a tin can. Every time you need to break up something or get attention shake the can

Answer 6

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Answer 7

You could roll up a news paper and smack it against your hand...that may distract them enough...but you still need to use your voice to separate them. Some other ideas are whistles, toys, noisemakers. When they're not fighting, you can physically pull them apart. Have you tried lower the pitch of your voice? Sometimes that's enough to get their attention.

Answer 8

ALWAYS GIVE A CLAP, OR WHISTLE. IF YOU CANT WHILSTLE then get a whistler.

Answer 9

You need to cage them and let them have turns exercising.

Answer 10

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