The Jolly Routine is a William (Bill) E. Campbell method from his book titled, Owner's Guide to Better Behavior in Dogs and Cats is one method I use. Quoted below is his description of the Jolly Routine from his "Biting" chapter on p.179:

The behavioral problems which can be helped, corrected or stopped by using the Jolly Routine are fear biting, nervousness, shyness, other biting, nipping, guarding items, dog fights and some other problems.

This is how I tell people to apply the method:

I prefer to start out trying the ball or toy for this method but if this does not work for your dog then below I give different situations which one can try. If your dog loves to fetch balls or loves another toy more than their undesired behavior, then try the following activity:

Have a tennis ball or toy handy (in a pocket if possible). When he or she begins to display the undesired behavior, take out the ball or toy. Then throw and/or bounce it a foot or more away, depending on what gets the dog’s attention best. Do this in a "jolly" mood with lots of vocal encouragement for the dog to go fetch or chase the ball. When your dog goes after the ball and refrains from the undesired behavior, praise him or her verbally in a spirited manner by repeating "Good (boy or girl)", "Good (your dog's name)", "Very Good". Pet the dog, if you can, while the ball is in his or her mouth, but only if your dog doesn't behave as if he or she is going to show the undesired behavior toward you. Also, have other people throw the ball if they show. If they aren't into acting "jolly" to encourage your dog to go after the ball or toy, then you will have to offer the verbal encouragement as your dog participates in the game. This will help your dog see the situation as a fun time and not a time to pursue or bite.

When applying this method toward people it would be best to start with one person or child and then work up to having the dog around many people. When your dog begins to show the undesired behavior, have the child or person throw or bounce his or her favorite toy in a very encouraging attitude toward your dog, but not right at him or her. If they aren't into throwing the toy or acting "jolly" to encourage your dog to go after the ball or toy, then you will have to do what they have trouble with applying. If you have to have your dog held on leash allow him or her to go after the ball or toy if he or she shows the desire to go after the ball. Don't hold him or her back with a tight leash as this can cause a dog to become more tense, fearful, and aggressive. Please go here to find out more about a tight leash. When your dog goes after the ball or toy and doesn't show the bad behavior, you should praise him or her verbally very much by repeating "Good (Boy or Girl)", "Good (your dogs' names)", "Very Good". Then have the person or child try to pet your dog while he or she has the ball and is playing with the ball without showing this undesired behavior toward people. After several days of this game, your dog will not behave this way any more and you won't have to use the method much anymore. But, once your dog starts back with this undesired behavior, get the dog's favorite toy and do it again. Eventually he or she will not show this undesired behavior again and be a happy dog around people without the use of the Jolly Routine. Apply this method other places your dog shows this problem behavior.

I suggest that you only have the problem dog and one other dog with both dogs kept on leash, just to be sure the dogs can be controlled if one or both begin to fight. Please go here to read about a tight leash. When your dog begins to show the undesired behavior toward the other dog, toss your dog's favorite ball or toy in a very encouraging attitude as you throw it and bounce it away from your dog but not too far away. When your dog goes after the ball or toy (if on leash allow him or her to go to ball or toy and keep the other dog away from the ball or toy) and doesn't show the undesired behavior toward the other dog, you should praise him or her verbally very much by repeating "Good (Girl or Boy)", "Good (your dog's name)", "Very Good".Then you should pet your dog when you can, while he or she has the ball in his or her mouth and doesn't behave as if he or she is going to show the undesired behavior. If your dog seems to be really into the game and has not shown the undesired behavior toward the other dog, then you can try both with the leash held with full length of a 6 ft. leash and then later you can try them off leash. If your dog guards the item, then you need to hold the item and just show it to your dog without giving him or her the item to cause the jolly attitude in your dog. If your dog is fine with just one other dog then you can try adding another dog and then another if your dog fine with two. If there is a dog causing problems for your dog then don't let them be together until your dog is completely fine with being with several different dogs. But, once your dog starts back with this undesired behavior toward other dogs get the dog's favorite toy and do it again. Eventually he or she will not show this undesired behavior again and be a happy dog around other dogs without the use of the Jolly Routine. Apply this method other places your dog shows this problem behavior toward other dogs. For info on using the Halti head halter for this problem and the guarding item problem go here.
 
 

I tend to tell people to use a toy or ball because this works the best since many dogs love to play with their ball(s) and toy(s). However, not all do and if the ball or toy doesn’t work we can try a situation that works well with the problem you are trying to correct. This situation will vary depending on the problem that needs to be corrected. The following are examples which may work for solving some problems: an exclamation to go for a walk or  "Do you want to go for a ride in the car!", responding to dogs on TV, dashing to the door when the doorbell rings or someone knocking. The idea is to get his or her mind away from the problem and to then focus on something else, which will cause him or her to behave in a desirable way toward the behaviorial problem situation. It is a method which is used to divert the dogs attention away from its behavior problem to see this unpleasant situation as a pleasant one. This will allow you to apply training in a pleasant manner.

NOTE: The application of this method varies depending on each problem your dog has. If you are unsure how to apply it to your dog’s problem, please e-mail me for more advice.
 
 
 

Press here to go to the home page

Press here for the dog training advice page

Press here for the next page listed on the dog training advice page