@O2.0 ?

 

Sounds like you've gotten some poor training advice which has lead to a punishment callous (more pulling) and less interest in treats and interacting with you.
At this point your best option is really a trainer qualified in positive reinforcement. There are some really good trainers in the UK, where are you located? Perhaps a member can recommend someone in your area?

@Twiggy
@Cleo38
@Jamesgoeswalkies
??

 

Just to add, you’re probably at the worst possible stage for recall and focus. Your dog has just become a teenager and we all know teenagers of any species never listen and everyone and everything is so much more exciting than you! Even the most obedient puppies can turn into terrors and grow cloth ears.

Definitely get some professional advice but don’t beat yourself up too much

 

You need a trainer to teach you what to do so don’t send him away again.

You’ve got some “undoing” to do first given the experiences he’s just had with that dreadful trainer who used a shock collar

Only use a trainer who advocates positive, reward based methods.

Use a harness and long line/flexi tape when in fields etc. so he can’t practice failing recall.

Look at kikopup, positively.com and thecanineconsultants.co.uk for some tips, in the meantime.

 

Sounds like he is overwhelmed at the environment so learning will be difficult for him. Where are you based? Someone could recommend a trainer in your area that could help.

Whilst you might have a tiny house you can still practise/train inside. Small (but very important) exercises such as getting him to wait for his meals, before rushing out of doors, etc can all help create focus on you & him learn patience. Susan Garret has some great training tips in her "It's Yer Choice" games https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2018/06/why-choice-is-the-critical-key-to-a-great-dog/

Once you have good focus then start adding distraction in your home (food, toys or another person), try to help him by limiting the amount of 'mistakes' he makes by keeping him on a lead.

Also start getting him to play with you, tug is a great game for creating focus & very enjoyable for both of you.

 

To my horror the trainer admitted he was making slow progress with my tricky dog and for the last few days used a shock collar on him to accelerate progress. He recommended we get our own shock collar in order to see results. I was very upset to know these methods were used without our knowledge. What's more I've tried walking him since he got back today and he's been pulling me more than ever.

Unfortunately when you send your dog away to 'quick fix' trainers, they tend to use aversive methods (as genuine training takes more than two weeks). It always horrifies me though that they will turn to the (hopefully soon to be illegal) shock collar. It won't have helped.

Having looked at your earlier threads and postings I can see that your dog attended a 'puppy club' from 10 weeks of age " where our dog walker (who he loves!) takes him and other dogs to the fields or woods and lets them run around, exercise and play together. I'm always getting pics of him jumping all over the other dogs and them chasing each other."

And this is what he has learned.

So me to me your starting point now is to go back to stage one and start to teach him that you, your family, or whoever is taking him out for a walk is the centre of his world and that he will have more fun/games/play/rewards walking with you than he will ever have from dashing around with random dogs. Engagement - getting handler focus - starts by playing at home and then playing/training out in the field/park when there are no other distractions. Try 5.30am in the morning. I never see another soul at 5.30am and it's light by the way. I love my early morning walks.

You will have to use a long line so that you can regain your dogs interest and start to teach him how to enjoy having a walk with you. Personally, getting his attention and playing with him when there are no other distractions and using some high level rewards would be my first port of call. I wouldn't even attempt lead walking for a while. And I would be staying away from any doggy play areas. As has been suggested, I would think a reward based trainer would be a great idea. Ask them what methods they use first.

Do you still use a dog walker? If you do then they will need to be doing the same thing as you.

J

 

I can't offer expert advice (still learning myself).but we have a very similar 13 month old pup. I really do sympathise especially as you have no garden or car, we have both and it definitely helps.

Our Dylan is a rescue who spent his early puppyhood (up to 5 months) in a shelter with lots of other dogs, so he came to us over socialised with dogs and under socialised with people. I think you definitely need one to one help from a trainer who can work with you both and see the relationship between you at first hand.

And yes I agree with McKenzie that this is the worst age for training, I do liken it to human teenagers, boring old Mum & Dad are nothing compared to new friends and experiences!! I have met several older dogs on our walks who are soooo calm and just pottering about - their owners tell me that they were just like Dylan at his age, so that gives me hope. So don't take it personally, you are doing your very best, teenagers of any species are hard work.

We've put recall on hold for the moment when we're out, and are just trying to praise Dylan when he passes another dog, greets tham politely and moves on. A few months ago he was like Tigger EVERY time he saw another dog and would try and pull us across the road.

I really hope you find a trainer who can help, I know how upsetting and frustrating it can be when all you want is to take him out for a pleasant walk, but hang on in there,with some help I'm sure it will improve soon.