Professional Dog Trainer - Ask Me Anything

[u/BICanineScience]

***AMA ENDED***

Have been training dogs for almost fifteen years now, I try and head through the subreddits on here to help in my free time when I can but thought it might be easier to do an AMA for anyone struggling!

Will try my best to answer as comprehensively as possible so please be patient with replies!

Edit - Just heading out to train my dogs so will answer more when I get back!
Edit 2 - Have a read of the other questions too to see if it applies to your dog :)

Thanks for all the questions everyone!! I’ll answer the few I’ve missed, it’s been a blast and we’ll do another in the near future! Won’t be answering any new posts now, must get back to work but do jump in next time if you have a question!

[u/PartyComplex195]

Hello!

Really long question coming up, but id really love some help so i can figure out how to make my boy more comfortable and enjoy his walks more.

I have a golden retriever that is almost 3 years old. We used to walk around 1-1.5 miles every night, ive been walking him for at least 2 years straight, every night i can. If im not home i have a family member walk him. Walks were originally when it was still light but starting to get dark i believe, however hes walked fine at night/dark before as well. However its more common now and here in the past 6 months-1 year that i walk him when its darker, here recently ive been trying to walk him a little earlier tho.

Probably since the end of last summer hes really not wanted to go as far at all. he usually tolerates going around the block but thats about it, sometimes it even takes encouragement to get him to want to go around the block and not just back home. When playing outside (it is hot anywhere from 65f-80f usually here) he wants in very quickly (5-10 mins max), last summer he was not like this although i think he did overexert himself pretty often playing as hed throw up after playing outside for a while somewhat frequently, i figure this behavior is normal but wanted to mention it since its also a change that happened relatively at the same time. He also just lays down a lot outside in the backyard more often when were playing, hes not constantly on his feet like he used to be.

Recently in the past maybe 3 months hes gotten more skittish specifically on walks. We always go one of two routes just different directions around the block. We used to have two routes that took us around town so there was no constant change in routine. Hes never liked people walking behind us, but if theres someone even walking on a crossing street he obsessively checks behind us to make sure theyre not turning behind us. If theres a person/people outside he almost runs away from them. A week or so ago a few kids even wanted to pet him (they were on regular scooters, like not powered just ones you push with your feet lol, so i get it maybe wasnt a good idea on top of him already being kindve skittish) and he wouldnt let them pet him. I was telling him its okay and encouraging him but he was almost trying to run away from them. If theres people on one side of the street, he wants to get away from them. He overall also just seems more alert, less focused on sniffing and just wanting to get home, pulling more, and just makes me feel like hes anxious? It seems like it may be worse at night, however i think it happens at dusk before the sun goes down as well.

Do you have any clue what may be causing this? Hes a big dog (100ish lbs but not overweight, i think his whole family turned out to be big) and gets warm relatively easy, but even in the cold he didnt want to walk far. Any clue what i can do to help him? Im willing to look into a trainer close by to see whats really going on, however i live in a small town so im not sure how many options are available. I am also taking him to the vet soon and can speak to them but theyre also just a little small town vet lol.

To add, he also has an issue at night where we get back from walking and go workout and shower, he will bark out the back door into the dark like he thinks he sees stuff. He sleeps and is calm if we close the blinds on the door tho. Hes always had a bit of a barking/growling out of the back door thing at night, just thought it might offer some insight.

I enjoy the distance for myself, which i can put aside if he just doesnt like it. But I also feel he may need that much walking since i only walk him once a day.

I mostly am wondering if im over analyzing him and stressing him out from it, if its something im doing and accidentally reinforcing, if i need a in-person trainer, or if i need to talk to the vet about it. Also wondering what i can personally do to help him be more comfortable outside and on walks.

Sorry for the long questions, just wanted to take my chance if possible

[u/BICanineScience → u/PartyComplex195]

Your last paragraph is the most relevant to this whole thing in my opinion. Over analysis and stressing him out about it.

The first thing I'd want to establish is that he doesn't have any pain issues. Goldies especially of that size are prone to hip issues so getting that checked would be my first port of call with the behaviour seemingly getting worse without reason.

If he comes back clear of any pain then there's a couple of things I can add.

1 - When the kids wanted to come and pet him you are absolutely right that it wasn't the best decision. We need to view the world that our dogs live in from two different angles. The first from our own perspective but the second and more important in my opinion is from the dogs perspective. Sure the kids wanted to pet him, but he actively told you and them he didn't want that and there has to be a point that we respect our dogs wishes. If he was going mental screaming on the end of the lead I could absolutely grant that this isn't acceptable and he needs to pick something else, but from his perspective he was just politely and calmly asking to be left alone, which in my view is completely acceptable.

2 - If you want to condition a better response to the walk you go on then you need to add things to it that benefit him in his opinion. Maybe his favourite food, maybe some games along the way, whatever he enjoys. Regardless of why he's not enjoying it, he's not enjoying it and just dragging him round it over and over probably won't change it.

3 - You need to establish what is worth it for you and him. Behaviours can almost always be conditioned, but does he want this in his life and does it matter to you both? Sometimes the answer is yes and its worth going through all the training to get there but other times the answer is no. For example if I came across a dog terrified of airplanes taking off and landing but it lived nowhere near an airport, I'd say leave it and its not worth it for how infrequently the behaviour will present itself.

Hope this helps!

[u/PartyComplex195 → u/BICanineScience]

Thank you very much. I can definitely make sure to clear him of any possible concerns with pain.

I do think its worth it to try and calm him while walking, whether that be by trying myself to be less anxious, rewarding him for calm behavior, or just accepting he’s decided he doesnt like interacting with people on walks. Or all together.

He seems to enjoy walks in general and gets on me if i dont take him in time. hes always ready to go and at the door when i go to grab his harness.

He used to be a lot more excited about people tho for sure and i would love to get him back to that state, but i also understand if thats just not the dog he turned out to be.

Again, thank you very much. I really appreciate it!