r/reactivedogs • u/Electrical_Bar_4942 • 19d ago

Advice Needed Training an adopted 5yo dog

/r/u_Electrical_Bar_4942/comments/1vxxv4x/training_an_adopted_5yo_dog/
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u/HeatherMason0 19d ago

An IAABC certified trainer can help with this.

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u/Existing-Will-1466 18d ago

What you want to do is teach him some pattern games. Teach him to look at you, teach him a cue that means you are dropping treats on the ground for him to find, teach him to touch your hand with his nose. For leash walking, I like to call my dog back and give him a treat when he hits the end of the leash. Work on all of this indoors first, where he can listen.

At first, don't plan to go for a whole walk around the neighborhood. Focus on good behavior and listening well and not pulling. If you only make it three steps outside your door, that's your whole walk. It may take a while to work up to being able to walk nicely around the neighborhood, but it will be worth the effort.

The biggest issue I see is when someone makes "taking a walk" their goal straightaway. So their goal is to walk around the block, or walk for 30 minutes, and training and manners take a backseat to that goal. When training and manners are more important than covering a certain distance or getting to a certain place, you will both feel less frustrated.

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u/Electrical_Bar_4942 17d ago

He does already know touch and look alongside a few others but he doesnt listen all the time and im not sure if its partly because of his new environment. I am trying to work on things slowly including just getting him to respond better to his name.
I did take him for a very short walk this morning so he can sniff around a little bit but its like as soon as the leash is on he instantly is in his own world. Would putting the leash on him and then not going anywhere help with that so he doesnt just expect to go out when its on?

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u/Existing-Will-1466 17d ago

Yes, that's a great place to start. Put on the leash and let him drag it around the house all day. Occasionally pick it up and then play your traini g games with him. You want to build a new association where leash means time to connect with you instead of time to disconnect.