Why can't he learn (or what am I doing wrong)

[cj-sharpy]

I know you're all probably getting a little fed up with me asking but I need help.
How o how do I get max to learn that he doesn't need to be so defensive around ever person he sees. And how do I get him to remember.
After a few days walks where he sees lots of people, maybe, sometimes, he will walk past a person with out pulling to get at them. But then the very next day he'll be on the end of the leash to get at them.
To be honest it's getting a little old. We've tried slowly getting closer, we've tried just standing and watching people pass.
The problem is that he's so unpredictable. One person he'll be interested in. The next he'll be highly reactive. I feel he's a hand grenade and I'm just waiting for him to go off.
I'm trying my best but I'd like to think we can enjoy each other's company one day. Rather than him enjoying the walk and me being on tenterhooks and managing him all the time.

 

[Hector]

What collar are you using? How do you correct/redirect the dog? What walking type obedience have you done?

The key is to redirect or cap the energy before they go into lunging/reactive mode. If you can read the dog, you can achieve that. Once they are lunging, then it's too late.

Here's a video on thresholds at doorways. It's a good exercise to start.

[video=youtube;_-w28C2g68M]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-w28C2g68M[/video]

 

[cj-sharpy]

He walks on a harness and head collar with a double ended leash.
He walks on the harness with a few inches more on the head collar so that if he shows too much interest I can call him and if he doesn't pay attention to me rather than the other person or dog I can pull his head to take his eye off them.
10% of the time he will look at me and I can distract him. When he looks at me and holds attention rather than pulling to look at the person he gets a treat. If I have to pull his head he doesn't get a treat but he gets a "good boy" and a head rub after a few steps.
The problem is go such a small boy he is strong and determined. He'll pull in to a halti if he really wants to get at someone.
The fact he's dressed up like Rambo means I can control him. But I don't want to control him. I want him to realize that other people are allowed to be on the street and near us with out him attacking out of fear

 

[Hector]

Whether you give a treat or a praise, it is still a reward. The dog isn't going to see it any different. You are essentially confusing him by doing that. You're rewarding behaviors you like and rewarding behaviors you don't really like.

I suggest you do some pressure on and pressure off exercises. Look up silky leash technique or Tyler Muto's leash pressure video. When teaching a new behavior, you have to start in a low distraction environment and reward the behaviors you want and then build upon reliability through reinforcement and repetition in different level of distracting environments.

When the dog is fluent in leash pressure, teach a heel command. Heel and release, heel and release. Mix it up, change it up. Do some recall on the leash. Make it fun while building on obedience. Nervous, fearful dogs do great with guidance.

You have to start small and aim for fair and clear communication.

 

[musicdeb]

Great advice, Hector. I would like to add that the pup is feeling your anxiety and stress when you are walking him. You need to walk tall, shoulders back and when you feel the anxiety and stress you need to stop and breathe. He could be anxious and stressed because you are.

I've learned Titan's body language because he can be a lunger. Once I see he's wanting to lunge, I move him away from the person/pup and bring him to a sit and stand in front of him to get his attention focused on me. Once the person/pup passes, I stand next to him with shoulders back and take a couple of deep breaths and we move on.

Learning the pup's body language is very important.

 

[PrinceLorde13]

Sounds like great advice from hector and deb. Also remember it's also not like teaching a new command like sit, you are actually trying to alter a negative behavior into a positive and to do this not only does your dog have to learn the new action but must also fight against what he knows already or his instinct which is harder then just teaching a command so it may take longer but should get better each time through it. And what deb was saying about your confidence and posture during the walk is huge also, if he feels a need to protect you that's going to be very very tough to overcome so remember stay confident and when you see people approaching you can't get nervous your dog will pick up on it before you even feel it and will go into a protect mode, it's a self-fulfilling prophecy, if you are sure your dog is going to do something a lot of the time you actually make it happen by your unconscious actions relaying that worry to your dog. Hope this helps!

 

[cj-sharpy]

I don't think I act nervous. But maybe I do. Even if it's for a second. I'll look out tonight for if I flinch or tighten the leash a little or any other signs he could be picking up on. I know we stopped using his collar for the leash cos at the time I thought he was pulling in to it to easily.
Now I realize that if I touch his collar that's his GO sign. And he turns nasty in a second.
I asked the trainer about this and she told me about police dog training and agitator collars. Scary to think what he's been taught in the past.

 

[outnumbered_]

Everyones given you great advice, and i just want to say, keep going, ive followed your story and you are doing an amazing job with max, its very inspiring


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[cj-sharpy]

Everyones given you great advice, and i just want to say, keep going, ive followed your story and you are doing an amazing job with max, its very inspiring


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Aww shucks thanks. You've no idea how much it means to w told good things. I've got far to used to being told bad. Like he's dangerous and should be PTS. He's a good lad deep down, I just know it.
We've had a really good walk tonight. Had to pull his head once or twice but he's reacting to his name a little better (probably due to new liver treats). We are going to the beach tomorrow at stupid o'clock so he can have his long lead and see how his recall is.

 

[outnumbered_]

Aww shucks thanks. You've no idea how much it means to w told good things. I've got far to used to being told bad. Like he's dangerous and should be PTS. He's a good lad deep down, I just know it.
We've had a really good walk tonight. Had to pull his head once or twice but he's reacting to his name a little better (probably due to new liver treats). We are going to the beach tomorrow at stupid o'clock so he can have his long lead and see how his recall is.

Ah no dont listen to negativity, youve done an amazing job, give yourself some credit! How was the beach walk??


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[cj-sharpy]

Ah beach got cancelled. The ex GF wanted to see us so we all went for a walk in the fields instead.
There's a good mile line of sight there so max could get off the leash for a run about. He loved it and although recall only works when there's not something more intersting to sniff I was chuffed that he was totally unwilling to get more than about 12ft from me. Even when he was playing chase with the ex if I stopped walking he'd realise and come back.

 

[outnumbered_]

Thats so great! well done max! Sounds really good, today i walked coco a couple of times on the lead around the park and then let her off for the zoomies to get some energy out!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk