Hi, im only new to the forum, this is my first post. Sorry if it is long.
I joined up because im having trouble with my dog and was hoping someone more experienced could give me some advice.
Background:
Rusty is a pound hound, I think he is a mix of kelpie and dalmation. He was purchased from the pound as approximately a 2yo (neutered male). This was about 4 years ago, (approx. 6yo now).
I was warned he would be "difficult" but I wanted to give him a chance. For starters he is extreemly excitable. I have managed over the years to get him to stop jumping, but he will still do it to visitors on the odd occasion, and ALWAYS leaps up at strangers he passes when on the lead.
He also jumps up to lick hands which is really annoying, wee's on peoples legs and anything else (read: everything, cars, walls, people, prams - anything within reach) this problem is so bad, I have HEAPS of trouble walking him, as he suddenly darts off to "mark" the nearest object (every metre) and it hurts my shoulder after a while from the sudden jerking motion, we just dont get anywhere.
He is walked on a choker chain, I have tried using a gentle leader & halti but it seems to make him more aggitated - he throws himself on the ground and rips at it with his claws. He also barks uncontrollably when excited, chases my horses and bites their tails.
I spend 24/7 with him (I work at home), im concious of him being part working dog, so I take him out in the paddock each morning and run him for at least an hour, play fetch and prior to exercise I do about half an hour of obedience.
He lives on 25 acres, and has another dog for company. They play for a lot of the day too so he is getting a lot of exercise.
Its seems the problem is that he takes no notice of me when we are out. He knows how to sit, stay, heel and even do tricks, but as soon as we go for a walk off the property he doesn't listen.
Ive tried using treats, but he's not interested when out.
Today when I took him out on the lead he was aggressive towards passing dogs and I have just about given up hope of ever having a "happy" outing. At dog training school they make me put two collars and leads on him, just in case
These are just a handful of the problems with Rusty, there are just too many more to write.
Please if anyone has suggestions as how to get him to listen to me when out, I am all ears. Thanks for reading.
I joined up because im having trouble with my dog and was hoping someone more experienced could give me some advice.
Background:
Rusty is a pound hound, I think he is a mix of kelpie and dalmation. He was purchased from the pound as approximately a 2yo (neutered male). This was about 4 years ago, (approx. 6yo now).
I was warned he would be "difficult" but I wanted to give him a chance. For starters he is extreemly excitable. I have managed over the years to get him to stop jumping, but he will still do it to visitors on the odd occasion, and ALWAYS leaps up at strangers he passes when on the lead.
He also jumps up to lick hands which is really annoying, wee's on peoples legs and anything else (read: everything, cars, walls, people, prams - anything within reach) this problem is so bad, I have HEAPS of trouble walking him, as he suddenly darts off to "mark" the nearest object (every metre) and it hurts my shoulder after a while from the sudden jerking motion, we just dont get anywhere.
He is walked on a choker chain, I have tried using a gentle leader & halti but it seems to make him more aggitated - he throws himself on the ground and rips at it with his claws. He also barks uncontrollably when excited, chases my horses and bites their tails.
I spend 24/7 with him (I work at home), im concious of him being part working dog, so I take him out in the paddock each morning and run him for at least an hour, play fetch and prior to exercise I do about half an hour of obedience.
He lives on 25 acres, and has another dog for company. They play for a lot of the day too so he is getting a lot of exercise.
Its seems the problem is that he takes no notice of me when we are out. He knows how to sit, stay, heel and even do tricks, but as soon as we go for a walk off the property he doesn't listen.
Ive tried using treats, but he's not interested when out.
Today when I took him out on the lead he was aggressive towards passing dogs and I have just about given up hope of ever having a "happy" outing. At dog training school they make me put two collars and leads on him, just in case
These are just a handful of the problems with Rusty, there are just too many more to write.
Please if anyone has suggestions as how to get him to listen to me when out, I am all ears. Thanks for reading.