Hello,
Last week, I adopted an older dog from Vancouver Animal Control. They guessed he's about 5 or 6 years old, and mostly golden retriever with perhaps a bit of Irish Setter and possibly something else thrown in as well. Anyways, he's very well behaved. House trained, knows not to get on the furniture, doesn't chew stuff etc, knows some basic commands. He had zip in leash manners, so I purchased a Halti, and he's great out on walks now, even if he still doesn't like having it put on. The staff at the shelter said he is very good with other dogs, and my experience shows the same. He appears to have been neglected, though not abused.
Unfortunately, I didn't know what his old name was, hence I have chosen to call him Ben. He seems to respond a bit now, but it might just be the trying-to-get-a-dogs-attention happy tone that he's responding to. Does anyone know how long it will take for him to pick up that this is his name?
Anyways, I would like to be able to let him run off-leash at the park, and at the dog-park as well. I'm hesitant to let him loose right now, b/c I doubt that he really understands that I'm his "people" now, nor the command "come". Also, he was only just neutered a few days before I adopted him, and apparently has been picked up by the SPCA a few times previously for wandering. I'm concerned that this is going to remain a problem. I'm working on "come" when he's on a very long lead in the park, with lots of rewards for him when he does. Any thoughts?
Any other tips on training an older dog?
Last week, I adopted an older dog from Vancouver Animal Control. They guessed he's about 5 or 6 years old, and mostly golden retriever with perhaps a bit of Irish Setter and possibly something else thrown in as well. Anyways, he's very well behaved. House trained, knows not to get on the furniture, doesn't chew stuff etc, knows some basic commands. He had zip in leash manners, so I purchased a Halti, and he's great out on walks now, even if he still doesn't like having it put on. The staff at the shelter said he is very good with other dogs, and my experience shows the same. He appears to have been neglected, though not abused.
Unfortunately, I didn't know what his old name was, hence I have chosen to call him Ben. He seems to respond a bit now, but it might just be the trying-to-get-a-dogs-attention happy tone that he's responding to. Does anyone know how long it will take for him to pick up that this is his name?
Anyways, I would like to be able to let him run off-leash at the park, and at the dog-park as well. I'm hesitant to let him loose right now, b/c I doubt that he really understands that I'm his "people" now, nor the command "come". Also, he was only just neutered a few days before I adopted him, and apparently has been picked up by the SPCA a few times previously for wandering. I'm concerned that this is going to remain a problem. I'm working on "come" when he's on a very long lead in the park, with lots of rewards for him when he does. Any thoughts?
Any other tips on training an older dog?