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Originally Posted by Tiberius  He's doing better and better but he barks at people a lot unless we're at like petco or petsmart on our walks during the day he sometimes barks and sometimes doesn't but at night he will bark at EVERYONE. He's three so is socialization still possible? What are some good tips on going about it? His previous owner gave him up because they weren't home a lot so I'm assuming for 3 years he was just by himself until they came home and probably rarely went on walks. |
For me I take him on walks where I know there will be people or dogs. At first just walk with a short leash with no tension. Hold the leash in a relaxed manner. You want him to be walking by your side or shortly behind you at all times. Take the lead and don't let him dictate the walk. When you walk by people don't be concerned and keep walking, he will follow your lead. If he acts out just give him a quick jerk to the side on the leash and keep walking. I also stop once in awhile and give the command sit, wait, or down to lay down. If he doesn't comply I give a quick jerk up on the leash until he does. Occasionally I award him with treats. This will teach him obedience and you won't have the sniffing at every tree issue. I choose a patch of grass and let him on a long leash so he can relieve himself then it's back to business. I also put my dog in doggy daycare where there's socialization with other dogs. He doesn't need to be at doggy daycare since I work from home but I put him in there once in awhile so he gets used to other dogs and humans. Then I slowly progress into taking him with me around people I interact with. When I interact with my friends I put him on a short leash and approach friends casually. With the night barking I give him a quick nudge to snap him out and say sternly, "Shh!" with my index finger to my mouth.
This takes time but it took a month before my dog got it. Now he knows how to walk nice on our daily walks and don't bark at people and other dogs. Also, I'm in the situation as you, his previous owners kept him inside the house, didn't potty train. When I got him he didn't even know what grass was. Ha.. but now he's totally potty trained and behaved. Here's a video of a yorkie that's trained to walk nice in this method. For me I still have to give the verbal command sit when I stop, but this dog is so used to it as soon as his trainer stops, he sits.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vivNcRdaRs