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Originally Posted by Lovetodream88  As a rescue you don’t know what she has been through. Absolutely DO NOT flip her on her back that is not good. Training collars are terrible for small breed dogs. Harnesses are the only thing that such be used when walking them. Have you tried an actual trainer? That is what you should do. Negative train is only going to breed more aggression you need to work with someone to teach you ways to use positive training. |
Totally agree. Negative training doesn't teach a dog what TO do, only eventually teaches them to avoid things out of fear. Positive reinforcement and behavior reshaping using only fun, happy, smiles, heartfelt praise & a treat or that special toy(for toy-driven dogs) is the way to positively teach a dog how you want him to behave. Every time he walks the right way, doesn't react badly or stops himself from behavior you dislike, REWARD that baby! Smiles, happy times and praises raise his oxytocin levels in his brain - that feeling that all is right with the world - as well as yours when you share the rewards of his correct behavior. Oxytocin is the feel-good bonding tool secret that positive-reinforcement techniques employs to great effect! It's addicting - dogs want more and more of that winning feeling. Always give your command/requests in an upbeat, positive-sounding voice.
I'd begin my working in the house to keep his interest in everything I say by teaching him behavior skills, obedience training with oodles of positive-reinforcement treats, toys, smiles & praises, with your happy body language any time he gets it right, ignoring mistakes. Highly motivate him with your upbeat attitude with lots of positivity coming from you every right thing he does in response to your command/request! He'll love the boost of oxytocin good feelings his brain will grow addicted to with each of these great responses to his doing the 'right' thing and grow to LOVE responding to you to get that oxytocin boost - and that great treat.
To dogs, a treat is like a big pay check. That fat bonus check pleasures you over and over every time you think of it and a treat reward(smiles, praises/quick pets/scratches & high-value treats) does the same thing for your dog. He grows to love that feel-good reward reaction.
As part of his obedience skills training, you'll teach him the 'leave it!' command. By avoiding whatever you've introduced to him, he'll quickly learn he gets an even bigger reward and even greater pleasure when he avoids that thing and suddenly you're bursting with happy smiles, pleasure, praising him and instantly sticking a warm bit of great-smelling chicken or hot dog in his mouth! Win win win for him and that sudden oxytocin brain flood! Waaaay good. He'll want to 'leave it' more and more!
Outside, I'd always carry
very high-value treats in my treat pouch - warm turkey hotdog bits, boiled chicken bits, liver bits, whatever drives your dog crazy with happiness - and as he approaches another dog, tell him "leave it", hold that warm bit of high-scent chicken in front of his nose & walk him in a fast, tight circle, following that scrumptious treat still closed in your fingers while the other dog goes past. If he doesn't break focus on you and the treat, doesn't react to the other dog, once you're well past he other dog, say "GOOOOOOOOD leave it, boy!" a couple times, chuck him on the shoulder with a loving pat, quick back pat or scratch and show him the happiest face you've got! Let your happy body language show him your pride in him.
He'll eat it up as that 'feel good' oxytocin that floods his brain teaches him THIS is the way to go, ignoring other dogs and following YOU and YOUR direction and praise reward reactions, not barking, growling and over-reacting, feeling negative. For his tasty treat and that great praise reaction-good-feeling, he'll gradually reshape his reactions to other dogs in order to enjoy those feel-good, winning moments, happy oxytocin rush with you! Soon, if you keep working with your dog, keeping his interest and motivation high, he'll gradually learn to always do what you ask for 'that feeling', that praise, all that feel-good fun. You'll become a winning team!
That's how a dog learns to automatically do what you say, love that winning feeling! He's been positively programmed and become addicted to the rush, the high feeling of doing things the right way for that praise reward, the good times! It's a win-win for everybody! Positive reinforcement wins every time.