Dog Advice!

I have a Westie and he is full of character but has always been stubborn, some breeds, especially terriers are just like that. I had the same issues from when he was about one year old. Only thing that worked were treats. He will only come for a treat and fully expects several when he gets home from a walk. His farts stink as well 🤢
 
I have a lurcher (cross with collie) rescue dog and he did exactly the same thing. Things only began to change after he had his balls removed, that quietened him right down, but it took time. He used to love running away from me once it was time to put the lead on (could take hours to get him back, sometimes found him back at the house) and he has no interest in treats outside so it was very frustrating. Now he just stands there when I say 'stay', completely chilled. He's two now but for the first 18 months I thought, 'WTF am I going to do with this dog'?
Now he's taken to chasing and barking at bikes.. another story
Dogs like this are a challenge and test your patience but I always think you are the one they need, if you get my meaning.
 
We've got a Toy Poodle we rescued from spending his life as a stud.
He's brilliant for the vast majority of the time. However he's uncontrollable when out on walks barking continuously at passers-by or other dogs.
We've tried using the aerosol spray can to shock him to stop, then rewarding once the barking stops. This worked for 3 weeks, continually improving week on week. But now nothing works. The spray can has no effect and the barking is louder and longer than previously.
Does anyone have any suggestions please?
 
Wolfgang_Nutsnbolts said:
We've got a Toy Poodle we rescued from spending his life as a stud.
He's brilliant for the vast majority of the time. However he's uncontrollable when out on walks barking continuously at passers-by or other dogs.
We've tried using the aerosol spray can to shock him to stop, then rewarding once the barking stops. This worked for 3 weeks, continually improving week on week. But now nothing works. The spray can has no effect and the barking is louder and longer than previously.
Does anyone have any suggestions please?
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It's a tough one with no easy solution. How old is he?
Does he wear a muzzle? Mine does whenever he's out. At least then you know he can't bite. Mine will only let family or those he knows into the house (it takes about 10 visits until he's chilled with you) which is a hassle. I also take him where I know it's going to be quiet (I'm lucky there's a big quiet field near where I live). Generally he's good with other dogs although there are a few he wants to fight.
I guess dogs like ours have been traumatized in the past and now suffer anxiety, like a lot of people.
Hopefully, he'll chill out eventually. Got to be patient.
 
Where do you take him for a walk? How often do you change the route?

Does he get lots of sniffs and interesting/different environments to check out? It's not necessarily the length of the walk that's important but the amount of stimulation he gets from the environment.
 
I find the best place to walk my dog is a beach, particularly a quiet one. Possibly because the smells are washed away every day and he's less stimulated and so he just runs freely.
If I take him on his daily park walk then its head down all the way. If he starts barking at one thing (today it was someone flying a kite.. he hates unusual things on his patch) then it riles him up for the rest of the walk and he'll woof at anything.
 
Chappy112 said:
Where do you take him for a walk? How often do you change the route?

Does he get lots of sniffs and interesting/different environments to check out? It's not necessarily the length of the walk that's important but the amount of stimulation he gets from the environment.
Click to expand...
It changes a lot! In fact he's became stubborn to the point where he'll only walk certain directions and when we try go and alternative route he'll stop still. In fact just the other day I tried crossing the road to go a different route, he stopped then walked half way across the road and stopped again, a bus came round the corner and I had to literally drag him to the path. He's testing me lately 🤣
 
Bristolboro said:
I have a lurcher (cross with collie) rescue dog and he did exactly the same thing. Things only began to change after he had his balls removed, that quietened him right down, but it took time. He used to love running away from me once it was time to put the lead on (could take hours to get him back, sometimes found him back at the house) and he has no interest in treats outside so it was very frustrating. Now he just stands there when I say 'stay', completely chilled. He's two now but for the first 18 months I thought, 'WTF am I going to do with this dog'?
Now he's taken to chasing and barking at bikes.. another story
Dogs like this are a challenge and test your patience but I always think you are the one they need, if you get my meaning.
Click to expand...
Maybe it's time to get his balls off tbh, I've been thinking about it for a while, he is extremely energetic, I absolutely love that he is don't get me wrong. But getting him in the house has just proven to be a nightmare! I'm hoping it all just goes back to normal but it is absolutely tiring haha
 
My Toy Poodle is coming up 3. We've only had him 7 months. We'd been making such good progress but now it feels like we're back to square one.
Beach walks are the best - loads of open space and its usually nice and quiet.
We'll continue to train him the best way we can but its incredibly frustrating (and embarrassing) when he goes off it when out.
 
Wolfgang_Nutsnbolts said:
My Toy Poodle is coming up 3. We've only had him 7 months. We'd been making such good progress but now it feels like we're back to square one.
Beach walks are the best - loads of open space and its usually nice and quiet.
We'll continue to train him the best way we can but its incredibly frustrating (and embarrassing) when he goes off it when out.
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I darent let Oreo off at all! He's Greyhound/Deerhound and he's definitely inherited the speed of a racer. Not to mention he was overly bitey as a pup so I didn't really have much of a place to practice recall so that sucks to.

It makes me happy to know I'm not the only one who struggles with similar issues, it's beyond frustrating and embarrassing. I got threatened once because he escaped his collar and ran along side a man. 'Its not your dog that's gonna get it, it's you ' it's a bloody nightmare
 
Morton94 said:
I darent let Oreo off at all! He's Greyhound/Deerhound and he's definitely inherited the speed of a racer. Not to mention he was overly bitey as a pup so I didn't really have much of a place to practice recall so that sucks to.

It makes me happy to know I'm not the only one who struggles with similar issues, it's beyond frustrating and embarrassing. I got threatened once because he escaped his collar and ran along side a man. 'Its not your dog that's gonna get it, it's you ' it's a bloody nightma There's one bloke my dog always barks at if he sees him on the walk, he just doesn't like the look of him, but nor do I tbh. He then starts shouting at Alan (my dog) which makes Alan bark louder
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don't know what happened there.
Anyway, I don't know how to stop my dog barking at this bloke. He shouts at Alan (my dog) and then starts shouting at me for having a woofing dog. Alan then gets really riled up and so it escalates. I did tell him to calm down (this bloke) but that didn't work either. Bloody nightmare if I see him coming.
Got to have a thick skin sometimes because some people hate dogs.
 
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