Feedback/advice on my work so far please

Hey guys,

I got a rescue gsdXmalamute on Sunday with my fiance and just wanted to make sure I was going along the right lines. I've had dogs before but as he has no training apart from being housebroken it's like starting with a 35kg puppy.

The Pros: He went from pulling like a crazy for the entire walk on Sunday to walking on a loose lead as long as there are no distractions. He's also learnt to wait politely at doors and for his food. He has never barked at my cats and puts up with their growling (my cats don't hiss for some reason?) with the utmost mellow. He has also learnt not to jump up on people who visit him (which is great, on his hind legs he's taller than me!).

The Issues: He's been in a shelter for 9 months with only 20mins human contact a day, so when he gets attention he suddenly goes very giddy and play growly/mouthy which is fine when I have a toy at hand I can get him to chew on instead. But when I don't, ignoring him doesn't work (he'll barrel into my legs to try and knock me over. I never play wrestle with him, just give him a toy and let him roll around the floor on his own chewing on it). He once tried an air snap but caught my leg, I gave him a sharp "OI!" and he instantly whimpered and ran away tail between his legs, so I think he must have been beaten before I obviously can't let snapping go, will I do any long term damage by telling him off? I give him a lot of love and strokes when he's being calm and play with him with a toy, so not focusing on negative training. I just don't want him to get scared of his new home, I'm hoping he'll realise beatings never follow a telling off but I just want to make sure. I'd also like advice on how to calm him down if he gets that gidddy when I can't handle it (on the lead in the park when I have to distracting toys for example).

He's ridiculously smart but he sooo tries it on with me when my fiance's not around I wouldn't massively mind but he's very much a give-him-an-inch-he'll-take-a-mile dog. I know he's come on in leaps and bounds in just three days. I'm handling it by just staying consistent (will just stand there for ages until he stops pulling on his lead). Is there anything I can do to make him co-operate a bit more as I know he's not this cheeky with my partner. I'm SO SO SO NOT into the alpha-rolling crap so with all due respect I'd rather not hear domineering suggestions. I'm hoping love will grow stronger with us (at the moment he clearly prefers Matt) and he'll want to please me more.

Any glaring errors I'm missing? Please and thank you

Sounds like you are doing great already! I can sympathise re the 35kg puppy! My youngest Boxer is around that weight and seems to think he is the same size as a Jack Russell

I think that it will take him for him to settle in the house, especially if he has been kennelled (as opposed to foster home). My advice would be to get a routine going as soon as possible (if you've not done so already) with regards to meal times, walks, other excersise/play, downtime and training.

In terms of him snapping/mouthing - if he's never been taught manners around people (or dogs?), this is to be expected. If he doesn't react well to the 'Oi', I would maybe start to teach him 'leave', then when he starts to mouth etc, you can say 'leave it', rather than 'Oi". It's the kind of thing dogs learn when they are small puppies, that he has obviously not been taught.

I would also recommend taking him to a training club/class near you - great for socialisation and basic training for both of you!

How I teach the 'Leave' Command

I was always taught the leave command using treats...

OK, so take a treat in your hand (something the dog really likes) and offer your hand palm up. Don't say anything.

As soon as the dog goes to take the treat, close your hand quickly and say "Leave it" in a firm voice. Don't allow any nosing of your hand.

Try this a few more times, and see if they get the hint. When they just sit/stand and look at the treat in your open hand; you can then give it to them. Don't let them 'take it' from your hand though, offer it to them.

This could take a while - one of my boys picked this up really quickly, the other kept nosing my hand and giving me a paw

I then change to putting the treat on the floor and giving a 'leave it' command - your aim is to have the dogs sitting or lying near the treat and not trying to eat it.

This also could take a while!

You can then go on to walking past food (on a lead) and giving the leave command.

Always remember to praise when the dog 'leaves it'.

I use this command for all sorts - undesirables on walks, plates/food left within reach, nosey dogs in the kitchen/garage/garden etc.

Another thing to stop mouthing etc is to 'swap' for a toy/chew etc.

Thanks for your reply! Yeah, I've booked a place on a novice training course but they all fill up so quickly. The ones I liked the looks of don't start until July so have to work on my own until then. Thanks for the advice about leave it, I'll work on that.

We've got a schedule already so we're starting to get some idea about when the crazies are going to hit him. He has so much energy! He gets taken out three times a day but on-lead it only seems to warm him up. It takes a lot of fetch in the garden and him running about on his own like a loony killing any rope toys he finds to take the edge off I'm also thinking about getting kong/treat dispensing toys so he can keep himslef amused in a quieter way. Are they any good? Also, do rescue dogs tend to settle later when they realise that attention/fresh air is all going to be there tomorrow as well? The shelter vet placed him at 2 years old so I guess he's having the tail end of his puppyhood too. But seriously, I've never before met a dog who doesn't nap during the day!

Awww he's just settling in hun, Kongs are a dog owners bestest friend, you can put lots of yummy stuff in them and freeze them then they last longer.

good luck
Piccies please
Elaine x

We have 2 or 3 different 'stuffable' toys - Kongs, Leo toy etc...

I use - peanut butter, cream cheese, regular kibble, markies, bonios, Wagg treats etc in mine - not all together obviously and freeze them. They last much longer frozen and the boys get them when I'm out at work.