Dog Health Questions: Whats wrong with my dog? - Training help?

We just pulled a 6-8 month puppy from a high kill shelter and we knew he would need some training. We want to work with him, but need to know whats wrong before we can. I have worked with stubborn dogs and I have worked with abused dogs. We found that when we got him, he knows NONE of the cammands. Not even "come" or "sit". As we started training I find that he has learned "No" in the short time (2 days) that we have had him. He doesn't seem to get sit or come. But the way he acts is that he almost can't hear the commands. Like maybe partially deaf. He also acts like he was MAJORLY neglected growing up and never worked with in anyway. We are trying to house break him and obiedience train him. If he is deaf, we will have to work with hand signals but he does not pay attention to any of that. But sometimes he also seems to understand the quiter voice. So that makes me think he may not be deaf. I would say he is ignoring us, but he doesn't actually act like he is ignoring. More like he doesn't understand or can't hear. I have trained plenty of dogs and find that the simple sit command can be learned within the average of like 5 min. He just does not get it.

Helpful Tips on Dog Training

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The easy way to find out is in another room start preparing his dinner or say you are going for a walk and get his lead and see if he comes....or go and have his hearing checked at the vets.

Whatever, deaf or not set him up so he can't fail....that is put him on a long lead and teach him come by gently pulling him towards you each time, keep training sessions short so he doesn't get bored.

Google NILIF and get him earning everything he gets.....think you will find he shows more respect once he realises you are the provider of all his resources and he needs to take note of that.

One of my mini poodles behaves like this....she is now 13 years old a fully trained and titled breed, obedience and agility dog...I know she is not deaf as I have had her tested as like your dog she 'pretends' she doesn't hear, then looks up shocked when I walk towards her like she had no idea I was even there.....so she gets put on a lead, all my dogs have to earn what they get and she is the first to sit if I have food in my hand for her, if not she ignores, so I gently sit her like a would do a pup....as if I let her get away with anything she takes advantage.

Dog Training With a Halti or General Leader Collar

• What did you vet think when you took the dog in for it's first visit?


• I've worked with a 2 year old dog who knew nothing except his name, and he was slow. Dogs that have not been trained at all usually need more time to grasp the whole concept of training, so since you've only had him for 2 days, I would simply give him more time.
  
  Did you try with the clicker? The only thing that worked for me with this 2 year old dog was the clicker. He was absolutely clueless when it came to learning sit through the standard luring method, which like you say most dogs learn within 5 minutes.
  
  Even if you do not plan on clicker training your dog, it can be a doorway to that brain of his. Try loading the clicker first with some extra yummy treats and then start out with simple "touch" training with a target stick (or your finger or a pen or whatever you want to use). The target can then be used for "sit" and "down" - and once he's gotten the whole idea of what training is all about, you can switch to whatever training method you prefer.


• Think about this. If you were abused as a child, would you be interested in obeying more abuse when you were finally set free? Be patient, give love, and when your puppy feels safe, he will respond to other training.


• If its deaf
  Google NILIF (Nothing in Life is Free)
  
  Make sure she works for every bite of food she gets.
  
  Google "Training a Deaf Dog"- loads of info
  
  Get a laser pointer for when you want her attention (be sure not to shine it in her eyes) train her that pointer means food.
  
  Remember... a hungry dog is a dog who will be looking for a way to get fed... in my household, a hungry dog is one that wants to work (yes, there are some dogs who couldn't give two hoots about food.. but a bulldog shouldn't be one of them).
  
  I usually start a new training regimen with a 12-24 hour fast.