Dog Health Questions: Dog training questions [involving traumatized dog].?

I have recently been give an adult dog (Alsatian) previously belonging to an elderly couple. The dog is quite anxious/insecure and possibly maltreated by one of the previous owners. I know the man liked to tease the dog. When I try put a leash around her neck she sinks submissively towards the ground (against the ground) as if I were about to punish her. It is quite baffling. This makes walks impossible.

How do I get her to trust the leash?

Is it possible to train an adult dog? (she is about 2 years old)

The Basic Commands of Dog Training

Recommended Answer:
It's very possible to train a 2 year old dog. One of mine was 6 when I adopted him, he had been starved and beaten and was as submissive as he was big (also alsatian).

Try leaving the leash lying around, if she goes near it - treat & praise (quietly and gently if she is anxious). If she sniffs it - treat & praise. Slowly bring it closer to her and keep treating until you can put it around her neck and keep giving treats. Once she is no longer afraid of it, try having her walk around the house with it and eventually you will be able to take her outside.

She has learnt the leash is a bad thing and you need to teach her now that it is not. Food is the quickest way to do this.

Traumatized dogs need a lot of patience and a gentle hand but will give back so much love it's unbelievable.

And very brilliant of you for taking her in.

Good luck!

Dog Training Fundamentals

• Yes but it takes TIME! and lots of patience. By time I mean years. She may have been hit with the leash.


• you are right she has been abused but not all hope is lost it will just take longer 1 because she has had many owners 2 because shes been abused and 3 because of her age my suggestion give ALOT of positive attention and praise even for little things like using the bathroom outside it will take time for her to trust you in the meentime i would try to use puppy pads and leave the leash on her when you come inside for an extra few minutes a day good luck hope it works out for you.


• Yes, you surely can train her. It's going to take patience, time and lots and lots of positive reinforcement on your part. If she has a genetically stable temperament, you can get her back to normal, despite her being mistreated.
  
  Put the leash on her, talking to her quietly all the time, if she sinks to the ground, coax her up and praise her (give a treat too, if she's food motivated). Stay calm, assertive (not aggressive, just in control) and walk with her, talking to her, patting your leg to get her moving, whatever it takes. In the beginning its going to be very slow going and you need to praise her for every tiny step forward she takes.
  
  With the right attitude, she's soon going to learn the leash won't be used to hurt her, and that walks are great fun.
  
  When she gains just a bit of confidence and most important, trust in you, start teaching her some obedience. No classes at first, just you and her. Dogs gain confidence from success and she needs that. Lots of praise for everything she learns, no harsh corrections at all, just teach her.


• Sure its possible to train her she is still very young - just treat her like you would treat a new puppy. If you put the leash on her and leave it on her and let her get used to it she should eventually calm down. Do this several times. As soon as she seems calm enough give her treat. If she wants to walk let her walk any direction and you hold the leash. Do this over and over until she gets used to the leash. Then try to get her to follow you while you are holding leash. Always end your training session on a positive. Give her treat and lots of praise and then start over again in a few hours or in the morning. This may have to be repeated often and you should probably find a trainer who works well with dogs who are shy and anxious and I would work with him/her and your dog. Going for walks, doing obedience will help bond with this dog as well as help her with self-confidence


• Sure - shes a young dog, and she can learn.
  
  I would start by leaving the leash on her around the house (maybe a shorter version, so she wouldnt run the risk of catching it on something.) That would give her a chance to realize that the leash itself does not hurt her.
  
  If you feed her, pet her, maybe play with her, all when she is wearing the leash, I think she will quickly realize that it is not scary, and she can easily walk with it on.
  
  Then I would practice putting the leash on and taking it off, probably with treats, so she will associate putting the leash on with GOOD things, not bad.
  
  After that, you can progress to taking walks with her.