Too Old To Learn??

[Lyn06]

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Hi all. Last week I took home a 4 year old lab/akita dog from a dog pound. I hadn't intended getting a dog as old as that but am impulsive lol. He is a lovely looking dog and is generally good tempered but on the one occasion he was let into my front garden he scaled the fence and was on far side of the street. I kept calling him but he completely ignored me so I went after him and he kept trying to get away from me. Luckily I live in a cul-de sac and he didn't get far. Had to lead him home by the collar.

He sleeps outside and is quite quiet during the day and totally silent now at night but he's usually either in his bed in the shed or sitting on the back doorstep! So when I open the door he's in like a shot. Have been trying to keep him outside until I know he's housetrained and when he's in my kitchen he's jumping up at the workbenches and raiding the bin. Have to tell him several times "get down" before he does and he doesn't listen when I tell him "out of the bin". Also let him into my living room tonight where he'd been twice and when jumped on my chair and told to get down he obeyed but tonight after our walk I gave him a bone in living room he promptly jumped up unto my chair and made himself very comfy as he devoured the bone and no amount of pleading or shouting from me got a response.

I wanna know if there's any hope for us? One minute I reckon I should persevere then the next I think 'but he will probably never listen to anyone, he probably had too many owners(all i know is he was taken in as a stray)' Also I think he was treated badly in past cause sometimes when I put my hand out to pat him he cowers.

Obviously previous owners just let him do what he wanted and he's never been taught how to behave. He also snaps his teeth and catches my sleeve sometimes.

My Mum says it's best to get a pup but I don't think I'd have the time and patience needed.

Thanks for reading this and any advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

[*Lesley*]

Welcome to K9 Lyn, sorry I haven't really got any advice but I'm sure someone will have shortly :thumbsup:

I hope it works out for you :luck: :luck:

 

[jezza]

Hi

I think that most dogs can be trained no matter what their age is, you can teach an old dog new tricks

However you will probably need a lot of time, patience and some professional help. Get him to an adult training class pronto. I'm having problems with my year old dog at the mo and I've got him booked in for some training. I have been warned it can take a long time (even years) and it sometimes doesn't work

I should mention though that my dogs problem is fear of other dogs so if your dog isn't afraid of anything it might be easier to train him.

Good luck :luck:

 

[jok]

I would agree that you should try adult dog training classes. As already said, it is perfectly possible to teach an old dog new tricks.

Maybe by keeping the dog in a shed and then sometimes bringing it into your house, you are not helping. Particularly as your dog is a rescue it needs to feel secure in its environment, by chopping and changing its not helping. Personally i would not have a dog if i was going to keep it in a shed. I would suggest that you decide sooner rather than later if you want to keep this dog. It needs stability and routine if it's going to come on and progress. If you don't think you can cope with it, it would be far kinder to decide now rather than in a few months and then it would be even more upheaval. Good luck whatever you decide. :luck:

 

[J.T.]

Hi Lyn,

This poor dog has been passed around so much & good on you for taking him in. Have you had dogs before? It sounds as though this dog needs an experienced owner. You say you havn't the time or patience for a pup but I think you will need lots of both with the dog you have. What is his name? Akitas can be very single minded(STUBBORN) but Labs are usually open to bribery (FOOD) and you must start as you mean to go on. If you don't want him on the furniture don't allow it one day & then tell him off the next. Enrol at a good,kind training school. No harsh methods. & get as much advice as you can from Lab & Akita clubs or owners as you can. If you really can't cope then as Jok says, rehome him asap before he gets too settled. Hope it does not come to that & that he stays with you for a long time, good luck :thumbsup:

 

[Rae]

Hi and welcome to K9.

Have you had dogs before? Our first dog Vader was a year when we got him and was totally untrained - it was a fast and steep learning curve as he was untrained and we had never trained a dog before. He is now fantastic and we learned so much through training him and helping him get over his behavioural problems. (w00t) It did take a long time though and some weeks we wondered if we would ever be able to go for an uneventful walk - he has been in Asda on his own, stolen the ball from a football match, ruined a neighbours BBQ, stolen sarnies from a picnic........ You've only had your dog a week so dont expect too much too soon.

I think you should find a good training class and also see if you can have a one to one home vist to kick start the training.

It sounds as if he has been a house dog in the past so he might be happier in the house with you rather than outside on his own. You can spend more time training him if he is indoors with you. When you say he ignores you - have you taught him his name? Also when you are giving him commands don't fall into the trap of assuming that dogs speak English - he wont have a clue what you mean by 'get out of the bin / get off the work top' just stick to 'no' for things you dont want him to do. I wouldnt confront a dog of that breeding - if you dont want him on the sofa then lure him off with a treat and reward him for getting down, rather than try to drag him or shout at him - again if he doesnt know what 'get off the chair' means you can shout all you like.

I hope I dont sound rude but you dont seem to be very experienced and I wonder if the shelter should have let you have such a demanding dog? Cant they offer you any advice or support?

I'd try to get him into a routine so he knows he'll be walked twice a day, fed twice a day etc and it might help him settle with you. It sounds as if the poor dog has had a hard time in the past so I hope you can work things out for him

 

[jue332]

Welcome to k9 Lyn :thumbsup:

I think your first step should be to find a good adult training class,if he has been passed around he needs to get some basic training and like someone said labs are food orientated so take tipbits with you.

You do need to be consistent with him and give loads of praise when he gets thing right.

Good luck with him and well done for taking him on :thumbsup:

Julie