I've got an eight month old German Shep/Husky mix (big boy), named him Odin when I should have named him Loki. Eh heh. Got a couple of things to start out with.
Myself and my boyfriend got the puppy when we were living with two 'friends' who also turned out to be totally incapable with strong-willed dogs. One of them couldn't seem to understand the no-touch rule in terms of physical punishment (eventually he did learn that hitting is a no-no) and the other had a hyperactivity effect on Odin. We talked a lot about giving Odin away as he didn't deserve all of the confusion, but my dog-lover Aunt who has had a ton of experience training dogs advised me to stick it out.
So we've waited. Training was impossible; with so many mixed signals poor Odin didn't know what the heck he was supposed to do. Well, now that those two bozos have moved out we're sitting with a quieter, more relaxed but still socially awkward dog. We live in Alaska, so up until recently it's been tough to take Odin out on walks (way too cold for me. . .I used to take him on walks when we first got him, before it got really cold, but apparently some lessons didn't stick as well as others). However, when I *do* take him out on walks now I'm at a loss as to how to stop the tugging and distractions.
I've tried the pulling him around in a circle, changing directions, making him sit, stepping in his path to get his attention (in front of him, not on him). . .but he's already so big that it feels like he's training me!
We're currently waiting on an Obedience class to get started in the place we're most comfortable with (he's got a few dominant problems, such as jumping up and not immediately obeying commands).
Kay, second issue. He has within the past month started to bite me (first it's mouthing, and then he starts to put on the pressure--never broken the skin YET) when I go outside to let him in in the morning after he's been let out for potty. We don't have a fenced in yard so he's had to deal with the tether. Reaching in near his collar seems to trigger the aggressive response. No matter how I yelp, say no, ignore it, whatever. . .it continues. He'll also jump up at me and growl. I don't know what to do with him, and it's starting to get worse in increments. At no other time when I go to hook or unhook something from his collar will he growl and bite.
He's also been kinda off of his feed lately. He doesn't really like to eat breakfast (given about a half-hour before we head off to work), and lately it's been difficult getting him to eat his dinner. I've been having to spoon in a tablespoon of cottage cheese or the like to tempt him. This is the same food he's been eating since, well, we got him. Science diet, lamb stuff.
Help! >.< The last time he was at the vet was for his puppy shots and exams about five-six months ago.
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