How to build a strong bond with a dog?

Question

I am a recently certified dog trainer. My close friend ask me to train her dog. This sarted last week. Her dog (Lucky) has never before been trained, so this came as a surprise to him. He started to withdraw himself from her. He acts depressed-will not come when called, overly calm (not in a good way), his head is always low, ect.. Even though I have been trained in dog behaivior, I don't know what's wrong. Please help. One more thing: When walking yesterday (on the leash), he started spinning compulsively.

As far as I know the dog has had no abusive experiances. Can someone tell me of a method of bonding. For example: With horses, you would use the "join up" method (I'm have also been trained to work with horses. I've been working with them longer than dogs), what would you use with dogs?

Answer 1

The dog sounds scared. Please visit this site to learn about working with fearful dogs.

www.fearfuldogs.com

The easiest way to bond with most dogs involves something like a roast chicken. But you need to figure out what rewards this dog will work for. For some it's food, others it's play. But I'd say you need to back off and learn how to handle a dog that's afraid.

Answer 2

First get for medical issues. There could be something wrong with the dog to make it act this way.

If she's using some kind of training method that isn't very positive it could also be causing it.

What I do with my dogs before and after every training session is play with them or give them a "doggy massage" which I read about in a book. It's kind of like "T-Touch" with horses and really strengthens the bond.
Edit: Join up, like you said, is another good example of bonding with horses.

Answer 3

I would suggest that she take the dog through the training routine and for her to continue that on the regular. I also think that the owner might feel guilty or have some other feelings because the dog has bonded with you and as you know the dog can pick up on these feelings.

Answer 4

is the training positive reinforcement or did she start using choke collars or something on the dog?

I'm no obedience trainer...but training with my puppies had done nothing but strengthen a bond..so i would be afraid she's using some kind of punishment on the dog..

well..see if these behaviors (spinning, acting scared, withdrawn) have just started then somethings wrong..not that he needs bonding but something is going on either physically or mentally. Because he didnt have these behaviors before training started. It doesnt have to be hitting to be abuse..maybe your friend is getting frustrated and the dog senses that and feels bad?
For bonding though....frisbee catching, running together, agility, etc

Answer 5

as a certified dog trainer you would know to get a vet check for any recent unusual behavior, right?
if he is cleared medically, you would then have a list of questions to ask your friend about recent changes in the household, her schedule, etc., right?
if the only new thing is the fact that he is now being "trained" by you, perhaps you need to look at your methods and see if they are compatible with this dog's basic personality. how well do you know this dog? as a certified dog trainer, you already know all this, right?

Answer 6

1) Vet check for medical reasons.
2) Re-evaluate your training program
3) Have her participate in training
Building a good, strong bond with a dog is easier said than done. I use a combination of mutually enjoyable exercise (tug, fetch, chase, find), positive reinforcement and quality grooming time.

add: "join-up" is basically you taking the role of a benign predator in your horses eyes. Dogs ARE a predator and they will not respond the same way. "Join-up" is also a physical exercise which eventually wears the horse's mental strength down to coherce them into doing what you like. Try being the moose when it comes to training dogs.

Answer 7

First get for scientific subjects. There ought to be something incorrect with the canines to make it act this type. If she's employing some type of educating technique that's no longer very effective it may additionally be inflicting it. What I do with my canines earlier and after each and every education consultation is play with them or provide them a "domestic dog rubdown" which I study in a e book. this is type of like "T-touch" with horses and easily strengthens the bond. Edit: meet up, such as you reported, is yet another stable occasion of bonding with horses.

Answer 8

I am not a dog trainer. I do have two Staffies and have had very different training experiences with them.

My girl took to it right away, has always loved it, takes it on as her job and does it well. She'll sit in a perfect down-stay for half an hour or more while I make supper. She's in agility classes now and just loves the whole formal education aspect of it all.

My boy acted like what you describe. He'd withdraw and crouch around when I tried to do even simple sits and downs. He looked miserable and would run to his crate as soon as I'd let him. When I took him to agility class, he ran to the door of the facility and looked pleadingly at the handle.

So, for him, I train very gently in play-oriented exercises - sits, downs, stays (and he still doesn't like it) - and I've had to find something else for him to do as his job in order to build our bond. He loves to run with me, so we do that. And he's a world-champion ball-player so we fetch - even short-distance in the house - as often as possible. He has to behave well when we do these things and I gently correct him when he gets out of line.

But he still reacts skittishly to formal training so I keep it to general control training and consistent correction for bad behaviors.

I've been having more trouble with him lately, he's an adolescent, so I've talked to the trainers at the facility I use. They tell me that I just need to be consistent and firm with him, that there's no one way to train a dog, you just have to find a way to reach them.

Answer 9

wow, have been around a couple pets and they are very happy, they don't seem to be trained at all though. one crouches or hides when he see a stick in my hand. that is not my doing, cause we got him from some ranch. pretty sure the owner would beat him, love him cause i was abused growin up too. but either way, it is up to the owner to build a certian type of bond with his or her pet...

Answer 10

he probably has some sickness that needs to be assessed. if not, try playing with him. Buy a clicker and use regular dog food as treats. (as long as the food isn't the stuff he eats.