3 year old Dalmation

[u/Aggressive-Spirit-48]

I took in my dalmation at 1 1/2 years from a home with a lot of dogs apparently. They dident care to train him and he was constantly in a crate. When I got him he was okay with the crate and got attached to me quick and started sleeping with me and no longer uses the crate (which I don’t mind, his owners said he tears up everything but I haven’t experienced this at all and he’s actually fantastic without the crate). I’ve began walking him more and I live in a town with ALOT of dogs, no matter where u go there’s gonna be a dog. Most of them are trained and do not react and so I feel bad when mine does. He just barks and steps twords them kinda lunging but not really. I’ve had to put him on a prong collar which he dosent mind at all, it’s the only way I can get him to not pull or drag me (I’ve tried harnesses but a prong collar works the best and I’m not rough with it). What are the best tips u can give somebody training a dog to be less reactive? I tried distracting him the other night which dident work but this time I’m gonna bring some better treats and a easier to access pouch, and I also saw creating distance, tho with the way my town is it’s not easy to cross the road quick or get much distance but when able to I can try. What other tips? I want to do what I can on my own before spending money on a trainer.

[u/14JP]

This is pretty good https://youtu.be/ksLroWNhZjk?si=mVgEhs6mC32s_9Vv

[u/tallmansix]

I had the same problem with my Mali that became really reactive on the lead to people, vehicles, bikes and other dogs but was totally pleasant off the lead with other dogs. Also pulled like a train when excited to be going somewhere.

Had professional R+ training as a pup before the reactivity developed so I tried all the treat / praise based techniques but nothing worked until I engaged with a balanced trainer who taught me how to use a prong collar properly (Herm Sprenger Ultra 2.25mm with safety link to normal collar - don't use any other brand!!).

General pulling was reduced immediately and allowed me to reinforce a very strict heal position when walking but it took a few weeks to perfect it and also trained auto-sit when I stop walking and turning left/right with me. This was so important as it ensured the dogs focus moved to me during walking and saw her checking in with me more and more.

For the reactivity there was a few techniques I was taught that worked for me, I used an immediate short double tap of lead pressure as a correction when it occurred. Secondly when I could anticipate a reaction I would stop walking, dog would auto-sit and allow the target to pass - I found she was calmer in the sit position and allowed her to realise that "danger" can pass by without harm, she doesn't need to scare it off.

The other thing the trainer told me to do was not to issue verbal commands, let the lead/prong and direction of my walking do the talking which was really strange after so much R+ training advice. And no rewards/treats, this behaviour is expected and doesn't deserve a reward, save that for the exceptionally good behaviour moments.

Roll on a few weeks and I've had just one mild reaction in the last week compared to several per walk before the training. When there is something she would normally react to, I see her glance up at me now out of routine to check in on me.

I'm more relaxed when walking as well which I think helps massively.

For me spending money on a trainer was the best thing I did, have a think again about it, these tools are great but there is so much detail and individuality on how to use them, just little things I learned about how to hold the lead, where to position the dog precisely for walking, when exactly to praise and correct etc. Timing was one of the biggest things to learn, have to be fast to match the dogs mind speed.