[AliMarGoo]

My husband and I have just adopted an adult yellow labrador retriever mix from the Humane Society. We haven't brought him home yet, but we will be next weekend. I'm not sure what else he's mixed with, but he is more than 50% lab as they have guessed too. My question is... he hasn't been properly trained on a leash, kennel, crate, regular tricks... etc. He only knows about going potty outside. I know that labs are very intelligent dogs, so I was wondering what would be the best way to train with these things? We're not sure exactly how old he is... we guesstimate between 2-3 years old. Please... any advice would be appreciated. Thank you!:)

[labman]

Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at Raising Your Dog with the Monks of New Skete For more on being top dog, see Establishing and Keeping Alpha Position, Letting your dog know you are the boss There are more good books listed later in the sticky starting at https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/dogs/i...tml#post251802 The sticky was written for young puppies, but much of the material applies to older dog too.

I would show up at the shelter with a head collar, a leash, and maybe a crate or doggy seat belt. My puppies get their first lesson in heeling on the way out of the kennel the day I pick them up. You need to start as ''We are your new leaders, and this is how your new pack does things.'' At the car, he should be put in the crate, secured in the seatbelt, or sit in the passengers foot well.

The leading brands of head collars are Promise, Haltie, and Gentle Leader. They have a strap going around the dogs nose looking something like a muzzle. They work by pulling the dog's head around. No other way gives you such great control with so little force. The prong collar is now a dangerous relic of value only for its macho looks. Do not consider using one without hands on instruction from somebody with plenty of experience with them. I was once given a 15 month old, intact, male Lab with no training. He quickly adjusted to the new regime once I got him in a head collar. My old joints wouldn't have stood up to the corrections I was having to give him in a slip collar. I use 2 collars, a flat leather collar with the dog's tags that stays on it all the time and when on lead, a training collar. Once trained, you may only need the flat collar.

[hettie]

OK here goes

1. crate training

Leave the door open at first and perhaps put a treat in allow him easy acess in and out but do not close the door until he is comfortable with the crate then shut him in for a few minutes at a time and build it up very slowly

2. leash training

Again slowly is the key here I am guessing on taking on a big dog like a lab you have a garden? If it is enclosed then start in there so he doesn't get frightend and it is easier to control him if he pulls and resisits lead.

Whaen he is ready for the big wide world on his lead you could ask a friend with a dog to meet somewhere neutral to avoid territory dispute to met you so he can see how to behave on his lead with other dog. I should also point out that if you plan to allow him off his lead you should again initailly do this in the confinement of the garden until you are confindent his recall is good enough for him to come back to you.

3. Everything else will fall into place when you have a happy contented well trained dog

Well done for taking on a rescue dog and I hope you have lots of fun with the big guy

[J_9]

<moved to Dogs>

Thank you and everyone else that helped steer the OP to dogs. To clean up the question, I merged it with the duplicate already here and deleted the no longer needed, but helpful posts. Now we have the original question, 2 answers so far, and this explanation.

Labman

[labman]

Looking over things again, I forgot to send you to the sticky at https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/dogs/i...tml#post251802

The material there was written to apply to a young puppy, but much of it will work with an older dog. When an older dog comes into my care, I treat it little differently than a puppy, except for mostly the timing.

[J_9]

Sorry my move made you work so hard Labman, but I am trying to keep your posts where they should be.