Disheartened by training

[Koteburo]

First off let me start by saying that I don't expect things to happen magically over night and I don't expect my pup to become a super dog jumping through rings and dancing.
After almost 3 weeks of training Ragnar had a huge regression this weekend. It goes from bitting the leash aggressively and not letting go which I do my best to stay calmed at and try to keep my cool when ordering to let go to going as far as attacking me when I left him off leash in the garden. He started charging at me, barking, bitting my ankles hard (I have them covered in bruises) thn jumping up trying to get my arms to the point of making me genuinely scared and my dad having to rush and taking his belt out and making a threatening motion because he just wouldn't stop.
I'm hurt emotionally. I've spent a lot of time, effort and even a good amount of money. I've been working a lot to make this work.
He's very dominant and refuses to accept me as his leader. But at least he used to respect my space more.
I don't want to give up on him but I'm showing the first signs of losing hope. I've even working on breathing techniques to keep a calm presence for him.
This week we seemed to make good progress but it went all down the drain suddenly this weekend with the young dog turning aggressive.
He has regular check ups and he's fine. I don't know what's going on but I want a dog I can live with in harmony and share good times together. This is even affecting my bonding process and I don't feel the love from him either like I felt it from Peanut or Gremlin.
I'm feel totally defeated at the moment. Wishing I could drop the towel although I well know I won't.
Every blog, article says to keep a calm, assertive attitude and I try but I'm just human. I can't be fricking Buddha to handle a dog

[Koteburo]

Please excuse all the grammar errors and typing. They're due to frustration.

[Koteburo]

This morning we went out to pee and he behaved perfectly. He sat before going out when I told him to, sat to wait for me.
It puzzles me. I need to learn to understand him just like I understand cats so well.
Please advise

[Barkingdog]

what kind of dog do you have again ? It sound like you need the training more than the dog . A dog can tell when a person can't handle him he will keep on testing you now that you had showed you are afraid of him . My dog will bite on his leash to play tug of war with me and I will play with him for few minutes . I have seen other dogs to this too they're
playing . I hope someone here with more dog knowledge will have some suggestion . I really feel this dog may be too much for you to handle , he needs a strong person and going after him with a belt is only going to made matters worst . This is not a bad dog he is trying to tell you he need someone to be the pack leader or he will be it.

[Koteburo]

I know. There are no bad dogs. I just want to make this work. I've been through a lot this last year and I really wanted a dog friend to take care of.
And I am in training. I hired a professional trainer to train me on how to train the dog. He has a lot of experience and he told me before what you did about leadership. We're still in dispute for the position. I've fostered dogs and we had a family dog that was outstanding he was born trained so in reality this is my first dog I train, in other words I'm just a noob and he's not the most difficult dog but certainly not an easy one to start with.
He's been behaving well today.
Tomorrow the trainer will come (he comes 6 times a week and we also do training on our own. That is Ragnar and me) I'll tell him what happened.
Im not easy to give up and I'm going to go all the way with the training and see how it goes.
But still any input will always be welcome.

Oh btw I know the belt thing sounds terrible. Just understand he was acting like a father trying to protect me the best way he could at that moment. He didn't hurt him and I know it's not something that helps to change the behavior to a deeper level and it won't happen again. Not the kind of resource I'd ever use.

[Barkingdog]

Maybe the dog wasn't hurt but they do remember this kind of stuff and he could think the next time someone raise their hand while holding an object he going to get hurt he might tried to protect himself by biting the person. Didn't you find this dog , who know what happen to him before .
I am not trying to put you down but this dog just could not be the right dog for you. A dog trainer can't change a person personally .

[healingpets]

hi...my labrador did show similar traits ocassionally. sometimes we linked them up with certain foods. did you try analysing? and sometimes it was because he was irritated with some other visitors...

[Koteburo]

Originally Posted by healingpets

hi...my labrador did show similar traits ocassionally. sometimes we linked them up with certain foods. did you try analysing? and sometimes it was because he was irritated with some other visitors...

I recently changed foods to a higher quality one. The trainer says it's possible to adapt him better and that we'll find what has changed that triggered that reaction. He has taken over the command because he found a vulnerability, a weak spot.
Ii think it could be related to my dad that has an unhealthy, overprotective attitude towards some of the cats. Seriously it's bad. And he was present this time and another time Ragnar almost got to this point but didn't. Another thing in common is that it happened in the same spot exactly.

[Barkingdog]

I am really concerned that the dog might bite someone then need to be put down . How long have you been trying to train the dog? The trainer also told you than some dogs just don't works some people . You know nothing about dog the pass and do know your dad is show aggressive behavior around the dog. This could turn out really bad !

[Koteburo]

Barkingdog. I think maybe you imagine something worse. He didn't break the skin. It certainly wasn't good but I told absolutely all the story to the trainer and he'll be assessing him really carefully while making adjustments and try to read Ragnar. In the event the dog doesn't adapt to me the trainer will help me to rehome him in an environment more suitable for him. I care very deeply about animals to be irresponsible and endanger Ragnar and another person. He got rough with me and I got frustrated and sad. What my dad did I cannot undo but I think we have a chance to amend things.
Everyone deserves a second chance even myself.
He has 2 weeks and a half only.

[Winston]

Koteburo I just wanted to praise you for sticking with Ragner. In my opinion based on his age and length of time with you and your new to the doggy world or shall I say to the world of puppy dominance. It sounds exactly like that to me anyway. My late boy Winston was a handful. Extremely smart but he knew how to dominate me. We did 3 consecutive rounds of obedience training for approx 10 weeks each. I had to constantly stand my guard and show him I was the pack leader. I was taught to sort of growl with unwanted behaviour. It catches them off guard when you do it and their mind then becomes focused on you. I also was told by a trainer to hold him down each day until he learned to submit to it. It may sound cruel but he would wiggle and try to get out of my hold but finally realized I was the boss.

Ragner should be earning everything he gets right now. No extra treats no special babying just calm and assertive behaviour. Make him earn his rewards.

Ideally if you had a crate for Ragner so he doesnt feel so isolated it will likely help with his attitude.

I cant recall if you mentioned whether he was neutered or not. Sometimes this helps with those crazy hormones he has running through his body.

Dont give up, you can do it and OMG dogs are nothing like cats so getting ready for some fun!!

Good Luck and keep coming here for anything you need..

[Koteburo]

Originally Posted by Winston

Koteburo I just wanted to praise you for sticking with Ragner. In my opinion based on his age and length of time with you and your new to the doggy world or shall I say to the world of puppy dominance. It sounds exactly like that to me anyway. My late boy Winston was a handful. Extremely smart but he knew how to dominate me. We did 3 consecutive rounds of obedience training for approx 10 weeks each. I had to constantly stand my guard and show him I was the pack leader. I was taught to sort of growl with unwanted behaviour. It catches them off guard when you do it and their mind then becomes focused on you. I also was told by a trainer to hold him down each day until he learned to submit to it. It may sound cruel but he would wiggle and try to get out of my hold but finally realized I was the boss.

Ragner should be earning everything he gets right now. No extra treats no special babying just calm and assertive behaviour. Make him earn his rewards.

Ideally if you had a crate for Ragner so he doesnt feel so isolated it will likely help with his attitude.

I cant recall if you mentioned whether he was neutered or not. Sometimes this helps with those crazy hormones he has running through his body.

Dont give up, you can do it and OMG dogs are nothing like cats so getting ready for some fun!!

Good Luck and keep coming here for anything you need..

It really cheered me up to see that there have been people like you that had a handful of a pup and was able to overcome those difficulties even if it takes extra work.
I don't think Ragnar is a lost cause at all. I need a lot of consistency and to be tougher, more of a strict teacher kind of figure.
I'm so used to be a total softy to my cats
I feel way more optimistic today, more hopeful. The trainer says we gotta work in my self confidence and my image again. I have to recover it and we're working on it and by the way I feel it's improving. I still have my doubts about my abilities however it's no magic I'll get there as well.
Thank you so much Winston it was very encouraging. I have to bring back a better behaved Ragnar to Calgary to our 2 cuties Scully and Mulder (and that's going to be a whole process of introduction that takes a whole thread again but I'll take care of that when the moment's closer) and a friend and protector to my little one and a buddy to my husband. (Remember that I'm in Mexico at the moment and there are so many dogs in so much need that the least I can do is take one and make it work)
Today he's doing better. He's showing less bitting, more of a nibbling behavior. He still jumps on peeps but as long as we keep moving forward it's fine.
I also talked to my dad not to do that anymore because it's also disruptive in the hierarchy process, it interferes with it among other things.
Well I'm way happier about this today no more feelings like in my first post of this thread

[Winston]

So glad to help and yes you have to stay confident, but hey we have all had thoughs days. Not to scare you but I had a chocolate lab and he didnt stop testing me and mature until he was 4yrs old. Then he mellowed and accepted that I was higher in the pecking order than he was

A couple of things to try for the jumping are putting one of your legs up and bent up towards your chest area and if he connects he hits your leg and disrupts their success rate on connecting with you.

I have also been told when they come to jump on you you are supposed to turn around in the opposite direction HOWEVER, I have had to modify that a bit because I ended up with scratches down my back. I learned to turn around and then take a couple of steps forward and then looking back to ensure they dont connect with my back. Sometimes its hard to know when they are going to jump as well.

I would also learn how to as they call it in training to growl but to me it sounds more like arrghh but in a deep voice like a man. Hopefully this makes sense.

Cindy

[Koteburo]

Any suggestions on stubbornly bitting the leash during training. He uses that as a resource to stop me when he feels I'm stepping over his domain.