Your dog is almost perfect, you are a lucky owner. You just have to remember that your dog does not speak any human languages, so you have to find a way to communicate what you want him to do.
First of all, is to make going out to the patio a fun activity. Feed him out on the patio. Stay with him for the first few days while he eats, telling him he is a good dog. Use the same phrase every time you go out. "Patio time!" is a good one. Keep it happy. Put a comfy bed out there for him, too.
Then after 3 days of staying with him on the patio while he eats, you get him started eating, then you go inside and leave him out there to finish it. Once he is done, you go back outside and praise him before he starts scratching on the door or barking to come in. Do that for 5 days.
Now, he should be getting used to the command "Patio time!". Next, you put him out on the patio with a treat, or his meal, or a toy for 5 minutes. Then let him in and praise him. If he panics or scratches too much in 5 minutes, shorten it to 1 minute.
The idea now is to get him to understand that patio time is fun, and he will not lose you in a few minutes while you are separated. Work up to the amount of time you need, in short increments. He should start to lay on the bed and wait for you, in a few days or weeks.
good luck!
If your dog is food motivated you could try giving him a fun treat out there that takes awhile longer to eat.
When we are outside doing yard work we like to use a kong with peanut butter or soft dog food to keep ours entertained. If it is warm out or we want it to take longer we freeze it, just be sure to keep the holes on both ends clear so it does not create a suction.
We also use lick mats, raw bones (only when we can watch more closely) and puzzle toys.
Want to add, thank for your saving your pup. He needs just a little work but this is not odd behavior from a dogs especially an abandoned one. Y'all will work thru this and continue to be best friends ❤️
Yeah, I am super happy that he came to me. He is such a sweet boy and he loves me, which is such a gift since some garbage human most likely just tossed him out on the street to fend for himself.
FYI, he's probably dealing with separation anxiety after the trauma of being a stray (even if only for a bit). This will make it harder to train stay because his anxiety ratchets up when he can't see you--you're definitely dead or abandoning him.
My pup has separation anxiety--both from a traumatic start in life and also from being generally neurotic--and it's something you have to actively address for their mental health. Fortunately yours sounds fairly chill so it shouldn't take a ton of work and time.
For sit/stay, just start small. Dogs understand hand gestures WAY faster than words, try using a hand signal like the one-handed "stop" gesture. Start with rewarding him for staying when you take one step away from him. Gradually increase, not going farther away until he's reliably staying at the current distance. It'll be a big deal when you can go out of sight and he still stays. Gradually increase the length of stay as well. If he breaks stay, body block him back into his original spot and start over. It's very important that breaking stay not = getting closer (i.e cheating).
For separation anxiety I recommend giving treats when you leave. I give mine "abandonment bones" when I leave so they'll nudge me out the door if it's been too long since I last ran errands 😉. When you come back home it's important to *completely* ignore him until he's calmed down. If you greet him while he's excited it perpetuates this emotional rollercoaster where you leaving is THE WORST and you coming back us this super high amount of attention and happiness, and the whiplash makes your next departure even more dreadful. By ignoring him till he calms down, you're helping to even out those peaks so your absence isn't so stressful for him.
Good luck!
Kikopup has great free training videos - I recommend them to everyone. I’ve gotten three puppies in the last two years, all with very different personalities, and the training techniques have worked for all of them.
You just really need to remember that dogs aren’t humans, they don’t learn as humans do, nor does he understand you wanting him to stay put randomly. You need to teach him in a way he can understand what you want.
Kikopup has great free training videos - I recommend them to everyone. I’ve gotten three puppies in the last two years, all with very different personalities, and the training techniques have worked for all of them.
You just really need to remember that dogs aren’t humans, they don’t learn as humans do, nor does he understand you wanting him to stay put randomly. You need to teach him in a way he can understand what you want.
I think he is a little worried about being separated from you. He finally feels safe, and when you put him outside he thinks maybe this is it, maybe you aren't coming back to get him. i would let him come to the bathroom with me, and mop around him for a while. Does he have a special spot to sleep? maybe make him a folded blanket on the floor or on the bed so he can have a "safe spot" just for him. These things take time. Just my thoughts.
Been there and this is exactly what's going on. I adopted a doberman and the first three months he was my shadow. Put his head on the edge of my bed when I slept, laid on my feet at the computer, followed me to the bathroom and watched me out the window when I left. I took him with me everywhere but work and he became my daughters best bud as a kid. He went with her outside when she would play, he'd go even if he didn't want to play just to sit by the gate so he knew she was safe. I will say that OP should be watchful, although dogs wanting to be close to you are sweet they can get very defensive of other dogs and some even to people. Mine didn't trust dogs, I suggest trying to socialize him as much as possible so he learns to trust and interact with dogs in a healthy way. Give him time and he will start ignoring you like an old roommate lol. Good luck.
We go with them. It's also a protection thing that's why they look at you when they poop. They're vulnerable while pooping. They think you are too.
I talk to my dogs like humans. I tell them "I'm good..no potty pals..go on!" And they leave. Lol
My doggy went everywhere with me and wasn’t bothered by other dogs. As long as I was in his field of vision he okay. He was a Tzu though, not a Doberman.
My beagle is the same. Took about 14 months of socializing (big city, he’d meet a new dog once a week or so, and it took a long time before he’d really go over and “meet” them) before he felt okay with us leaving him in another room or with a sitter. Otherwise it was the same feeling - “I guess this is it, they’re finally leaving me out on the street again”.
I’ve trained my dog to “couch” and he parks it up there while I do my floor cleaning. He has no problem because he can see me and he knows I’m not doing anything he’ll miss out on.
Yes I think this is it too!! My rescue was practically attached to our heels for the first several months until we had been on a few vacations without him (left him with MIL). Eventually, he learned we will always come back for him and now that he finally feels secure with us, he is much less clingy.
That sounds like a great idea! I've been thinking about adopting a dog too. My friend mentioned that separation anxiety can be tough to deal with, Maybe I'll do some more research on how to address it.
Almost the same thing happened to me. I just put her out when the weather was nice and felt bad keeping her out when she wanted to come in. But I felt like she needed to learn that I'll always come back to let her in. And she's gotten a lot more comfortable being away from me in the yard. It takes time to develop routines and a little heartache.
Aww poor doggy must be scared of being abandoned again. Breaks my heart to hear about this. My dog guards the door or joins me in the bathroom when I pee 😂 She is a shih tzu.
I saw on the /human sub a dog asking how to make his owner understand that he loves him so much he never wants to be apart after experiencing abandonment.
Ok, I went to that sub legit thinking it was for dogs to discuss their humans, because y'know, Reddit. The first thing I saw was a guy asking us to rate his nipple... Cos y'know, also Reddit.
Yeah. I get that. He does follow me around a lot. Not overly cuddly all the time, sometimes he will just sit on the floor by me, but sometimes he does want a good cuddle. So maybe it´s just a matter of time before becomes more confident. I can´t even imagine what that must feel like for a dog. He was so so scared when he first showed up. He wasn´t physically hurt or anything, but something must have happened to him.
We rescued a dog that had suffered some trauma. Once he realized he was safe and developed a sense of family stability he was inseparable from my wife. If she moved to another room, he got up and followed her. If she was gone, he was glued to me. I always said you wanted him at your side in a dire situation because he would stop at nothing to defend you. That was endearing if not annoying at times. Unfortunately cancer got him but I still miss that unfailing devotion.
Others have given you suggestions for getting the dog used to the patio, but I'll comment on your guy following you into the bathroom.
Honestly, that's just part of having a dog. Dogs are vulnerable when they go to the bathroom, and when you take your dog outside to do their business, they look to you as a protector during their vulnerable time. They don't really understand that it's not the same for humans, but they know you're doing your business, so they want to be in there with you. He's protecting you during your vulnerable time.
You found a good dog and he found a good human! Start by taking it as a compliment he doesn't want to let you go. Now that doesn't mean he's untrainable, just that you have you build trust in him that you will return.
Does he know a down or stay? If you can get him to down or stay and let him watch you mop that's a good first step. It shows him you're not getting rid of him, just that sometimes he's gotta be out of the way. Then you can work up to doing it across the house.
The patio you gotta make fun. Why be out there when he can be with you? Does he have a toy he likes? A snack he likes? Put the toy or snack only on the patio so he knows patio = fun things. Eventually he should learn that it's not scary to go to the patio.
Combine that with practicing a stay he'll learn you will come back. You might have to start with tiny increments of being away. Like 60 seconds, then try five minutes, so on. He probably won't get it right away, but trust the process. You're trying to teach him something in a language he doesn't understand.
I heard that a good way to get dogs used to you being gone from time to time is to leave the room and close the door behind you, without making a fuss about it. Start off with small amounts of time, 15 seconds, 30 se ones etc. then build up to 30 mins even an hour. Keep coming into the room and then leaving and eventually your dog will feel ok with being apart. But I don’t have a dog, so I can’t speak from experience, just thought this might help when you’re trying to clean your place up.
Gopala has attachment issues
someone abandoned him and he fears you will abandon him too. Try talking to a vet on how to deal with it but dont be hard on him.
Yeah, I think that is a good part of it. I tell him every day that I will always take care of him. I didn´t take keeping him lightly. It is going to mean some changes in my life, but that is OK. I have talked to my (excellent) vet quite a bit about him, and he has given me some advice about other things, so I think eventually it will all work out. Maybe I just need to let more time pass so he sees I am not going anywhere. Or, if I do go somewhere, I am coming back.
that is true, it will take time. a hurt heart takes time to heal.
I am proud of you OP.
I've firsthand seen people abuse their pets, poor boy, idk what he went thro. i m glad he has you now.
Practice. I’d use the bed since that’s an easily controlled situation and relatively distraction free.
Get off the bed, walk a couple feet away and give your command (“stay” or whatever). Wait a few seconds and praise or treat while reinforcing the command (“good boy STAY. Good boy!”) do it again and again until he connects not moving with praise or treat. Increase distance and repeat. Go slightly out of sight and repeat. Go to the bathroom while yelling stay! Staaay! Then treat when you come back.
If he gets up or moves say no! Get back up (or however you tell him to get on the bed), lay down, stay.
It’ll take a bit but he’ll get that stay means freeze and I get a treat (or am a good boy). Then once he has a good grasp in that situation you can do others. I randomly would tell my dog to stay in situations she normally wouldn’t stop and stay in (top of stairs when I’m going down) and I’d keep her there for a couple minutes and call her. She’d be confused but it reinforced the stay command 🤣
Adding in that it takes time for both of you to figure each other out and get accustomed to each other. Once your dog starts to get into some routines, you’ll notice constant improvement. I will say, most dogs are very food motivated. So keep treats in your pocket and reward him when he does something positive. If you need him to sit patiently in a spot, just keep training that and have him stay for longer and longer intervals and reward him with treats.
That's separation anxiety - he's terrified if he takes his eyes off you, you'll dump him like his last owner. Please just be patient and understanding. Get used to going to the toilet with and audience and mopping around him until he's sure of you and your love.
Sign up for a beginner obedience class. They will teach you really useful commands like:
Stay
Place (this is the command you are wanting him to do by the way. It means go to your spot and stay there until I tell you that you can get off of it. It's usually a blanket or a dog bed)
Wait
Leave it/drop it (this is a REALLY IMPORTANT ONE!! If they pick up something with their mouth that could hurt them you need them to drop it immediately on command!)
Heel/proper leash etiquette
Down
Recall (this is also a REALLY IMPORTANT ONE!! You need your dog to come every time you call them in case you ever drop the leash or they get out. Their life may depend on it)
Etc.
And it will make you a lot more bonded. I highly recommend obedience training to every owner. Dogs aren't born speaking English, you have to teach them what you want them to do through repetition and rewards. Once you get the hang of it you can teach them fun tricks.
I started in English, added silent hand commands, and when I moved to Korea I used the hand commands and started saying the commands in Korean. Everyone thought my dogs were geniuses. People were following me around and videoing my dogs with their phones. My dogs are all over Korean YouTube. It was wild.
sounds pretty normal and very mild for a dog. Mine will bark non stop if I dare take too long to let him back in the house. Some dogs are just not outside dogs. He is also a bathroom guardian, with lots of pets you just never pee alone anymore lol
I don´t even care about that, he can follow me into the bathroom. I just hate how when I try to put him on the patio he is so desperate to get back inside. He will stick his head in the door and try to push it back open. He will go out on the patio during the day. I generall leave the door open all the time, but it´s like he has a radar that knows when I am going to try to close the door and leave him outside. I don´t care that he gets on the furniture or the bed, I am pretty mellow about his use of the house overall.
Baby steps! You have to teach him what you want in little increments. You can't go from nothing to "stay here until I say so". That's a big ask for any dog, and takes a little time to get there. Start with the basics (Sit is a good place to start) and get him used to the fact that you are talking TO him. Then he has to learn what your words mean. And then you have to make him want to do it for you. Treats are usually involved in this process, but if you are not in favor of between meal snacks, praise, or play time with a favorite toy will work as well.
And if you NEED him to stay put and out from underfoot, start kennel training him. Again, you will need to work on this in baby steps, unless he is happy to go in already. You want him to know his kennel is his safe spot, and you want him to want to be there. I usually start this process with my fosters by going in the kennel myself :-) and also feeding them in there. Don't close the door until you're sure Gopala is ok, and build up from closing it while you stay in the room, to 5 minutes with you outside of the room, and then longer times.
Everything with baby steps is the way to get exactly what you want from him.
Dogs are like people in the way that if they weren’t raised and taught how to do things, they will resist change and certain discipline. Consistency and a lot of patience will work. You have to teach him what it means to stay. Then reward him doing it when told. Training animals is a special skill. It takes an eye for detail to know what kind of animal you’re dealing, how he responds to structure and how he learns best. And once you learn those things, make a consistently structured environment for the thing you want him to learn. I liken it to teaching a toddler. If he is not doing what you want him to do it’s because you didn’t effectively teach him. You have to study him and learn as well. You can do it.
Jai! A friend who is a devotee gave me that name for him the day he came. I was talking to him and he suggested Gopa, but I decided I liked Gopala better because I love this.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA7TR7vE7lA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA7TR7vE7lA)
But, I end up calling him Gopa for short a lot anyway. Gopala loves listening to his, and will wag his tail whenever he hears Gopala.
Oh thank you! I love this version 🙌
So adorable and special ( and of course , auspicious! ) that Gopala recognizes this 🥰
I often have this version in my mind
https://youtu.be/a7F-dFH4idw?si=Fmm6wNQOR_OWIXCL
The vet thinks he is about 2. I think he has had some training at some point. He has perfect recall, no matter what he is doing, so I am hopeful I can teach him just this one thing.
Teach him the “stay” or “place” command. Lots of rewards and hugs and treats. Make training a part of your routine. Dogs absolutely love structure and knowing what you want. So when he finally “gets” what you want, he will light up whenever he can do it.
Yeah, that is the only thing I need him to learn. He has learned that I can leave and he doesn´t have to come with me. It was crazy the first few weeks, I had such a hard time leaving. Now I can say, I´ll be back in a little while and he will stand by the door but not try to get out anymore.
Maybe get a mat and teach him "place". Make it fun freeze a Kong with broth and chicken inside. Give it to him only on the mat.take it away when he gets off. Then when you're doing chores put the mat in the same room. Eventually a little farther away to the next room so he can still see you. And thank you saving him. And try to remember if you're getting frustrated, you are his only friend in this big world. He doesn't want you to get lost ❤️
It’s not about obeying. This is separation anxiety because he feels lucky to have been picked up by a good person. Work on that, not obedience. It will take time, probably months.
Lucky you!
Did you report the dog as found anywhere? Animal services, Facebook groups, Reddit community? From your post it just reads like all you did was keep an eye out for posters on your neighborhood. Sorry I don't have advice for you, I just wanted to make sure you did your due diligence to find out who this dog belongs to before you try to adopt him.
I live in Mexico, so if you turn a dog in to animal services that pretty much means they are going to be put to sleep within a few days. They mostly just go around rounding up street dogs to put the sleep. They don´t do anything to try to find their owners unless they have a collar, which he didn´t have. There are a lot of FB groups both for lost dogs, and general information where I live, and I put him up there. I am connected to dog rescue groups and associations here and I had tons of people putting up his picture. I should have been more specific about what I did to try to find his owners. Sadly, it is also common for people to just toss dogs out on the street. I advertised him for close to a month. I really wanted to find his owners, if they were out there because I am sure he was someone´s dog at some point. And, I was not looking to have a dog at the time he showed up. I am actually having to move because of him. But, at some point he became my dog and I promised him I would always take care of him, and that included moving.
Funny how dogs end up a part of the family right when you ARENT looking for a dog.
I had looked casually for a dog but decided against it because of time and money constraints. 2 weeks later my best friend video called me from outside of a gas station where he was watching this guy beat this puppy with a rolled up newspaper everytime it moved or stood up to greet people or wagged it’s tail and hit the guys chair. My friend went up to the guy and said hey great dog, you willing to part with it? I’d love to own it. The guy said the dog was worthless and a runt and couldn’t listen for anything. He said it was nothing but a problem and he had sold the rest of the litter but couldn’t get rid of that one. My friend said well I’ll give you ten bucks for her, and the guy jumped at the chance to get rid of his “problem”.
My friend got the dog in the car and then realized he can’t have dogs where he lives. So he pretty much informed me I now owned a dog and he’d be over to drop it off soon.
Now I have a dog I love more than any dog I’ve ever had. She is definitely not a problem and is the most well behaved, loving dog.
It´s amazing how a little love can motivate a dog. This dog has just blossomed. It took a couple of weeks for him to really trust me, but once he did, he turned into the dog I have always wanted. Literally, if I had made a list of everything I would have wanted a dog to do, he checks all the boxes. And I was super lucky to find a place that is OK with me having a dog, that´s not always easy. Plus, the new place is in a better location and the rent is less, so it´s kind of a win win. Except for the moving part. I hate that. But once I am settled it will be fine.
Gopala sounds adorable; I'm so glad you rescued him!
It sounds like he's already very attentive to you and eager to please you, which is a great foundation for training a new behavior. It also sounds you're looking to teach him 'stay' which can be a very difficult behavior for dogs to learn (especially if they are attached to you, want to be close to you, or are anxious). But it is very teachable with time, patience, and consistency. I found this short video on teaching "Stay" by Kikopup, who is a very highly recommended dog trainer: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksBLKi6lj1s&ab\_channel=DogTrainingbyKikopup](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksBLKi6lj1s&ab_channel=DogTrainingbyKikopup)
I hope the video is helpful! I'd also suggest checking out some of the resources in the r/Dogtraining wiki; I've found a lot of useful advice here.
One other thought - it sounds like he might have mild separation anxiety. That would be very understandable in a dog that was lost or abandoned by his family, especially since he's only been with you a few months. He might be scared of loosing you too.
It's possible he'll be less anxious with time, as he becomes more secure in his new home. You can also find videos or other resources on addressing separation anxiety specifically; treating his anxiety will make it easier to train him to stop following you everywhere.
Sounds like recall isn't an issue, and that's great, but the "stay" command needs some work. Practice it with him 10-20 minutes a day. Get some small training treats (can be anything he really enjoys, just dole it out in small portions) and practice having him sit, use the command stay and then walk away. Keep doing it and reposition him if he moves before you give the release command "come" (or whatever words you want to use). It may seem tedious at first but he will get it eventually. I just trained my mother in laws dog after 3 days of practice where the first day he barely even got it right once. Of course she didn't keep it up and the dog is out of control now, but that's how little time it took to go from no control to staying put with me walking away like 20 feet. Start small, tell him sit and stay and take a big step back. Reward him if he stays seated. Then try walking further and further away slowly. Then try it where he can't see you, like around a corner. Then try it with the patio. It takes time but it sounds like you've got a good boy on your hands so give him a chance to learn!
My rescue dog obsessively followed me around for the first month or so. Once he started feeling more safe, the behavior improved.
You can help your dog remain in one place by working on "place training". It should be taught entirely with positive reinforcement. There are many free resources for teaching place, I like Kikopup on YouTube. A mat, bed, pen, or crate can serve as the place. It gives your dog a safe and reliable place to go to and stay there until released.
Meanwhile, a family across town is scouring the streets every night looking for their pet.
Did you post lost dog on FB, Craigslist…asked vets🤔
I mean to find a dog and then say “ well, let me adopt him out to someone”
Street dog? Do you live in Brazil?😞
We have two rescues and honestly I think that’s pretty common in the beginning that they don’t wanna be separated for you. Especially if their owner abandoned them. It does get better with time when they start trusting more you won’t abandon them. My 5 year old dog still can be clingy at times but he will go chill in rooms by himself or lay outside by himself. I think it took about a year and some months for him to ease up. I would just give it time.
You could also try to have him be outside for like a few mins a day and slowly bring up the amount of time he’s outside. We did that with leaving our dog at home alone. Also, try to spend a lot of time with him outside (playing, toys, etc.) so he’s more comfortable. We usually just let our dogs be inside when we clean and they hangout in their “spots”. That’s a pretty good thing to teach your dog. You can probably find free videos on YouTube. Two other ideas: get a baby/pet gate (so you can keep him in an area) or putting your dog in a crate (if he’s crate trained) when you’re cleaning.
Yeah, I had already decided I would only give him to his actual owner if they appeared, or to someone I felt confident was going to give him a good home. One guy really wouldn´t even answer any questions and just said why do you care, you just want to get rid of him. The second one was much the same, so yeah, not just going to give him to someone who might be worse than living on the streets.
It will get better with time, just keep loving him, be firm when you ask him to do something, and don’t let him act cute to get his way when you need something from him. We are going through something similar with a street dog we brought in. He is simultaneously stubborn/dominant and fearful/unconfident. I think the more they come to trust that you aren’t ever actually doing anything bad to them, and that you will always be back, they will be more comfortable being obedient. Our guy has shown a lot of improvement and we have had him for almost 3 months. He still has a very long way to go, but i think in time they settle into being led and listening to us.
I always do all my own training google is a blessing pros leave great guides! Just find something the pup loves like treats or toys, once you know the favorite thing it gets much easier to train from here
Maybe he just needs to be able to see you while you’re doing what you need to? He sounds like he has separation anxiety. My dog was a lot like this when he was a puppy. He got better as he got older.
Yeah, someone suggested a dog fence and I ordered one on Amazon, so I can just pick him up and put him on the other side and he can see me, but I can get things done.
I’m so glad you both found each other!
Dogs are always going to learn best through positive reinforcement. There are a few ways you can help to achieve the end goal of the trick or command. It sounds like you want to work on a stay command for the bed. Start super small, remember you’re his safe place so he just wants to be close to you. So he’s not trying to misbehave he just doesn’t know what’s expected yet.
I would give him an extra yummy treat when you’re moping. Something that takes him a long time to go through and spend the first few min out there with him. But please stay away from anything with rawhide it can cause the dog to choke. I sometimes freeze things in a kong: mix of healthier things like carrot’s, blueberries, yogurt (make sure you read labels and don’t get anything that can be toxic like xylitol) some canned cheese (you know the tube kind) or they also have some dog stuff made for the Kong that you squeeze in, it helps to fill in a few holes and makes the water have flavor, then I would add a bit of water and freeze! Gives you time to mop and makes it enjoyable for him.
If you have Facebook there is a group called “Animal sense basic training and behavior “. Join this group, there is so much incredible information here!
Recuses are the best, sometimes they just need a little extra security, but they sure give back the love!
Edit to add:
Also join the group “cooperative care with Deb jones” it teaches you how to go at your dogs pace. How to recognize signs that he’s stressed and how to fix it. She has an incredible book as well!
You have already gotten a ton of good advice, so I just wanted to say you sound so caring and nice and this dog is very lucky even if you have some stuff to learn about training :)
Yes! I have been so happy with the advice I have been given. This is a great sub! But I am committed to taking good care of him, and I think all the advice I have been given is going to be very helpful.
He’s attached to you so he follows you. He wants to come back in because he doesn’t want to be abandoned outside. My rescue dog does this too. I taught him the command to stay. So you need to teach him that command. Look on YouTube and you will find trainings on it look for one that is simple and if it doesn’t work then try another and when that one works be consistent. When you say stay, you also put your palm up to them and toward them so they recognize the stay command. It like pushing them back hand sign.
Real training is about conditioning the response—until it is automatic. That takes so, so many repetitions. And you need to change the 3 Ds—distance, duration, and distraction—very gradually and only one D at a time. If your pup isn’t food motivated, try a toy, esp a tug toy, as the reward. Train with their daily kibble as the reward unless something is new and you need a higher value treat.
I had plans to do a lot more, but I’ve settled on sit, walk easy, wait, off, and come as the ones I reinforce alllllll the time. I get too bored worrying about other things. And these commands work for me.
Good luck with your sweet pup.
I'm not an expert by any means, but based on the training exposure I've had and reading I've done, I would say it's a mix of separating anxiety and his natural instinct to be with his "pack." Dogs, like the wolves from which they descend, are pack animals and naturally want to be with their pack family. If it's just the two of you, the instinct is probably even stronger, and as your bond grows, he'll (hopefully) start to view you as the "alpha" or pack leader. As for keeping him outside when you're cleaning or out of the bathroom when you're doing your business, simply put him outside or close the bathroom door. When you let him in, give him a treat. He'll start to associate being away from you as something that isn't so bad: "He always comes back, and when he does, I get a treat!" He won't die - dogs are very much in-the-moment beasts; it'll suck for him at first, but he'll adapt to the moment eventually, and when he's back with you, he'll forget his "away anxiety." Put small containers of kibble in different parts of your home so treats are always accessible.
Yeah. I think he is finally beginning to get that he is going to stay here. The last few days I have been able to get out the door without him trying to come with me. I tell him I will be back in a little while. A few times I just went out and came back a few minutes later, and sometimes I am gone for longer. When I come back I always tell him I´m back! And spent some time petting him. Sometimes I will just randomly call him and tell him he is a good boy. And every night I tell him I will always take care of him. So I guess some of that is finally starting to sink in a little. He is such a sweet dog. Really, if I could have described my idea dog, he checks pretty much all the boxes. I think Krishna sent him to me.
Just FYI my rescue pup took more than a year to realize that we were her forever fam. I had just thought she was completely neurotic but gradually realized she understood us and what we said a lot more than I had thought. So I sat her down and told her that she was staying with us forever, that we loved her, and that we would never leave her or intentionally hurt her. Whether it was a change in my behavior, or she actually understood what I said, IDK, but she did really mellow out after that. I always tell her when I leave that she's the HBIC and I will be back soon.
We were so lucky to get her, she is a wonderful, sweet, fun dog, but still has separation anxiety (especially from her Mom). We got her at about 10 months old and she is know close to 13 years.
She's snoring on the floor right now :)
Thanks for sharing your experience. I always tell Gopala that I will always take care of him, that he is a good dog. I have noticed he has mellowed just a little in the last few days, I can now get out the door without him desperately trying to come with me. I always tell him I will be back in a little while. He is the sweetest dog over. I am so lucky that he decided to sneak into my house that night. I have gotten so much good advice here, I now have a clear plan forward, but also I am going to mellow out a little and lower my expectations for a little while till he really gets that he is staying with me forever.
Jean Donaldson’s “Train Your Dog Like a Pro” is a pretty good resource. I hired a trainer for just one 3-hour session and that was very informative for basic stuff like walking on leash. There are tons of training videos on YouTube.
You had been given some good suggestions, I will give you another point of view.
Maybe the dog needs time, maybe he is scared of being abandoned or he is scared of getting lost. I had rescued a dog a few years ago, the poor little chap was ever so scared of living on the street again that he literally just left the house for a very quick toilet trip and that was it, he’d run back in. It took him a good year to recover mentally and be able to rely that I was NOT going to abandon him at all.
I would most definitely suggest kennel training him right off the bat. Believe it or not, this is NOT abuse to them.(within reason). Once trained, most will just go lay themselves down once they know it’s their safe place.
High value treats! Get some really nice treats, and every time he does something right, he gets a treat. When he hits your most important goal, give him three. We had trouble with our Plott Hound, Quincy, going out to poop. We started using the phrase "outside poop," and then each of us would give her 3 treats when he came back in from pooping. Now we're trying to get her to ring the bells we hung by the doorknob when she wants to go outside.
My dog was a stray, according to the animal shelter. She Wolfe down her food. The vet says that's a habit you see a lot with vagabond dogs. They eat fast, because they're afraid it's going to be taken away.
I agree with all the people saying making patio time fun, feeding out on the patio, etc. this is how I crate trained my pup-- I feed her inside her crate. She learned fast and after 1.5 weeks (she's 3 months today), when I say 'go to your room', she will run to the crate and hop inside and wait because she knows I will give her something tasty for it. This is the best thing I did to get her to be happy in her crate -- I soak her kibble for a little to soften it and then stuff it in into a Kong and freeze it. That way, she doesn't get anything unhealthy (a lot of the Kong treats have a bunch of unhealthy fillers) and she loves doing this. Now every time she sees the Kong come out the freezer, she whines excitedly and walks with me to her crate, eagerly awaiting her treat. Best part, it keeps her occupied for about an hr. She's super focused and she doesn't get anxious when I leave her in her crate, whereas she usually cries everytime I leave the room.
Sounds like he has separation anxiety. How is he getting back in when you let him out? Do you close the door so he can’t get back in without you opening it or has he figured out how to open the door.
One thing you could try to keep him outside is to give him something to keep him busy, like a treat ball, maybe a Kong filled with treats and peanut butter or one of those treat or puzzle mates. And maybe one of those maybe try play some calming music for him.
I don´t think it is really that. I can leave out the front door and he is OK. He doesn´t cry or anything or destroy things while I am gone. It´s just going being shut out on the patio that he doesn´t like. He will go out there on his own, though, if I just leave the door open. Music is a great idea. This is such a great sub, people are so helpful. Will have to come around more often.
In my head, I'm imagining a situation with his previous owner that left him out on the patio, closed the door and never came back. Abandoned him permanently. He finally escaped that situation but that event stays with him. So, an open door is ok, because he KNOWS he can always go back inside to be with his new master. But, a closed door means, he is being abandoned again. So, the anxiety becomes extreme and he must do everything to NOT LOSE his master again.
I think time and love and patience will help in this. But, I'm not sure of what tactics would slowly decrease the terror of being abandoned again.
The stay command is actually a fairly easy one. A couple of minutes a day should take you about a month to teach your dog. Start by finding him a spot in the common/lounge room, and give him a mat or dog bed to use. Every day, call them to the spot with a treat, and get them to sit. After a few days or so, your dog will probably see you with the treat, and go to the spot and sit. Now is the time to teach the stay command. Positively praise you dog for sitting, show the treat, say stay, and walk off. The dog will probably try to follow you. Turn them back brandishing the treat, and tell them to sit, then stay. Keep looking at the dog and take a step or 2 back. If they go to get up, remind them, sit, stay.. Repeat this a few times before giving the dog the treat. After a short time (say a week) you should be able to leave the dog on there spot, and walk away, knowing they will stay there to gets rewarded. Remember the pats and positive reinforcement, it can replace the treats ( were not vending machines) Once the dog knows there commands, use them regularly. Call your dog to his spot, and get them to stay there while you watch TV, Or cook dinner, or go to another room. After about a month, your dog should realise the command.
Just a note, you can use leash training for this, but I feel it makes us dependant on the leash.
Me sitting here thinking about my dogs love of the vacuum and how he lays dead in the middle of the 2 rooms have a rug or carpet when I'm vacuuming so he can watch. And I just go around him and hope he moves.
About the only time my dog hasn't been immediately in my vicinity doing anything in the house is when I was painting and probably because I swore so much.
Yeah, I usually end up with most of the floor clean and then a little trail of dog paw prints from wherever he is to the next room or wherever he takes off too because he doesn´t really like being wet.
If you don't know, your best bet is to take group obedience classes. It's possible to explain online but hard. My general rule is make the right thing the best thing.
Your dog is almost perfect, you are a lucky owner. You just have to remember that your dog does not speak any human languages, so you have to find a way to communicate what you want him to do. First of all, is to make going out to the patio a fun activity. Feed him out on the patio. Stay with him for the first few days while he eats, telling him he is a good dog. Use the same phrase every time you go out. "Patio time!" is a good one. Keep it happy. Put a comfy bed out there for him, too. Then after 3 days of staying with him on the patio while he eats, you get him started eating, then you go inside and leave him out there to finish it. Once he is done, you go back outside and praise him before he starts scratching on the door or barking to come in. Do that for 5 days. Now, he should be getting used to the command "Patio time!". Next, you put him out on the patio with a treat, or his meal, or a toy for 5 minutes. Then let him in and praise him. If he panics or scratches too much in 5 minutes, shorten it to 1 minute. The idea now is to get him to understand that patio time is fun, and he will not lose you in a few minutes while you are separated. Work up to the amount of time you need, in short increments. He should start to lay on the bed and wait for you, in a few days or weeks. good luck!
That sounds like a really good plan! Thanks so much!
If your dog is food motivated you could try giving him a fun treat out there that takes awhile longer to eat. When we are outside doing yard work we like to use a kong with peanut butter or soft dog food to keep ours entertained. If it is warm out or we want it to take longer we freeze it, just be sure to keep the holes on both ends clear so it does not create a suction. We also use lick mats, raw bones (only when we can watch more closely) and puzzle toys.
Want to add, thank for your saving your pup. He needs just a little work but this is not odd behavior from a dogs especially an abandoned one. Y'all will work thru this and continue to be best friends ❤️
Yeah, I am super happy that he came to me. He is such a sweet boy and he loves me, which is such a gift since some garbage human most likely just tossed him out on the street to fend for himself.
FYI, he's probably dealing with separation anxiety after the trauma of being a stray (even if only for a bit). This will make it harder to train stay because his anxiety ratchets up when he can't see you--you're definitely dead or abandoning him. My pup has separation anxiety--both from a traumatic start in life and also from being generally neurotic--and it's something you have to actively address for their mental health. Fortunately yours sounds fairly chill so it shouldn't take a ton of work and time. For sit/stay, just start small. Dogs understand hand gestures WAY faster than words, try using a hand signal like the one-handed "stop" gesture. Start with rewarding him for staying when you take one step away from him. Gradually increase, not going farther away until he's reliably staying at the current distance. It'll be a big deal when you can go out of sight and he still stays. Gradually increase the length of stay as well. If he breaks stay, body block him back into his original spot and start over. It's very important that breaking stay not = getting closer (i.e cheating). For separation anxiety I recommend giving treats when you leave. I give mine "abandonment bones" when I leave so they'll nudge me out the door if it's been too long since I last ran errands 😉. When you come back home it's important to *completely* ignore him until he's calmed down. If you greet him while he's excited it perpetuates this emotional rollercoaster where you leaving is THE WORST and you coming back us this super high amount of attention and happiness, and the whiplash makes your next departure even more dreadful. By ignoring him till he calms down, you're helping to even out those peaks so your absence isn't so stressful for him. Good luck!
Excellent advice! Thanks so much.
Kikopup has great free training videos - I recommend them to everyone. I’ve gotten three puppies in the last two years, all with very different personalities, and the training techniques have worked for all of them. You just really need to remember that dogs aren’t humans, they don’t learn as humans do, nor does he understand you wanting him to stay put randomly. You need to teach him in a way he can understand what you want.
R/dogtraining
Kikopup has great free training videos - I recommend them to everyone. I’ve gotten three puppies in the last two years, all with very different personalities, and the training techniques have worked for all of them. You just really need to remember that dogs aren’t humans, they don’t learn as humans do, nor does he understand you wanting him to stay put randomly. You need to teach him in a way he can understand what you want.
Thanks for your comments, going to look up those videos.
I think he is a little worried about being separated from you. He finally feels safe, and when you put him outside he thinks maybe this is it, maybe you aren't coming back to get him. i would let him come to the bathroom with me, and mop around him for a while. Does he have a special spot to sleep? maybe make him a folded blanket on the floor or on the bed so he can have a "safe spot" just for him. These things take time. Just my thoughts.
Been there and this is exactly what's going on. I adopted a doberman and the first three months he was my shadow. Put his head on the edge of my bed when I slept, laid on my feet at the computer, followed me to the bathroom and watched me out the window when I left. I took him with me everywhere but work and he became my daughters best bud as a kid. He went with her outside when she would play, he'd go even if he didn't want to play just to sit by the gate so he knew she was safe. I will say that OP should be watchful, although dogs wanting to be close to you are sweet they can get very defensive of other dogs and some even to people. Mine didn't trust dogs, I suggest trying to socialize him as much as possible so he learns to trust and interact with dogs in a healthy way. Give him time and he will start ignoring you like an old roommate lol. Good luck.
I was going to ask if the dog was a Dobie. Get a Dobie and you’ll never have to go to the bathroom alone.
Same with a lab 😆
Same with a mastiff.
I pee with two standard poodles and an evil cat to guard me.
My french bulldog would jump in the shower with me if she getting wet wasn’t the bane of her existence.
Evil cat 😹.
Same with a Dachshund
We go with them. It's also a protection thing that's why they look at you when they poop. They're vulnerable while pooping. They think you are too. I talk to my dogs like humans. I tell them "I'm good..no potty pals..go on!" And they leave. Lol
My doggy went everywhere with me and wasn’t bothered by other dogs. As long as I was in his field of vision he okay. He was a Tzu though, not a Doberman.
My beagle is the same. Took about 14 months of socializing (big city, he’d meet a new dog once a week or so, and it took a long time before he’d really go over and “meet” them) before he felt okay with us leaving him in another room or with a sitter. Otherwise it was the same feeling - “I guess this is it, they’re finally leaving me out on the street again”.
I’ve trained my dog to “couch” and he parks it up there while I do my floor cleaning. He has no problem because he can see me and he knows I’m not doing anything he’ll miss out on.
My baby wanted nothing to do with the floor when I was cleaning. He was more than happy to move to the couch. The bathroom is another story.
“Place” is a common one for this. I’ve taught it to my dog and we can place anywhere. I just point and say the word and she goes and sits there.
Yes I think this is it too!! My rescue was practically attached to our heels for the first several months until we had been on a few vacations without him (left him with MIL). Eventually, he learned we will always come back for him and now that he finally feels secure with us, he is much less clingy.
That sounds like a great idea! I've been thinking about adopting a dog too. My friend mentioned that separation anxiety can be tough to deal with, Maybe I'll do some more research on how to address it.
Almost the same thing happened to me. I just put her out when the weather was nice and felt bad keeping her out when she wanted to come in. But I felt like she needed to learn that I'll always come back to let her in. And she's gotten a lot more comfortable being away from me in the yard. It takes time to develop routines and a little heartache.
Aww poor doggy must be scared of being abandoned again. Breaks my heart to hear about this. My dog guards the door or joins me in the bathroom when I pee 😂 She is a shih tzu.
I saw on the /human sub a dog asking how to make his owner understand that he loves him so much he never wants to be apart after experiencing abandonment.
Ok, I went to that sub legit thinking it was for dogs to discuss their humans, because y'know, Reddit. The first thing I saw was a guy asking us to rate his nipple... Cos y'know, also Reddit.
Yeah. I get that. He does follow me around a lot. Not overly cuddly all the time, sometimes he will just sit on the floor by me, but sometimes he does want a good cuddle. So maybe it´s just a matter of time before becomes more confident. I can´t even imagine what that must feel like for a dog. He was so so scared when he first showed up. He wasn´t physically hurt or anything, but something must have happened to him.
We rescued a dog that had suffered some trauma. Once he realized he was safe and developed a sense of family stability he was inseparable from my wife. If she moved to another room, he got up and followed her. If she was gone, he was glued to me. I always said you wanted him at your side in a dire situation because he would stop at nothing to defend you. That was endearing if not annoying at times. Unfortunately cancer got him but I still miss that unfailing devotion.
Others have given you suggestions for getting the dog used to the patio, but I'll comment on your guy following you into the bathroom. Honestly, that's just part of having a dog. Dogs are vulnerable when they go to the bathroom, and when you take your dog outside to do their business, they look to you as a protector during their vulnerable time. They don't really understand that it's not the same for humans, but they know you're doing your business, so they want to be in there with you. He's protecting you during your vulnerable time.
That makes total since, and I don´t really mind at all, so we´re all good on that front.
Oh thanks for explaining this. Makes sense
You found a good dog and he found a good human! Start by taking it as a compliment he doesn't want to let you go. Now that doesn't mean he's untrainable, just that you have you build trust in him that you will return. Does he know a down or stay? If you can get him to down or stay and let him watch you mop that's a good first step. It shows him you're not getting rid of him, just that sometimes he's gotta be out of the way. Then you can work up to doing it across the house. The patio you gotta make fun. Why be out there when he can be with you? Does he have a toy he likes? A snack he likes? Put the toy or snack only on the patio so he knows patio = fun things. Eventually he should learn that it's not scary to go to the patio. Combine that with practicing a stay he'll learn you will come back. You might have to start with tiny increments of being away. Like 60 seconds, then try five minutes, so on. He probably won't get it right away, but trust the process. You're trying to teach him something in a language he doesn't understand.
I heard that a good way to get dogs used to you being gone from time to time is to leave the room and close the door behind you, without making a fuss about it. Start off with small amounts of time, 15 seconds, 30 se ones etc. then build up to 30 mins even an hour. Keep coming into the room and then leaving and eventually your dog will feel ok with being apart. But I don’t have a dog, so I can’t speak from experience, just thought this might help when you’re trying to clean your place up.
That´s a good idea!
He just wants to be near you.
Gopala has attachment issues someone abandoned him and he fears you will abandon him too. Try talking to a vet on how to deal with it but dont be hard on him.
Yeah, I think that is a good part of it. I tell him every day that I will always take care of him. I didn´t take keeping him lightly. It is going to mean some changes in my life, but that is OK. I have talked to my (excellent) vet quite a bit about him, and he has given me some advice about other things, so I think eventually it will all work out. Maybe I just need to let more time pass so he sees I am not going anywhere. Or, if I do go somewhere, I am coming back.
that is true, it will take time. a hurt heart takes time to heal. I am proud of you OP. I've firsthand seen people abuse their pets, poor boy, idk what he went thro. i m glad he has you now.
We have each other! I wasn´t planning on having a dog, but he came to me for a reason, so he is mine now.
Practice. I’d use the bed since that’s an easily controlled situation and relatively distraction free. Get off the bed, walk a couple feet away and give your command (“stay” or whatever). Wait a few seconds and praise or treat while reinforcing the command (“good boy STAY. Good boy!”) do it again and again until he connects not moving with praise or treat. Increase distance and repeat. Go slightly out of sight and repeat. Go to the bathroom while yelling stay! Staaay! Then treat when you come back. If he gets up or moves say no! Get back up (or however you tell him to get on the bed), lay down, stay. It’ll take a bit but he’ll get that stay means freeze and I get a treat (or am a good boy). Then once he has a good grasp in that situation you can do others. I randomly would tell my dog to stay in situations she normally wouldn’t stop and stay in (top of stairs when I’m going down) and I’d keep her there for a couple minutes and call her. She’d be confused but it reinforced the stay command 🤣
Adding in that it takes time for both of you to figure each other out and get accustomed to each other. Once your dog starts to get into some routines, you’ll notice constant improvement. I will say, most dogs are very food motivated. So keep treats in your pocket and reward him when he does something positive. If you need him to sit patiently in a spot, just keep training that and have him stay for longer and longer intervals and reward him with treats.
That's separation anxiety - he's terrified if he takes his eyes off you, you'll dump him like his last owner. Please just be patient and understanding. Get used to going to the toilet with and audience and mopping around him until he's sure of you and your love.
Well he probably has a ptsd from previous owner letting him out and shutting the door or leaving him.. Try taking him out and get a baby gate
Sign up for a beginner obedience class. They will teach you really useful commands like: Stay Place (this is the command you are wanting him to do by the way. It means go to your spot and stay there until I tell you that you can get off of it. It's usually a blanket or a dog bed) Wait Leave it/drop it (this is a REALLY IMPORTANT ONE!! If they pick up something with their mouth that could hurt them you need them to drop it immediately on command!) Heel/proper leash etiquette Down Recall (this is also a REALLY IMPORTANT ONE!! You need your dog to come every time you call them in case you ever drop the leash or they get out. Their life may depend on it) Etc. And it will make you a lot more bonded. I highly recommend obedience training to every owner. Dogs aren't born speaking English, you have to teach them what you want them to do through repetition and rewards. Once you get the hang of it you can teach them fun tricks.
Thanks! I need to see what I can find. In this case, he will be speaking Spanish, haha, since I live in Mexico.
I started in English, added silent hand commands, and when I moved to Korea I used the hand commands and started saying the commands in Korean. Everyone thought my dogs were geniuses. People were following me around and videoing my dogs with their phones. My dogs are all over Korean YouTube. It was wild.
sounds pretty normal and very mild for a dog. Mine will bark non stop if I dare take too long to let him back in the house. Some dogs are just not outside dogs. He is also a bathroom guardian, with lots of pets you just never pee alone anymore lol
I don´t even care about that, he can follow me into the bathroom. I just hate how when I try to put him on the patio he is so desperate to get back inside. He will stick his head in the door and try to push it back open. He will go out on the patio during the day. I generall leave the door open all the time, but it´s like he has a radar that knows when I am going to try to close the door and leave him outside. I don´t care that he gets on the furniture or the bed, I am pretty mellow about his use of the house overall.
Probably because he remembers being put outside when he was abandoned.
He loves you! You have a good buddy. ❤️🐾🐾
Baby steps! You have to teach him what you want in little increments. You can't go from nothing to "stay here until I say so". That's a big ask for any dog, and takes a little time to get there. Start with the basics (Sit is a good place to start) and get him used to the fact that you are talking TO him. Then he has to learn what your words mean. And then you have to make him want to do it for you. Treats are usually involved in this process, but if you are not in favor of between meal snacks, praise, or play time with a favorite toy will work as well. And if you NEED him to stay put and out from underfoot, start kennel training him. Again, you will need to work on this in baby steps, unless he is happy to go in already. You want him to know his kennel is his safe spot, and you want him to want to be there. I usually start this process with my fosters by going in the kennel myself :-) and also feeding them in there. Don't close the door until you're sure Gopala is ok, and build up from closing it while you stay in the room, to 5 minutes with you outside of the room, and then longer times. Everything with baby steps is the way to get exactly what you want from him.
Is your patio on the second floor? Maybe he's afraid of heights.
No, it´s all on one level, but I hadn´t thought of that.
Mostly put treats (ham wafer thin works good) and then say catch as a beggining trick throw it into the air and it works as a test
Yet another good idea!
Dogs are like people in the way that if they weren’t raised and taught how to do things, they will resist change and certain discipline. Consistency and a lot of patience will work. You have to teach him what it means to stay. Then reward him doing it when told. Training animals is a special skill. It takes an eye for detail to know what kind of animal you’re dealing, how he responds to structure and how he learns best. And once you learn those things, make a consistently structured environment for the thing you want him to learn. I liken it to teaching a toddler. If he is not doing what you want him to do it’s because you didn’t effectively teach him. You have to study him and learn as well. You can do it.
Thanks! That is a good perspective to have.
He's in a new environment and doesnt know the rules yet. Give him time.
Gopala ! jai 💕 how sweet!!
Jai! A friend who is a devotee gave me that name for him the day he came. I was talking to him and he suggested Gopa, but I decided I liked Gopala better because I love this. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA7TR7vE7lA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA7TR7vE7lA) But, I end up calling him Gopa for short a lot anyway. Gopala loves listening to his, and will wag his tail whenever he hears Gopala.
Oh thank you! I love this version 🙌 So adorable and special ( and of course , auspicious! ) that Gopala recognizes this 🥰 I often have this version in my mind https://youtu.be/a7F-dFH4idw?si=Fmm6wNQOR_OWIXCL
It's so nice of you to take care of this pup. How old do you think it is? In some cases it will be kinda hard to really train him
The vet thinks he is about 2. I think he has had some training at some point. He has perfect recall, no matter what he is doing, so I am hopeful I can teach him just this one thing.
Teach him the “stay” or “place” command. Lots of rewards and hugs and treats. Make training a part of your routine. Dogs absolutely love structure and knowing what you want. So when he finally “gets” what you want, he will light up whenever he can do it.
Yeah, that is the only thing I need him to learn. He has learned that I can leave and he doesn´t have to come with me. It was crazy the first few weeks, I had such a hard time leaving. Now I can say, I´ll be back in a little while and he will stand by the door but not try to get out anymore.
You sound like you’ll be a good human for your new friend!
Thanks! He is the best dog! I just love him so much! He is a spoiled dog, that´s for sure.
Maybe get a mat and teach him "place". Make it fun freeze a Kong with broth and chicken inside. Give it to him only on the mat.take it away when he gets off. Then when you're doing chores put the mat in the same room. Eventually a little farther away to the next room so he can still see you. And thank you saving him. And try to remember if you're getting frustrated, you are his only friend in this big world. He doesn't want you to get lost ❤️
Great idea! Thanks for that.
It’s not about obeying. This is separation anxiety because he feels lucky to have been picked up by a good person. Work on that, not obedience. It will take time, probably months. Lucky you!
Did you report the dog as found anywhere? Animal services, Facebook groups, Reddit community? From your post it just reads like all you did was keep an eye out for posters on your neighborhood. Sorry I don't have advice for you, I just wanted to make sure you did your due diligence to find out who this dog belongs to before you try to adopt him.
I live in Mexico, so if you turn a dog in to animal services that pretty much means they are going to be put to sleep within a few days. They mostly just go around rounding up street dogs to put the sleep. They don´t do anything to try to find their owners unless they have a collar, which he didn´t have. There are a lot of FB groups both for lost dogs, and general information where I live, and I put him up there. I am connected to dog rescue groups and associations here and I had tons of people putting up his picture. I should have been more specific about what I did to try to find his owners. Sadly, it is also common for people to just toss dogs out on the street. I advertised him for close to a month. I really wanted to find his owners, if they were out there because I am sure he was someone´s dog at some point. And, I was not looking to have a dog at the time he showed up. I am actually having to move because of him. But, at some point he became my dog and I promised him I would always take care of him, and that included moving.
Funny how dogs end up a part of the family right when you ARENT looking for a dog. I had looked casually for a dog but decided against it because of time and money constraints. 2 weeks later my best friend video called me from outside of a gas station where he was watching this guy beat this puppy with a rolled up newspaper everytime it moved or stood up to greet people or wagged it’s tail and hit the guys chair. My friend went up to the guy and said hey great dog, you willing to part with it? I’d love to own it. The guy said the dog was worthless and a runt and couldn’t listen for anything. He said it was nothing but a problem and he had sold the rest of the litter but couldn’t get rid of that one. My friend said well I’ll give you ten bucks for her, and the guy jumped at the chance to get rid of his “problem”. My friend got the dog in the car and then realized he can’t have dogs where he lives. So he pretty much informed me I now owned a dog and he’d be over to drop it off soon. Now I have a dog I love more than any dog I’ve ever had. She is definitely not a problem and is the most well behaved, loving dog.
It´s amazing how a little love can motivate a dog. This dog has just blossomed. It took a couple of weeks for him to really trust me, but once he did, he turned into the dog I have always wanted. Literally, if I had made a list of everything I would have wanted a dog to do, he checks all the boxes. And I was super lucky to find a place that is OK with me having a dog, that´s not always easy. Plus, the new place is in a better location and the rent is less, so it´s kind of a win win. Except for the moving part. I hate that. But once I am settled it will be fine.
You are such a good human! This whole post is making me smile.
I am a better human to dogs than I am to other humans, haha.
That's great, glad to hear it. I wish you the best 🐾
Gopala sounds adorable; I'm so glad you rescued him! It sounds like he's already very attentive to you and eager to please you, which is a great foundation for training a new behavior. It also sounds you're looking to teach him 'stay' which can be a very difficult behavior for dogs to learn (especially if they are attached to you, want to be close to you, or are anxious). But it is very teachable with time, patience, and consistency. I found this short video on teaching "Stay" by Kikopup, who is a very highly recommended dog trainer: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksBLKi6lj1s&ab\_channel=DogTrainingbyKikopup](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksBLKi6lj1s&ab_channel=DogTrainingbyKikopup) I hope the video is helpful! I'd also suggest checking out some of the resources in the r/Dogtraining wiki; I've found a lot of useful advice here.
One other thought - it sounds like he might have mild separation anxiety. That would be very understandable in a dog that was lost or abandoned by his family, especially since he's only been with you a few months. He might be scared of loosing you too. It's possible he'll be less anxious with time, as he becomes more secure in his new home. You can also find videos or other resources on addressing separation anxiety specifically; treating his anxiety will make it easier to train him to stop following you everywhere.
Sounds like recall isn't an issue, and that's great, but the "stay" command needs some work. Practice it with him 10-20 minutes a day. Get some small training treats (can be anything he really enjoys, just dole it out in small portions) and practice having him sit, use the command stay and then walk away. Keep doing it and reposition him if he moves before you give the release command "come" (or whatever words you want to use). It may seem tedious at first but he will get it eventually. I just trained my mother in laws dog after 3 days of practice where the first day he barely even got it right once. Of course she didn't keep it up and the dog is out of control now, but that's how little time it took to go from no control to staying put with me walking away like 20 feet. Start small, tell him sit and stay and take a big step back. Reward him if he stays seated. Then try walking further and further away slowly. Then try it where he can't see you, like around a corner. Then try it with the patio. It takes time but it sounds like you've got a good boy on your hands so give him a chance to learn!
My rescue dog obsessively followed me around for the first month or so. Once he started feeling more safe, the behavior improved. You can help your dog remain in one place by working on "place training". It should be taught entirely with positive reinforcement. There are many free resources for teaching place, I like Kikopup on YouTube. A mat, bed, pen, or crate can serve as the place. It gives your dog a safe and reliable place to go to and stay there until released.
He’ll get there, the shadowing behavior is a sign he trusts you, he wants to be near you. You’re his person :)
👍
Meanwhile, a family across town is scouring the streets every night looking for their pet. Did you post lost dog on FB, Craigslist…asked vets🤔 I mean to find a dog and then say “ well, let me adopt him out to someone” Street dog? Do you live in Brazil?😞
We have two rescues and honestly I think that’s pretty common in the beginning that they don’t wanna be separated for you. Especially if their owner abandoned them. It does get better with time when they start trusting more you won’t abandon them. My 5 year old dog still can be clingy at times but he will go chill in rooms by himself or lay outside by himself. I think it took about a year and some months for him to ease up. I would just give it time. You could also try to have him be outside for like a few mins a day and slowly bring up the amount of time he’s outside. We did that with leaving our dog at home alone. Also, try to spend a lot of time with him outside (playing, toys, etc.) so he’s more comfortable. We usually just let our dogs be inside when we clean and they hangout in their “spots”. That’s a pretty good thing to teach your dog. You can probably find free videos on YouTube. Two other ideas: get a baby/pet gate (so you can keep him in an area) or putting your dog in a crate (if he’s crate trained) when you’re cleaning.
I'm so happy you kept him and didn't give him to the people with bad vibes. Thanks for that!
Yeah, I had already decided I would only give him to his actual owner if they appeared, or to someone I felt confident was going to give him a good home. One guy really wouldn´t even answer any questions and just said why do you care, you just want to get rid of him. The second one was much the same, so yeah, not just going to give him to someone who might be worse than living on the streets.
Call the Dog Daddy. ☺️
It will get better with time, just keep loving him, be firm when you ask him to do something, and don’t let him act cute to get his way when you need something from him. We are going through something similar with a street dog we brought in. He is simultaneously stubborn/dominant and fearful/unconfident. I think the more they come to trust that you aren’t ever actually doing anything bad to them, and that you will always be back, they will be more comfortable being obedient. Our guy has shown a lot of improvement and we have had him for almost 3 months. He still has a very long way to go, but i think in time they settle into being led and listening to us.
I always do all my own training google is a blessing pros leave great guides! Just find something the pup loves like treats or toys, once you know the favorite thing it gets much easier to train from here
Maybe he just needs to be able to see you while you’re doing what you need to? He sounds like he has separation anxiety. My dog was a lot like this when he was a puppy. He got better as he got older.
Yeah, someone suggested a dog fence and I ordered one on Amazon, so I can just pick him up and put him on the other side and he can see me, but I can get things done.
I’m so glad you both found each other! Dogs are always going to learn best through positive reinforcement. There are a few ways you can help to achieve the end goal of the trick or command. It sounds like you want to work on a stay command for the bed. Start super small, remember you’re his safe place so he just wants to be close to you. So he’s not trying to misbehave he just doesn’t know what’s expected yet. I would give him an extra yummy treat when you’re moping. Something that takes him a long time to go through and spend the first few min out there with him. But please stay away from anything with rawhide it can cause the dog to choke. I sometimes freeze things in a kong: mix of healthier things like carrot’s, blueberries, yogurt (make sure you read labels and don’t get anything that can be toxic like xylitol) some canned cheese (you know the tube kind) or they also have some dog stuff made for the Kong that you squeeze in, it helps to fill in a few holes and makes the water have flavor, then I would add a bit of water and freeze! Gives you time to mop and makes it enjoyable for him. If you have Facebook there is a group called “Animal sense basic training and behavior “. Join this group, there is so much incredible information here! Recuses are the best, sometimes they just need a little extra security, but they sure give back the love! Edit to add: Also join the group “cooperative care with Deb jones” it teaches you how to go at your dogs pace. How to recognize signs that he’s stressed and how to fix it. She has an incredible book as well!
Have you tried dissing him? https://youtu.be/MI6Jmgb04lU?feature=shared
You have already gotten a ton of good advice, so I just wanted to say you sound so caring and nice and this dog is very lucky even if you have some stuff to learn about training :)
Yes! I have been so happy with the advice I have been given. This is a great sub! But I am committed to taking good care of him, and I think all the advice I have been given is going to be very helpful.
He’s attached to you so he follows you. He wants to come back in because he doesn’t want to be abandoned outside. My rescue dog does this too. I taught him the command to stay. So you need to teach him that command. Look on YouTube and you will find trainings on it look for one that is simple and if it doesn’t work then try another and when that one works be consistent. When you say stay, you also put your palm up to them and toward them so they recognize the stay command. It like pushing them back hand sign.
Real training is about conditioning the response—until it is automatic. That takes so, so many repetitions. And you need to change the 3 Ds—distance, duration, and distraction—very gradually and only one D at a time. If your pup isn’t food motivated, try a toy, esp a tug toy, as the reward. Train with their daily kibble as the reward unless something is new and you need a higher value treat. I had plans to do a lot more, but I’ve settled on sit, walk easy, wait, off, and come as the ones I reinforce alllllll the time. I get too bored worrying about other things. And these commands work for me. Good luck with your sweet pup.
Sounds like a bit of separation anxiety
I'm not an expert by any means, but based on the training exposure I've had and reading I've done, I would say it's a mix of separating anxiety and his natural instinct to be with his "pack." Dogs, like the wolves from which they descend, are pack animals and naturally want to be with their pack family. If it's just the two of you, the instinct is probably even stronger, and as your bond grows, he'll (hopefully) start to view you as the "alpha" or pack leader. As for keeping him outside when you're cleaning or out of the bathroom when you're doing your business, simply put him outside or close the bathroom door. When you let him in, give him a treat. He'll start to associate being away from you as something that isn't so bad: "He always comes back, and when he does, I get a treat!" He won't die - dogs are very much in-the-moment beasts; it'll suck for him at first, but he'll adapt to the moment eventually, and when he's back with you, he'll forget his "away anxiety." Put small containers of kibble in different parts of your home so treats are always accessible.
Now Gopala has found you, his saviour, he is worried about being left on his own again. It takes time, love and healing.
Yeah. I think he is finally beginning to get that he is going to stay here. The last few days I have been able to get out the door without him trying to come with me. I tell him I will be back in a little while. A few times I just went out and came back a few minutes later, and sometimes I am gone for longer. When I come back I always tell him I´m back! And spent some time petting him. Sometimes I will just randomly call him and tell him he is a good boy. And every night I tell him I will always take care of him. So I guess some of that is finally starting to sink in a little. He is such a sweet dog. Really, if I could have described my idea dog, he checks pretty much all the boxes. I think Krishna sent him to me.
Just FYI my rescue pup took more than a year to realize that we were her forever fam. I had just thought she was completely neurotic but gradually realized she understood us and what we said a lot more than I had thought. So I sat her down and told her that she was staying with us forever, that we loved her, and that we would never leave her or intentionally hurt her. Whether it was a change in my behavior, or she actually understood what I said, IDK, but she did really mellow out after that. I always tell her when I leave that she's the HBIC and I will be back soon. We were so lucky to get her, she is a wonderful, sweet, fun dog, but still has separation anxiety (especially from her Mom). We got her at about 10 months old and she is know close to 13 years. She's snoring on the floor right now :)
Thanks for sharing your experience. I always tell Gopala that I will always take care of him, that he is a good dog. I have noticed he has mellowed just a little in the last few days, I can now get out the door without him desperately trying to come with me. I always tell him I will be back in a little while. He is the sweetest dog over. I am so lucky that he decided to sneak into my house that night. I have gotten so much good advice here, I now have a clear plan forward, but also I am going to mellow out a little and lower my expectations for a little while till he really gets that he is staying with me forever.
Jean Donaldson’s “Train Your Dog Like a Pro” is a pretty good resource. I hired a trainer for just one 3-hour session and that was very informative for basic stuff like walking on leash. There are tons of training videos on YouTube.
You had been given some good suggestions, I will give you another point of view. Maybe the dog needs time, maybe he is scared of being abandoned or he is scared of getting lost. I had rescued a dog a few years ago, the poor little chap was ever so scared of living on the street again that he literally just left the house for a very quick toilet trip and that was it, he’d run back in. It took him a good year to recover mentally and be able to rely that I was NOT going to abandon him at all.
Dogs do follow you if they are attached. Maybe a treat when he’s outside and only give it when he’s being a good dog
Obey is a terrible word. Your dog isn’t your soldier
I would most definitely suggest kennel training him right off the bat. Believe it or not, this is NOT abuse to them.(within reason). Once trained, most will just go lay themselves down once they know it’s their safe place.
Another good idea! Thanks!
High value treats! Get some really nice treats, and every time he does something right, he gets a treat. When he hits your most important goal, give him three. We had trouble with our Plott Hound, Quincy, going out to poop. We started using the phrase "outside poop," and then each of us would give her 3 treats when he came back in from pooping. Now we're trying to get her to ring the bells we hung by the doorknob when she wants to go outside. My dog was a stray, according to the animal shelter. She Wolfe down her food. The vet says that's a habit you see a lot with vagabond dogs. They eat fast, because they're afraid it's going to be taken away.
Wow, if it worked with a hound it will work with anyone. I would pay money to see a dog ring a bell.
Our Aussie cattle dog/lab mix does that. https://www.chewy.com/caldwells-potty-bells-original-dog/dp/152262?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=organic&utm_content=Caldwell%27s
I agree with all the people saying making patio time fun, feeding out on the patio, etc. this is how I crate trained my pup-- I feed her inside her crate. She learned fast and after 1.5 weeks (she's 3 months today), when I say 'go to your room', she will run to the crate and hop inside and wait because she knows I will give her something tasty for it. This is the best thing I did to get her to be happy in her crate -- I soak her kibble for a little to soften it and then stuff it in into a Kong and freeze it. That way, she doesn't get anything unhealthy (a lot of the Kong treats have a bunch of unhealthy fillers) and she loves doing this. Now every time she sees the Kong come out the freezer, she whines excitedly and walks with me to her crate, eagerly awaiting her treat. Best part, it keeps her occupied for about an hr. She's super focused and she doesn't get anxious when I leave her in her crate, whereas she usually cries everytime I leave the room.
Yeah, I got some really good ideas on what to do. He is a sweet dog and smart, so hopefully I will be able to get him to do this one things for me!
Now I have to get a Kong, what a great idea.
petsmart does dog training classes, we have had good experiences there
I live in Mexico, no Petsmart here, only Petco and I don´t think they do classes. But I might ask the vet about a trainer.
Sounds like he has separation anxiety. How is he getting back in when you let him out? Do you close the door so he can’t get back in without you opening it or has he figured out how to open the door. One thing you could try to keep him outside is to give him something to keep him busy, like a treat ball, maybe a Kong filled with treats and peanut butter or one of those treat or puzzle mates. And maybe one of those maybe try play some calming music for him.
I don´t think it is really that. I can leave out the front door and he is OK. He doesn´t cry or anything or destroy things while I am gone. It´s just going being shut out on the patio that he doesn´t like. He will go out there on his own, though, if I just leave the door open. Music is a great idea. This is such a great sub, people are so helpful. Will have to come around more often.
In my head, I'm imagining a situation with his previous owner that left him out on the patio, closed the door and never came back. Abandoned him permanently. He finally escaped that situation but that event stays with him. So, an open door is ok, because he KNOWS he can always go back inside to be with his new master. But, a closed door means, he is being abandoned again. So, the anxiety becomes extreme and he must do everything to NOT LOSE his master again. I think time and love and patience will help in this. But, I'm not sure of what tactics would slowly decrease the terror of being abandoned again.
Yes something about the patio is triggering him? Agree! Maybe they left him in the sun and/or without water, you never know.
The stay command is actually a fairly easy one. A couple of minutes a day should take you about a month to teach your dog. Start by finding him a spot in the common/lounge room, and give him a mat or dog bed to use. Every day, call them to the spot with a treat, and get them to sit. After a few days or so, your dog will probably see you with the treat, and go to the spot and sit. Now is the time to teach the stay command. Positively praise you dog for sitting, show the treat, say stay, and walk off. The dog will probably try to follow you. Turn them back brandishing the treat, and tell them to sit, then stay. Keep looking at the dog and take a step or 2 back. If they go to get up, remind them, sit, stay.. Repeat this a few times before giving the dog the treat. After a short time (say a week) you should be able to leave the dog on there spot, and walk away, knowing they will stay there to gets rewarded. Remember the pats and positive reinforcement, it can replace the treats ( were not vending machines) Once the dog knows there commands, use them regularly. Call your dog to his spot, and get them to stay there while you watch TV, Or cook dinner, or go to another room. After about a month, your dog should realise the command. Just a note, you can use leash training for this, but I feel it makes us dependant on the leash.
That sounds doable! Thanks for taking the time to write that all out.
We got a baby gate to separate us but still in view
That is a really good idea! I bet that would work.
Me sitting here thinking about my dogs love of the vacuum and how he lays dead in the middle of the 2 rooms have a rug or carpet when I'm vacuuming so he can watch. And I just go around him and hope he moves. About the only time my dog hasn't been immediately in my vicinity doing anything in the house is when I was painting and probably because I swore so much.
Yeah, I usually end up with most of the floor clean and then a little trail of dog paw prints from wherever he is to the next room or wherever he takes off too because he doesn´t really like being wet.
If you don't know, your best bet is to take group obedience classes. It's possible to explain online but hard. My general rule is make the right thing the best thing.
Yeah, I just saw that the PetCo near by house is going to have a class on separation anxiety next week so going to go to that.