I’m planning on getting a dog soon and would love some tips and tricks.
My tip is that when you take your dog for a walk, before crossing any street make them sit and wait for you to tell them to cross.
It helped when my dog got out a few times he would only walk around the block and never cross streets or run into traffic.
Don’t drag your ass on starting something like housebreaking or leash training because you want to go easy on them. They won’t understand that you’re trying to be nice because they’re little, they’ll just think that’s what they’re supposed to do. You don’t have to be mean about it or anything, just decide what behaviors you’re going to expect and what you’re going to do if they don’t and start expecting and following up as-needed as soon as possible. Also head-halters are a godsend if you can’t get your dog to stop leash pulling.
I had a rescue greyhound, an ex-racer, and how I leash-trained him was to transform the leash into a brake. When he pulled on the leash, I stopped. When he stopped pulling, we carried on. At first we stopped every few paces, it was agonising. But eventually (he was not very bright) the penny dropped and he realised he was controlling the brake. All he had to do was walk at a steady pace without pulling and we would get to the park quicker. It was funny seeing him try to hurry me along by exerting the most exquisitely tiny bit of pressure on the lead.
“I know not pulling gets me there faster, BUT GODDAMNIT, THAT HUMAN AIN’T MOVING, DO YOU HAVE MOLASSES ON YOUR SHOES OR WHAT, LET’S GOOOOO.”
I know that exact state of visible infighting in my dog’s head.
This is exactly what we do with our half husky. She LIVES to pull.