Simba is now 11 months old, and we sent him to a 2 week board and train. The trainer there is a German shepherd breeder that has trained using aversive methods for 40 years. I figured this would be very good for Simba because he was very cautious and sometimes fearful/aggressive of dogs.
Upon return, Simba was completely changed. He seemed much calmer, but he also seemed more robotic. His commands are enforced with a prong collar 100 percent of the time. I feel he is not happy and he is always stressed out during training (always licking lips, licking lips.)
While he is listening most of the time( probably becuase he has too) he has zero focus. We could be in my 5 ft diameter empty laundry room with no distraction with no eye contact. When heeling, I constantly have to correct him. As well as give a little tug upon stopping. I would like to reward him with fetch or tug, but he will no pay attention. I usually say " go get it " prior to throwing it, this causes his full attention to go on the ball in my hand. When I throw it, he will usually run up to it and either leave it there or take it and go somewhere far and chew it. I don't understand why he prefers laying down and chewing the ball instead of me throwing it. I tried using the leash to pull him to me, but the first tug make him drop the ball and refuse to pick it up. On walks, he doesn't really pull and will walk on a loose leash, but his nose is in the dirt, whether it is healing or normal walking. He will not look when I say his name, or even make a sound.
Off leash he sticks close to me unless there is some kind of distraction, in which he will ignore me until I am far enough away so he runs back to me.
He really has no motivation to train him with, he doesn't care about food, if I have a piece of raw chicken and he doesn't feel like paying attention, he will walk away. Same with toys.
Is this problem becuase the prong collar has made him lose his trust in me? I feel like I failed this dog by not establishing a stronger connection when he was younger.
Any help is appreciated!
Also, here is a picture
Upon return, Simba was completely changed. He seemed much calmer, but he also seemed more robotic. His commands are enforced with a prong collar 100 percent of the time. I feel he is not happy and he is always stressed out during training (always licking lips, licking lips.)
While he is listening most of the time( probably becuase he has too) he has zero focus. We could be in my 5 ft diameter empty laundry room with no distraction with no eye contact. When heeling, I constantly have to correct him. As well as give a little tug upon stopping. I would like to reward him with fetch or tug, but he will no pay attention. I usually say " go get it " prior to throwing it, this causes his full attention to go on the ball in my hand. When I throw it, he will usually run up to it and either leave it there or take it and go somewhere far and chew it. I don't understand why he prefers laying down and chewing the ball instead of me throwing it. I tried using the leash to pull him to me, but the first tug make him drop the ball and refuse to pick it up. On walks, he doesn't really pull and will walk on a loose leash, but his nose is in the dirt, whether it is healing or normal walking. He will not look when I say his name, or even make a sound.
Off leash he sticks close to me unless there is some kind of distraction, in which he will ignore me until I am far enough away so he runs back to me.
He really has no motivation to train him with, he doesn't care about food, if I have a piece of raw chicken and he doesn't feel like paying attention, he will walk away. Same with toys.
Is this problem becuase the prong collar has made him lose his trust in me? I feel like I failed this dog by not establishing a stronger connection when he was younger.
Any help is appreciated!
Also, here is a picture