Marley update with the behaviourist

Update on Marley's afternoon at school with the behaviourist. She had actually met him once before when he was with the RSPCA. It turns out he was a stray from the Plymouth area had been chipped but they could not find his previous owners. He had been picked up and kennelled by a dog warden before making his way to the RSPCA Center. I had noticed since he has been with me every experience I have put him into IE walking and running in a field in woods,meeting and seeing wildlife birds even spooked him, seeing a river getting his paws wet, being in the rain have all been new to him. She thinks that he has probably been in a flat or locked up most of his life. As for meeting other dogs not a clue. Has no idea on how to behave so unfortunately he thinks they are all a threat, if they bark at him he thinks there being aggressive not just talking to him or asking him to back off and stop being so full on.
It's going to be a slow process of trying to teach him to be quiet and gentle on first meets and show he is friendly really not charging in like a rugby player and then can't understand when he gets told off. Lots of lead walking and training first get him spot on with the obedience then slow slow introductions always on a lead which can be a long training lead for now. Lots of praise when walking correctly and every time he makes eye contact with you supper praise teaching him to look at you for instruction on different and perhaps unsettling ones for him. A special reward for eye contact I was recommended to use that soft cheese in a tube. Easy to handle they love it and you only have to give a tiny amount. Remember though only to used as a thank you not as a bribery.
Sadly most of these things he would have taken on board if he had the correct social training as a pup. So important to get your puppy out there meeting and greeting so to speak as soon as there able after that last jab
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Sounds like Marley is so lucky to have found such patient and kind people like you. I completely agree with what you say as Misty spent her first fourteen months never having a lead walk and never being socialised ( apart from the other dogs in the house) . It's a long road but with kind reward based training we are slowly getting there. She no longer barks at everything she sees while on a walk.

Do keep us updated on Marleys progress.

Well done you for seeking proper help. It sounds like you've found someone good who is using gentle, positive methods.

It can be a long road but it can also be surprising sometimes how quickly it clicks for some dogs. We've had dogs in at Danaher who have been horrendous with others but even while still at the centre have learned how to react and, in some cases, have even been rehomed with a friendly other dog. So there is hope!

Sounds like you're well on the road to making Marley more confident and happy Rob, half the battle is working out what happened in the past to make him the way he is and putting training in place to help.

I cannot ever work out why people would keep a dog indoors all the time, it just seems so unnatural. Marley has certainly fallen on his paws with you, keep us updated