[LMRTimber]

Hello. I am new to this forum (any forum, actually) and I'm looking for help re-training my wonderful Anatolian/Akbash, Timber.

I rescued Timber from an abusive situation when he was 2 yrs old; he is now 4 yrs old. We originally were in a wilderness setting, where I was able to gain Timber's trust and he was able to roam freely in an unlimited area to do his job. Unfortunately, our circumstances have changed and after spending 6 months with Timber on the road in a travel trailer, I have settled in a not-quite-so-remote area. I still want Timber to keep potentially dangerous animals away from me while hiking/'shoeing, and off our rather small (1 acre) piece of property.

My property is not fenced and I have seasonal neighbours who are either afraid of him (he is not aggressive towards people or other dogs, but he is BIG and he barks) or don't want him wandering through their property period. I have worked with him diligently on-leash and he absolutely knows the commands COME, DOWN, SIT, WAIT. STAY is more difficult, we just started on HEEL.

What I'm really looking for help with is getting Timber to stay on the property when off-leash, coming to me every time I call him when he is off-leash, and to quit barking when I tell him to stop. Anyone out there who can help us?

 

[Curls]

Regarding the barking, I recently ran across this training video.

. I'm trying the method with my junior dog right now. I'm on my third training session with him, and it seems to have helped a little. During one of his fits of exuberant barking I shushed him, and his barking trailed off into a puzzled warble: "YARP YARP yarp yerr?" I could tell it was dawning on him that maybe, truly, there was a strong possibility that he wasn't actually supposed to be barking at that moment. We've got a long way to go, but I'm hopeful.

As for the wandering, I think unfortunately you are going to need to install a fence to keep your dog on property. Livestock guardian dogs are bred to be guardians, after all. They take their patrolling duties quite seriously. Asking a dog not to do what it was bred to do is an uphill climb.

 

[JoanneF]

I agree about the fencing. For coming to you, put simply you need to make recalling to you a far better choice than anything else he could possibly be doing. So whatever he finds rewarding, use that. Recall also should also not mean end of fun, so recall and release sometimes.

I have a Timber too - do you find people look nervous when you call for him in the forest?