Quote Originally Posted by Trek420 View Post
There are folks on this board who are true experts with dogs. I just have one.

I adopted a large, lab-mix dog (she's my profile pic ). Like many new owners I took her to obedience class, they gave up on her, took her to another class, same thing, found a dog walker/trainer .... same thing.

So we set out mostly on our own.

We made sure it's been fun on both ends of the leash. I work constantly on her behaviors. Yes, she still has "issues" but she's a different dog than I adopted and we've both learned a lot.
T420 ... you are also a 'true' expert. I know that with tender loving care and patience that your dog can be just as obedient as any other dog. You are the expert of your dog because you know your dog better than anyone else. Your dog just needs rehabilitation. I have many times in the past been told by friends and family that I am a 'very good' dog trainer. But I see it differently, I am just very observant and patient.

My approach has always been very similar to Cesar Milan from the 'Dog Whisperer' on the National Geographic channel. ANY dog can be rehabilitated and if not then there's something else going on.

It was really sad when I saw one of his shows where he couldn't figure out why a dog would not eat. The owners thought the dog was just a picky eater. Later found out that the dog had leukemia and soon died not long after.

Thank you for saving her (your dog), she's under all those layers of an uncertain past just waiting to break free.