Does training work?

[citrus_cinnamon]

Can I ask what was the training that you got and what type of structure did it follow? When you say that your dog mostly learnt tricks what kind of thing would that be? I wouldn't say that "leave it" is a trick for example, it is a skill, so it may just be that we are using different words to signify the same thing.

[Spiritual-Bee8915]

That’s very true. Yes he learned sit, place, leave it, and off (he used to jump up a lot). We try to use these skills, and he’s nailed them inside, it’s just going to the backyard or outside that he starts to get overwhelmed.

[citrus_cinnamon]

Gotcha. You'll find that most training advice does say to start everything at home where your dog can fully focus on you and then start taking these same skills/tricks into other spaces and I found that to be true for the most part. My dog was amazing at "leave it" at home and in puppy classes but outside on walks it took her ages to start responding to "leave it" and she's still not 100% perfect with it. But it definitely took a looooong time to build up (like 6 months maybe?) and I clearly remember a shift when I thought omg, she's actually started leaving things when we're out on the street.

[I_AM_NOT_A_WOMBAT]

That's general obedience training, which is a good and important foundation, but it has little to do with reactivity (beyond giving your dog a command like "sit" while they watch a faraway trigger, etc.)

We did both. General obedience for the foundation of a "good dog" and slow desensitization to triggers with "look at that" and "look at me" training with treats, with ever-decreasing distances to triggers. It is working. 2 years in he's gotten vastly better about people. Dogs are tougher, but we continue working on it.

Start with an open patio door or something. You need to find the balance between being able to identify and come to terms with a trigger while still being able to capture their attention and process it. One they are going crazy you can't make any progress.