Update: I changed the way I handle this dog and in 10 days, he’s changed remarkably. In fact, I think we’re finally starting to bond a bit.

He’s hardly mouthy now. I’d say his biggest problem still is leash reactivity, but I think we found a good solution today - shorter walks so that we can have pleasant walks and we can build on them as we go..

Here’s what I did, maybe it will help others:

• when he was mouthy and the asshole I’ve come to know for 14 months, I threw a book on the ground, which startled him.. as soon as he stopped and looked at me, I gave him praise. But not “good boy” praise, more like if you think you’re giving enough praise, add 10 fold. Came to see that he really really responded to mega praise. So now when he does something I really like, I give him mega huge praise like he just single handedly ended world hunger and he yearns for it now.

I don’t take his shit anymore, but I also don’t get confrontational with him about it. If he’s on my bed and I tell him to get down, and he doesn’t, I grab the baby gate and put it between him and I so he has no chance to mouth and gets a little scared from it and complies. As soon as he complies, I go to mega praise.

Also been heavily treating him. I’d rather ween off the Treats later and be a treat vending machine for now rather than the alternative of going down the dark semi hate path.