Training a 2 yr. walker to obey simple commands

[jackmt.retreat]

I just got  a 2 yr. old walker, who has never hunted and always kept in a cage.
He's timid of other dogs, due to being bitten twice when he was a pup.He's very good hearted and loving.I'd like him to be the best pet he can be.Right now he won't even come back when released. He runs off and I have to get in the truck and drive up through the farmland looking for him. I have neighbors with sheep and dairy cattle and if he get's in there chasing there livestock, he's probably going to get shot.What can I do to get him to at least obey simple commands??Is it too late for him??Would getting him fixed help any with taking some of the wildness out of him.He came from registered stock, and dam and sire are both good hounds.The sire was mean at the tree but good natured any other time. He's pure bear hound, and the Dam is very good natured and a pretty good coon hound.
I tried switching him, a few times pretty hard, trying to break him,but it seemed to make it worse.

[freddogs]

I don't know where you live but around me  the local kennel club gives obedience classes. They charge a modest fee and teach you to obedience train your dog.They teach come, sit ,stay ,and heel. Another plus is your dog can get used to a few oher dogs.
If you train him yourself teach him commands while on a lead.There are books and videotapes at libraries that show you how to train. It just takes constant repitition and they'll learn.

[encore31]

one of the biggest things with training a dog is not to set them up for failure.it sounds like when you let him go he takes off as you say well the trick is dont let him go.not tryin to be sarcastic with ya so i hope you didnt take it that way.but it is very important when training dogs that you allways are in complete control when the dog got away from you i hate to say it but you have just taught your dog not to listen to you by calling him and not haveing some way to enforce the command you should only give a dog a command once and if he doesnt respond enforce the command the second time this is what makes good dogs great dogs when ever you let the dog outside or were ever except in his domain keep him on a leash start with a short leash and work up to a long check cord and to teach the dog to come back to you call him and if he doesnt come to you right away call him a second time but this time pull him allong up to you but that is the main thing though using a leash so you can enforce your commands mix in some treats for praise as well and this will speed up the process i hope i hellped a little bit good luck!

[victorcharlie]

I have had great success with an electronic training device to be politically correct.  I've kept hunting dogs over 20 years, and have had hundreds looking for that special one.  The training collar is the best investment any handler can make.  No more yelling, cursing, whipping etc.......they work when used correctly.
 
I set the collar to the lowest level, where when you turn it on the dog just raises his ears.  Put the dog on a 50 foot cable, turn on the collar, call him, and when he starts to come turn it off.  This teaches him who turns it on and who turns it off.  They have to know this before the real training starts, and failure to introduce the dog to the collar properly will result in the dog leaving the country.

The thing about training collars is not to over use them.   One hit applied at the right time will solve most problems because the dog already knows who turns it on and who turns it off.  The biggest problem most people have is they use them at the wrong time, and far to often.  
 
I will say that I can't make a dog do anything......but I can make him wish he had.........

Buy a good one and it will last........

[Sgt Mike]

I have 7 hounds in the yard. I agree with victorcharlie electronic means of training is best. I try to have a treat to reward the dog for doing something good. When they get the idea then backoff the treat only give it to them sometimes but they learn to checkin just in case. Watch the tone of your voice you can make the problem worse by using a gruff voice to call them. I compare dog traing to raising children. Only difference is as the dog gets older they listen better.
Good Luck
Mike

[tbotts]

One dvd that I found very helpful in training my lab was:  "Basic Dog Obedience".  It is produced by Leerburg Kennels in Wisconsin.  Leerburg.com is the website.

[Don Fischer]

You said that you even tried switching your dog but it didn't help. I assume you ment whipping. For every mimute you spend whipping your dog, you need to spend fifteen petting it. No dog's problem was ever corrected with a whipping, the only thing you teach it is a little more fear of you. Find a good trainer that does snake and porcupine proofing and turn it over to him/her for a couple week's. It's punishment training but, done right the trainer will not allow the dog to associate the punishment with the handler, and in the end, the dog will be off livestock for good.