[texer]

I just recently adopted a wheaten terrier/maltese mix from a rescue, my first post childhood pet. I haven't had him a week yet, so we're still getting used to each other. He's really good indoors, follows me around, always laying at my feet. My problem is that I have to take him out for walks, but he is horrible on a leash. He pulls, and at any sight of a person or animal he starts barking, growling and pulling, I live in a apartment so this is pretty much unavoidable. I'm working on getting him into training and with a behaviorist, but until then I need some advice as to what to do when he freaks out on the leash. He's not at the point where he listens to me completely yet, I try to distract him, but once he's outside on that leash he completely tunes me out. He's fine indoors, he barks when someone comes to the door but it's not the same kind of bark as outdoors, and so far he seems to not have problems with strangers in the home. We go on our walks super early in the morning so as to avoid people, but the afternoon and night time walks it's impossible. So does anyone have any tips?

So far I've tried the martingale collar, it helped with the pulling but as soon as he saw a distraction it was no longer helpful. I also tried a walking collar, which also helped the walking situation, but I think it frustrated him, so when there was a distraction his response seemed to be amplified.

I also need to take him to the groomers, and vet but I fear that those situations would cause him to go even more nuts. He's a little too big for the carriers. People have told me he needs to be socialized, and I'm willing to do that, but I think I need him to listen to me first before I take him somewhere like that. If anyone has any tips for what to do in these situations, it'd be greatly appreciated.

[reeskujo]

What do you do to try and distract him when he's exhibiting this behavior? What do you do when he pulls on the leash? When you're walking with him are you putting tension on the leash? Also does he know the "Watch me" command? Are you bringing treats for him on your walks? What do you say to him when he's acting up and what tone of voice are you using?

[texer]

When he acts up to try and distract him I've tried clapping, jingling keys, using a "happy voice" (I read somewhere it's not good to yell, that'll just heighten the anxiety), I also try and arrange him so he's not facing the direction of the distraction. I've tried to say his name in a stern voice, and also in a excited voice like when we play, nothing.

For the leash pulling I was keeping a short leash and trying to keep him by my side (or near it). Today I actually did some walking drills with him in the hallway, and when he pulled I stopped and didn't let him go until he came back. That actually seemed to help a bit, but alas someone walked by and he lost it.

His stomach is still adjusting to his dog food, so I've been using treats but not as much for at least a week so his stomach can adjust. The treat thing is kind of hard because when he acts up, I'll stop (if possible, I'm in a apartment complex so if he's freaking out in front of someones door I have to try and move him somewhere else, which isn't a easy task) and wait til he's quiet, but sometimes he's tricky and will start it up again, so I'm trying to figure out how to reward him being quiet without accidently rewarding the barking/growling.

I haven't taught him the watch me command.