A month ago today I picked up my hound mix(?) puppy from a pound. I work from home and live alone with an older dog and a cat. Overall he’s doing well: mostly potty trained, sleeps through the night, good in his crate, doesn’t bark, and loves people and dogs.
I’m trying to be consistent with training, but I’m getting frustrated with his attention span, especially anywhere outside my apartment. I'm not sure if I'm just expecting too much, he's just going through a phase, or there's something I should be doing different.
His Schedule:
Awake about an hour, nap 1–2 hrs
Outside right after waking up (or if he's sniffing around a lot)
training sessions ~10-15 min
15–20 min walk midday, ~1.5 mile walk in the evening, maybe once around the block before bed.
play time until he gets too ramped and then i redirect to chews
Chews/kong/pupsicle/cold carrot when I want him to relax
Training:
He understands basics (sit, down, touch, leave it, recall with a whistle) in low-distraction environments, but struggles to focus or relax when there’s anything else going on.
Leave it
He does ok when it's something I'm holding, but if it's on the ground he struggles. Outside he won't trade even for high value treats. He is obssesed with his scent work pouches which I want to explicitly be not for chewing (holding in the mouth is ok just no chewing).
Attention span
He has a really short attention span, especially outside, and he gets really easily distracted smelling things or looking around. It's difficult to even get him to focus for a couple minutes sometimes.
Walking
Walks generally start ok but he begins to have a problem focusing on me, disengaging from things, and as we get to the last block before home it's extra difficult for him and me with getting frustrated over not pulling. He is also becoming laser focused on birds and refuses to walk next to parked cars suddenly (started working on that yesterday). If he doesn't get the big walk in the evening he is a lot more difficult to handle.
I'm trying not to get frustrated with him but sometimes he's just so fucking annoying. I don't regret getting him and I do enjoy working with him, playing with him, and walking with him when he isn't being a little monster. I know he won't be a puppy for long and I'm trying to enjoy it. I just want him to be able to focus on me for 5 minutes! I want to be good to him and help him be a great companion.
Am I expecting too much? How can I improve his engagement/focus? Tips for leave it?
Is this the thick of it and he's about to get better? I do feel like he's been having more calm moments lately but they are fleeting lol.