At A Glance
Max is a 1-year-old Great Pyrenees who came into training with Chance from Off Leash K9 Training of Dayton, Ohio. Max had a difficult past before being adopted by his current owners. According to the trainer, Max came from Texas, where he and several other puppies were found on a farm. He also had a serious wound on his back hip before his owners took him in, cared for him, and gave him a loving home.
Because of his past, Max struggled with anxiety, nervousness, poor listening, jumping on his owners, and leash pulling. His training started with the goal of helping him feel more secure, listen more consistently, and build better control in everyday situations.
Dog: Max
Breed: Great Pyrenees
Age: 1 year old
Location: Dayton, OH
Program: Dog Training Program
Main Issues: Nervousness, anxiety, poor listening, jumping on owners, leash pulling, and limited obedience
Outcome: Goal of stronger confidence, better listening, improved leash control, and more reliable obedience
The Challenge
Max’s early life was difficult, and that showed in his behavior. Chance described him as very spooked, nervous, and anxious. When Max felt unsure, he tended to check out rather than engage with the trainer or respond to commands.
His owners had already done a lot for him by giving him a safe and loving home, but they needed help building structure and communication. Max also jumped on his owner, pulled on the leash, and did not listen consistently.
During the starting assessment, Max showed very limited obedience. Even when he may have understood something, his anxiety made it hard for him to respond reliably.
Max needed help with:
- Building confidence and security
- Reducing anxious, checked-out behavior
- Better listening and responsiveness
- Leash pulling
- Jumping on owners
- Stronger obedience foundations
- More consistent engagement with people
The Training Approach
Chance’s first step was to assess what Max knew and how his anxiety affected his ability to respond. Since Max was uneasy, the plan needed to include confidence-building along with obedience work.
Training focused on:
- Helping Max feel safer and more comfortable
- Building trust with the trainer
- Improving engagement and focus
- Teaching stronger responses to basic commands
- Reducing leash pulling
- Addressing jumping on owners
- Creating clearer communication and expectations
Because Max was anxious and easily overwhelmed, the training needed to progress with patience, structure, and consistency.
The Results
This transcript shows Max’s starting point before training progress updates. Chance noted that Max knew “little to nothing” during the assessment, and that his anxiety likely made it even harder for him to respond.
What improved as the training goal:
- Better confidence and comfort
- More reliable listening
- Stronger obedience foundation
- Improved leash manners
- Reduced jumping
- Better engagement with the trainer and owners
Trainer Insight
Dogs with difficult pasts often need more than basic command work. Anxiety can make it hard for them to listen, focus, or engage, even when they are in a safe place. Building confidence first helps create the foundation needed for obedience, leash control, and better behavior at home.
Ready to Help Your Rescue Dog Build Confidence?
If your rescue dog is anxious, pulls on the leash, jumps on people, or struggles to listen, professional training can help create structure and calmer behavior.
Schedule a consultation to find the right program and build a plan your dog can succeed with.
